Some prominent Democratic donors are balking at contributing to Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid, suggesting she’d never beat Donald Trump because she’s too unpopular.
Big money donors have quietly advised promising candidates — who they view as the future of the party — including Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to hold their powder and let Harris clinch the democratic nomination.
Sources told The Post it is “impossible” for anyone besides Harris to get the nomination given the decision has to be made in mere weeks. These people add that it would be “suicide” to try and mount a challenge at this point since President Biden has anointed Harris as his successor.
One deep-pocketed donor told The Post he does not believe any Democrat can win in 2024 — and that it makes sense for Harris to take the fall on some of Biden’s most unpopular positions like immigration. The source dismissed the idea that Harris would push Democrats to victory, “It’s the same ticket … it’s over for both of them [Biden and Harris].”
The person added that he and other donors will lay low the rest of 2024 and instead focus on supporting candidates they believe can win in 2028.
Veep Kamala Harris is already running for president. Pool/ABACA/ShutterstockOther mega donors are opening up publicly on X about their concerns over Harris’ political stances.
“You have to be enthusiastic or hoping for a political appointment to be asking friends for money. I am neither. It’s others turn now,” deep-pocketed donor John Morgan wrote on X, hours after Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 race.
“The donors holding the 90 million can release those funds in the morning. It’s all yours. You can keep my million. And good luck,” added Morgan, a Florida personal injury lawyer, referring to the group of party contributors who recently refused to allow their donated money to be used to fuel what was widely seen as Biden’s doomed bid.
Morgan previously donated $1 million to the former Biden-Harris campaign.
He said he sees Biden’s endorsement of his controversial second-in-command as the president’s revenge.
“Joe Biden’s endorsement of Kamala is his f–k you to all who pushed him out,” Morgan wrote. “Be careful what you wish for.”
Morgan implied he wants another, more centrist Democrat to take up the mantle.
“Any combination of these people win,” Morgan said, tagging Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV), Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro — adding that former first lady Michelle Obama “wins in a landslide with any of these picks.”
The latest on President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- Biden drops out of presidential race: live updates
- Kamala Harris campaign flooded with ‘record-breaking’ $81 million in donations in first 24 hours after Biden drops out
- Top Dems threatened to forcibly remove Biden from office unless he resigned, set him up to fail at Trump debate: sources
- Schumer, Pelosi played ‘good cop, bad cop’ to convince Biden to drop out with ex-speaker stating, ‘Easy way or the hard way’
- Trump and JD Vance accuse Dems of leading ‘coup’ against Biden, call to ‘invoke the 25th Amendment’
Morgan’s criticism is bad news for Harris’ campaign, which has been furiously reaching out to donors and key allies since Biden dropped out Sunday afternoon.
And other significant Democratic donors also say they would rather have a contested convention to see who could best beat GOP rival Trump — implying Harris may be too weak to be Biden’s shoo-in campaign replacement.
Deep-pocketed Dem donor John Morgan says he will not donate to Harris. @SmartandSafeFl/X“I want an open process at the convention and not a coronation. The key still is who can best beat [Trump] above all other priorities given how much a danger he is,” Dem donor and tech investor Vinod Khoslawrote on X.
Morgan made his statement on X, ending with “good luck.” @JohnMorganESQ/XMega-donor Reed Hastings also expressed doubts about Harris’ voter viability.
“We have hope now,” Hastings told the New York Times after the president dropped out. “Dem delegates need to pick a swing state winner.
Harris is considered the leading candidate to replace President Biden at the top of the Democratic Party’s ticket — but has yet to win the endorsement of some top key Dems. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD / USA TODAY NETWORK“Thank you, Joe Biden,” he added.
Harris does have a large amount of endorsements behind her already from key Democrats, but some top leaders — including former President Barack Obama and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — have not thrown their weight behind her, at least yet.
What to know about President Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- President Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race — after weeks of prominent Democrats and donors calling on him to withdraw following his disastrous performance in the first presidential debate.
- In a letter posted on X Sunday afternoon, Biden admitted that it is in the “best interest of my party and country” for him to step down as the Democratic nominee.
- Biden wrote that he intends to serve out the remainder of his term and will address the country on his decision later this week.
- In a follow-up X post, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the suddenly open Democratic nomination. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” the president wrote.
- Former President Donald Trump reacted to the news by labeling Biden the “worst president in the history of our country” in a call with CNN.
Still, she managed to raise $49.6 million in the half-day after Biden endorsed her Sunday afternoon, her campaign announced.
Other donors supporting Harris point to the record sums she secured in less than 24 hours following Biden’s decision to drop out – and say they are confident she will be able to raise record amounts.
“Basically everyone who could challenge her has endorsed her at this point … she has rallied plenty of donors who recognize the existential threat that is posed,” one donor said.
“I’ve never seen that kind of engagement before,” the person added.
On Monday, Dem super PAC Future Forward also announced they received $150 million in donations since Harris got Biden’s endorsement. The money came from donors who were worried about Biden but are no longer stalling their cash flow, per Politico.
The vice president has three weeks to prove to donors and delegates that she is the best choice to replace Biden on the ticket before the Democratic National Convention votes for its official presidential nominee.
It seems likely that Harris will be the prominent candidate at the convention. Most top potential Democratic candidates who could have challenged Harris have already endorsed her, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Shapiro and Beshear.






