Buttigieg sets high campaign fundraising bar, Biden raised more per day than any other Democrat

Pete Buttigieg brought in $24.8M, Joe Biden $21.5M and Elizabeth Warren $19M.

July 16, 2019, 7:06 AM

As the 2020 campaign trail fires up in a historically crowded field, Democratic presidential hopefuls have started reporting fundraising totals for the second quarter of the year, providing a more comprehensive snapshot of the head-to-head competition among upward of 20 candidates -- and ultimately against the fundraising powerhouses of the President Donald Trump's campaign and the Republican National Committee.

As the Democrats showcase the prowess of their grassroots support, this is the first time almost all the candidates will report fundraising numbers, including the polling front-runner, former Vice President Joe Biden.

Some of the candidates have announced their fundraising totals ahead of the Monday filing deadline.

So far, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is leading with an eye-popping $24.8 million haul throughout the second quarter, followed by Biden, who raised $21.5 million in a little over two months this quarter since launching his campaign on April 25. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., raised more than $19 million while last quarter's top fundraiser Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., raised $18 million, trailing behind some of his rivals. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who saw a big boost after the first Democratic debates in June, raised a total of $12 million.

The second quarter spanned the months of April, May and June, ending days after 20 candidates took the stages in Miami over two consecutive nights of the first Democratic debates, giving several high-performing candidates a last-minute boost.

ABC News will continue to update this story as more campaigns release details on their fundraising numbers.

PHOTO: 2019 Presidential Money Race Top Half
2019 Presidential Money Race Top Half
ABC News, Getty Images

Michael Bennet raised $2.8 million since announcing his presidential campaign

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate and Colorado Senator Michael Bennet speaks at the Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame Dinner on June 9, 2019, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Democratic presidential candidate and Colorado Senator Michael Bennet speaks at the Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame Dinner on June 9, 2019, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Scott Olson/Getty Images, FILE

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., raised $2.8 million since jumping into the 2020 presidential race in early May, the campaign announced on Wednesday. Bennet also transferred $700,000 from his Senate campaign account, bringing up the total fund in his presidential campaign to $3.5 million.

In line with the trend in the 2020 presidential field, Bennet's campaign highlighted grassroots support -- 83% of the campaign's contributions were $25 or less, and 95% of the contributions were $100 or less, according to the campaign.

While the $2.8 million Bennet brought in during the first two months of his presidency trails far behind big hauls from some of the top-tier candidates, it is more in level with other long-shot bid candidates. Eight candidates raised less than $3 million during the first three months of 2019.

Bennet's campaign also touted a big bump in contributions after the first Democratic debates, but has yet to release any figures on the number of individual donors that have given to the campaign, which are critical to making the debate stage in September and October.

Joe Biden raised more money per day than any other Democratic hopeful

PHOTO: Former Vice President Joe Biden gestures during the second night of the first Democratic presidential candidates debate in Miami, June 27, 2019.
Former Vice President Joe Biden gestures during the second night of the first Democratic presidential candidates debate in Miami, June 27, 2019.
Mike Segar/Reuters

The former vice president has raised $21.5 million since launching his presidential bid on April 25, according to the campaign. This is the first time the Biden campaign announced his fundraising figures, and Biden's total, while not topping South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg's $24.8 million haul in the second quarter, suggests that he has raised more money per day than any other Democrat, considering his total comes from just the first 66 days into his campaign compared to the entire 90-day period Buttigieg had to raise money this quarter.

According to the campaign, 97% of the donations were from grassroots supporters who gave less than $200. More than 256,000 donors gave over 435,000 donations and the average donation was $49.

Biden's campaign, in the announcement, also said that the campaign did not take in any money that would be directed to the general election fund and that the campaign has actively refunded any donations over the individual contribution limit of $2,800 per election. Other candidates, including Buttigieg, have accepted donations that would be directed to the general election fund.

Cory Booker raised $4.5 million in the second quarter

The New Jersey senator raised nearly $4.5 million between April and June this year, short of the $5 million he raised last quarter, and ended the quarter with $5.4 million cash on hand, the campaign announced on Monday.

