Harris, Walz to address top donors next week

Vice President Harris and her vice presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), will address her campaign’s top donors over a call next week, a source familiar with the planning told The Hill. 

The meeting comes weeks after Harris lost to President-elect Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Trump won all seven battleground states, secured the popular vote and made gains in some Democratic strongholds. 

The 2024 Democratic ticket will speak with their National Finance Committee on Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. EST, the source said. 

“Your support and leadership made this campaign possible and the Vice President and Governor Walz are looking forward to having the opportunity to reconnect and express their appreciation for your partnership and support,” Democratic National Committee (DNC) finance directors Michael Pratt and Colleen Coffey said in the invitations to donors that was reviewed by The Hill’s partner, NewsNation. 

The Harris campaign broke fundraising records during the three-month period on the campaign trail, bringing in north of $1 billion. But in the aftermath of the loss to Trump, the campaign’s spending strategy has come under scrutiny with the operation reportedly being $20 million in debt. 

“As of Election Day, there were no outstanding debts or bills overdue and there will be no debt on either the DNC or HFP report for post general report,” Patrick Stauffer, Harris campaign’s chief financial officer, said in response earlier this week.

Some Democrats have scrutinized the campaign’s spending choices, including expenditures on production related to celebrity-filled events with Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey and other A-listers. Others have called for an audit of campaign spending, along with allied Super PACs. 

“As part of the autopsy of this campaign, an audit of all funding should be done so we understand what went right and what went wrong,” Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau said. “When you lose, you question everything, but we shouldn’t start with, ‘Every dollar that was spent was stupid money.’”

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