RFK’s Fundraising Efforts Generate $7 Million, Attracting Support from Donors Associated with Trump

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s presidential campaign, after announcing his independent run in early October, has raised over $7 million through December. Most of the donations came from previous donors to former President Donald Trump, rather than President Joe Biden.

According to a Politico analysis of filings submitted to the Federal Election Commission late Tuesday, $5 million came from itemized donations of more than $200, with about $224,000 of the donors who gave money to Trump’s 2020 campaign.

In comparison, $105,000 came from donors to Biden’s 2020 campaign against Trump.

The figures show a trend that was happening while Kennedy was still in the Democratic primary and suggest that he could gain interest from Trump supporters if he and Trump face Biden in November’s general election. 

Meanwhile, the figures also show that Kennedy’s campaign spent $7.7 million in the period from October to December, more than was raised during that period, leaving $5.4 million in its account as of Dec. 31.

Out of the campaign spending, the largest single expense category was $1.1 million for staff salaries. Another $740,000 was spent on campaign and digital media consulting, with other major expenses including more than $500,000 for private security and $464,000 for media production.

Meanwhile, Kennedy’s donors who were also former Trump donors dropped in the fourth quarter, after he dropped his bid to campaign against Biden in a Democratic primary and is running as an independent planning to run against Trump in November.