According to the campaign, 88% of individual donors this quarter gave to Booker's presidential committee for the first time. The average online donation was $15.11, and the campaign did not announce an average donation overall.

Steve Bullock raised "over $2 million"

Gov. Steve Bullock's campaign on Friday also announced that the Montana Democrat raised "more than $2 million" since launching his campaign in mid May about halfway through the second quarter. Other than the total figure and that he raised money in all 50 states, the longshot presidential candidate did not participate in the first presidential debates last week because he did not meet the requirements, didn't offer any more specifics about his fundraising figures, including the number of donors, which is one of the requirements for getting into the next round of debates.

Instead, Bullock's campaign emphasized his record of fighting dark money in politics in the release, saying "It's clear Governor Bullock's message of winning back places Democrats lost in 2016 and ending dark money's corrupting influence will resonate in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire, and he will continue working to earn every vote."

Pete Buttigieg sets high fundraising bar in first 24 hours after close of second quarter

PHOTO:Democratic presidential candidate and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, left, listens as Rev. Jesse Jackson addresses reporters during a news conference at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Annual International Convention in Chicago, July 2, 2019.
Democratic presidential candidate and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, left, listens as Rev. Jesse Jackson addresses reporters during a news conference at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Annual International Convention in Chicago, July 2, 2019.
Amr Alfiky/AP

The little-known mayor from South Bend, Indiana, who first launched an exploratory committee in January to little fanfare before kicking off his official campaign in April amid his rising prominence, posted another impressive quarter, signaling the strength of his candidacy in the crowded field.

Buttigieg, the first White House contender to announce his fundraising numbers for the quarter, raised an eye-popping $24.8 million from 284,000 donors.

The average donation, the campaign reports, was $47.42. In total, Buttigieg has received over 400,000 donations from all 57 states and territories. The campaign also reported $22.6 million cash on hand, priming them for a more competitive third quarter.

In an indication of his first-in-class showing, Buttigieg raised more than triple what he brought in during the first three months of the year. In the first quarter, he raised $7 million, with an average donation of $36.35 from 158,550 donors.

His second quarter haul will likely be among the largest reported by any of the Democratic candidates for the second quarter.

Julián Castro brings in $2.8 million, but spent $2.3 million

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro's FEC filing on Monday shows that his campaign raised $2.8 million in the second quarter. But he also has a high burn rate -- spending $2.3 million throughout the three-month period.

He ends the quarter with $1.1 million cash on hand.

Bill de Blasio trails other contenders, raising $1.1. million after announcing six weeks before close of second quarter

The New York mayor raised nearly $1.1 million over six weeks of the second fundraising quarter, following his entry into the presidential race on May 16, from a total of 6,700 donors, according to his campaign. He closed out the quarter with $728,000 cash on hand.

The campaign also announced that $630,000 was raised in the days after the first debate.

John Delaney drops another $7.7 million into his campaign in

The former Maryland congressman loaned himself another $7.75 million this quarter, $7 million of which came just three days before close of books, according to a new campaign finance report filed on Monday. Delaney raised only a little more than $284,000 between April and June this year, far less than the $1.9 million he raised last quarter.

Delaney, who has been the biggest television ad spender among 2020 contenders, reportedly spending more than $11 million this quarter, but only a little over $2 million of that actually went to his campaign activities -- $9 million was a loan repayment for himself in April. Delaney has poured nearly $20 million of his own money into the campaign so far this year.

With his last minute-self financing, Delaney ended the quarter with $7.4 million cash on hand.

Kirsten Gillibrand raises $2.3 million in the second quarter

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., released her second quarter fundraising numbers on the same day as the FEC filing deadline, announcing that her campaign raised $2.3 million with an average grassroots donation of $15. Her campaign closes out the second quarter of the year with more than $8.2 million cash on hand.

For Gillibrand, who has centered her campaign on fighting for reproductive rights, 65% of her online donors identified as women, according to the campaign.

