Two months after Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss to Donald Trump, the Harris Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee with the Democratic National Committee (DNC), is still charging monthly recurring donors. This has led to dissatisfaction among some Democratic supporters.
A Democratic operative, who wished to remain anonymous, shared screenshots of their donations and expressed frustration, stating, “It’s silly, out of touch, and needlessly takes advantage of our most loyal supporters.” While the operative understood a December charge due to campaign wrap-up expenses, they were surprised by a January charge. The committee had sent emails thanking donors for their “generous monthly commitment” and indicating that donations would continue “until you contact us.”
This situation highlights ongoing ethical concerns about online fundraising, particularly with recurring credit-card contributions. The 2020 Trump campaign faced criticism for making it difficult for donors to see they were signing up for monthly donations, resulting in over $64 million in refunds.
In contrast, the Harris Victory Fund’s issue is not about undisclosed recurring donations but whether these contributions should continue post-election. A DNC official stated that Harris urged Democrats to “stay in the fight,” and while the Harris Victory Fund donation page remains active on ActBlue, the funds now go directly to the DNC. Donors can cancel their contributions at any time.
However, this raises ethical questions about redirecting funds initially intended for Harris. A senior digital staffer from Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign noted that their recurring donations ended shortly after his loss, calling the Harris fund’s continued charges “super shady” and akin to “grifting.”
Mike Nellis, head of the Democratic online fundraising firm Authentic, believes that recurring donations should typically end after a campaign’s defeat. However, he supports the DNC’s decision to continue pulling donations from Harris donors if it remains transparent and compliant with ActBlue and FEC regulations.
