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Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Record-breaking donations pour in from the left after Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death

WASHINGTON – Record-breaking money poured in from the political left to Democratic candidates after the death Friday of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as Democrats braced for a nomination fight before the presidential election and looked to build momentum for a Senate takeover.

The fundraising energy set off a debate within the  party.

As some sought to boost Kentucky Democrat Amy McGrath in her uphill reelection challenge against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, others said the money would be better spent elsewhere.

The liberal-backed ActBlue – a donation-processing site that helps Democratic candidates, committees and organizations raise money – reported more than $95 million raised  from the time Ginsburg's death was announced until Sunday morning.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's last wish: 'I will not be replaced until a new president is installed'

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The number is based on a live tracker on ActBlue's website that tallies Democratic fundraising numbers in real time.

In the first hour after Ginsburg's death, ActBlue raised $6.3 million, more than any other one-hour time frame since ActBlue launched 16 years ago. A record 1.5 million contributions came through ActBlue within 24 hours after Ginsburg's death. The organization broke its record in money raised in one day. 

“Amid the devastating loss of Justice Ginsburg, it is inspiring to see people taking action to honor her legacy," ActBlue Executive Director Erin Hill said in a statement. "The record-breaking response we've seen from small-dollar donors shows that the left is eager to fulfill her final wish and ready to fight back against Trump and McConnell’s vow to push through a Supreme Court nominee."

Helping fuel the donations: more than $18 million – and counting – raised through "Get Mitch or Die Trying." Led by a group of former Obama administration aides behind Crooked Media, the effort raises money for 13 Democratic Senate candidates in battleground races.

Similar information for right-leaning and Republican fundraising efforts was not immediately available.

Funding efforts to fight court nominee, regain Senate

Liberals are likely to launch a vigorous campaign to try to block any nominee from President Donald Trump to replace Ginsburg, who was one of the court's liberal justices. Saturday, Trump called on Republicans to move on a replacement "without delay."

Democrats hope to capture the activism on the left to help their efforts in November to take control of the Senate, where Republicans have a 53-47 majority.

More:Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies, setting up nomination fight

Democrats would love nothing more than to unseat McConnell, who faces a reelection challenge from McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot. The seat isn't among the most likely Republican-held seats to flip.

Joe Lockhart, former press secretary for President Bill Clinton, called on Democrats to donate to the McGrath campaign. 

"Anyone looking to send a political message tonight, take out your credit card tonight and contribute to Amy McGrath," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to the media after a Republican policy luncheon at the Capitol in Washington, June 9, 2020.

Other Democrats echoed that sentiment across social media.

Kevin Kruse, a Princeton University history professor and outspoken liberal, pointed to McConnell's sizable poll lead. A Quinnipiac University poll this week found McConnell ahead 53% to 41%, among likely Kentucky voters.

More:Latest poll shows Mitch McConnell with double-digit lead over Amy McGrath

"Yes, Mitch McConnell is up for reelection right now, but he’s still holding a double-digit lead despite Amy McGrath getting a ton of money," Kruse said. "If you want to beat him, focus instead on denying him a majority in the Senate. Donate to the @dscc," referring to Senate Democrats as a whole.

Although he didn't mention McGrath by name, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, urged Democrats in a tweet to give to the "Get Mitch or Die Trying" cause.

"Give here," he said. "Don’t pick your favorite candidate or the one you’ve heard of. Give here. I repeat, this money goes directly to the most competitive races, not just the most famous candidates."

The McGrath campaign did not respond to an email asking how much it has raised since Ginsburg's death. McConnell's campaign could not immediately provide a fundraising figure.

More:McConnell says Senate will vote on Trump's nominee to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat

Ginsburg's death is sure to inspire fundraising activity on the political right as well.

The anti-abortion groups National Right to Life and the Susan B. Anthony List did not respond to emails seeking fundraising figures. Efforts to reach WinRed, the ActBlue equivalent for Republican candidates, were unsuccessful. WinRed did not have a fundraising figure posted on its website.

Trump's campaign, the Republican National Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund – a Super PAC that raises money for Republican candidates – could not immediately be reached.

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.

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