Last quarter, Gillibrand raised $3 million, and transferred $9.6 million from her prior campaign committees. She ended the first quarter with $10.2 million cash on hand.

Kamala Harris rakes in $12 million, sells 1,400 "That Little Girl Was Me" T-shirts

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate and Senator Kamala Harris speaks during a Fourth of July House Party in Indianola, Iowa, July 4, 2019.
Democratic presidential candidate and Senator Kamala Harris speaks during a Fourth of July House Party in Indianola, Iowa, July 4, 2019.
Scott Morgan/Reuters

Sen. Harris' sharp debate performance last week launched her into double digits in multiple polls and re-energized her campaign, but her big hauls in the few days following the debate stopped short of bringing her on top of some of her 2020 rivals' massive hauls.

The California Democrat's campaign announced Friday she raised $12 million in the second quarter of this year, placing her below Pete Buttigieg's $24,8 million, Biden's $21.5 million and Bernie Sanders' $18 million.

That's not to say the debate had no effect on her fundraising -- Harris brought in $2 million in the 24 hours after the first debate, the most they have raised since launching in January, according to the campaign, and another $1.2 million online over the weekend.

According to the campaign, the Harris campaign raised more than half a million from its online store, which sold 1,400 "That Little Girl Was Me" T-shirts featuring a photo of Harris as a young girl, a quote and an image that went viral after the presidential debate, when Harris challenged Biden on his claims of working with segregationists and his stance against busing decades ago, telling a personal story of being bused to school as a little girl.

The $12 million sum comes from 279,000 donors, 150,000 of which were new. The average donation was $39 and average online donation was $24.

John Hickenlooper raises a little more than $1.1 million

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper raised just over $1.1 million during the second quarter, according to the FEC. His campaign spent more money than it raised this quarter, spending more than $1.6 million. The campaign has less than $850,000 cash on hand.

Jay Inslee raised over $3 million in the second quarter

PHOTO: 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Washington Gov. Jay Inslee waits to speak at a round table discussion about climate change, March 5, 2019, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
2020 Democratic presidential candidate Washington Gov. Jay Inslee waits to speak at a round table discussion about climate change, March 5, 2019, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Charlie Neibergall/AP

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who was the only governor to reach the individual contributor threshold to qualify for the first debate last month, again outraised other governors in the race, according to the campaign. He brought in more than $3 million in the second quarter of this year. Inslee's second quarter haul came from 96,000 donations with an average of $32, the campaign announced.

"Governor Inslee's grassroots campaign for climate action is building momentum at the right time," Inslee's deputy campaign manager Ben Unger said in a statement to ABC News.

Inslee raised $2.25 million in the first quarter of this year.

Amy Klobuchar raised nearly $4 million

The Minnesota senator raised a total of $3.87 million in the second quarter of this year and has $6.7 million cash on hand, according to the campaign's announcement. About 86% of the donations came from grassroots donors giving less than $100, and the average contribution was $47.49.

The campaign also announced that it now has more than 100,000 unique donors.

Beto O'Rourke raises $3.6 million, almost a third of his first quarter fundraising haul

The onetime Texas congressman raised $3.6 million in the second quarter, the campaign announced on Monday. The second quarter sum from O'Rourke, who was one of the top fundraisers in the first quarter, is a far cry from the over $6 million he raised just in the first 24 hours of launching his campaign and the total of $9.4 million he raised throughout the first quarter.

But the campaign continues to boast grassroots support, with 99% of the second quarter contributions coming from online and 98% below $200, according to the campaign. The average donation in this quarter was $30, from nearly 120,000 total donations.

Bernie Sanders matches first quarter haul, underpinned by his grassroots support

PHOTO: Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) greets supporters before marching in the Nashua Pride Parade in Nashua, N.H., June 29, 2019.
Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) greets supporters before marching in the Nashua Pride Parade in Nashua, N.H., June 29, 2019.
Brian Snyder/Reuters

Sanders trailed behind Buttigieg, raising $18 million in the second quarter from about a million individual contributions, the campaign announced Tuesday.

The Vermont senator entered the contest with a pre-existing and active donor base, and 99.3% of their donations were $100 or less. The average donation was $18, according to the campaign, and a campaign staffer told ABC News that 46% of the second quarter donors were new contributors.

The campaign also transferred $6 million from prior accounts, bringing their total to $24 million, Sanders' campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, notes. Shakir also said he estimates the campaign to report nearly $30 million cash on hand.

This marks a different status for Sanders from last quarter -- when he led the pack of Democratic contenders with an $18.2 million haul from 525,000 individual contributors after launching his campaign Feb. 19 -- and from 2015 -- when he brought in a notable $13.7 million, as reported in July 2015, after launching his insurgent campaign against Hillary Clinton on April 30.

On a call with reporters Tuesday, senior adviser Jeff Weaver said the campaign is not concerned about its fundraising falling behind because they have name recognition and because they believe candidates relying on high-dollar fundraisers will eventually hit a walll.

"Many of these candidates are over-reliant on these $2800 checks that are coming in and those $2800 checks. ... That's a one time donation, and they have to go out and look for another $2800 donor," Weaver said.

Elizabeth Warren raises $19 million, more than three times the amount she raised last quarter

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks during a Chicago Town Hall, June 28, 2019.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks during a Chicago Town Hall, June 28, 2019.
Amr Alfiky/AP

The Massachusetts Democrat on Monday announced raising $19.1 million from March through June this year, outraising Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Kamala Harris of California, and falling short of South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Joe Biden.

Warren's second quarter haul, which is more than three times the amount she raised in the first three months of this year, came from a total of 683,000 individual contributions from 384,000 grassroots donors, according to the campaign's email to supporters. More than 80 percent of the donations in the second quarter was from first-time donors to her presidential campaign. The average donation was $28, the same as last quarter.

The Massachusetts Democrat is going into the second half of this year with $19,7 million left in the campaign's war chest, competing with about $30 million in Sanders' campaign and $22.6 million in Buttigieg's campaign.

Marianne Williamson pulls in $1.5 million

Author Marianne Williamson brought in over $1.5 million, but also spent $1.5 million throughout the quarter.

Williamson also reported owing a little over $300,000 to various vendors, ranging from $63,000 for online ads, $60,000 for campaign consulting and $75 for hair and makeup services.

President Donald Trump looms in the distance -- and out-front with staggering haul

Meanwhile, Trump's campaign announced it raised $54 million from April through June. This includes money raised through the president's campaign as well as his joint fundraising committees with the Republican National Committee.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to U.S. troops based in the Osan Airbase, South Korea, June 30, 2019.
President Donald Trump speaks to U.S. troops based in the Osan Airbase, South Korea, June 30, 2019.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

In total, the Trump campaign and the RNC raised a whopping $105 million in the second quarter of this year, including nearly $25 million the two entities raised in 24 hours after the president officially announced his re-election bid last month.

By comparison, former President Barack Obama's second presidential campaign raised $46.3 million and the Democratic National Party raised more than $30 million during the second quarter of 2011, according to disclosure reports filed to the Federal Election Commission.

The Trump campaign and Republican party committee will go into the second half of 2019 with about $100 million in the war chest. The Democrats will clearly have to scramble to catch up once they sort out their 20-something-person primary field -- who are all currently fundraising without the help of the party committee, unlike the president.

Trump's lone Republican challenger raises just short of $700,000

Trump's sole Republican primary challenger, former Gov. Bill Weld, said Wednesday that his campaign raised $688,000 from donations during the second quarter of 2019.

The Weld campaign told ABC News that since jumping into the race in mid-April, they've raised short of $700,000 from 7,000 donors. The former Massachusetts governor also poured $181,000 of his own money into the campaign, bringing the second quarter total to $869,000. The average donation for the quarter was $98, according to the campaign.

ABC News' Will Steakin, Adam Kelsey, Lissette Rodriguez, Justin Gomez, John Verhovek, Molly Nagle and Averi Harper contributed to this report.

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