Record spending in the US elections: how much did Harris and Trump invest in their campaigns
The US presidential candidates – Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris – raised a total of $4.2 billion for their campaigns, spending $3.5 billion of it. The largest expenditures were on media and advertising, the Financial Times reports.
The 2024 elections have become the most expensive in US history, the study emphasises. The final report filed by the parties in mid-October showed that the Harris and Trump campaigns, along with outside groups and party committees, raised nearly $4.2 billion.
In particular, Democrats raised more than $2.3 billion, of which they spent $1.9 billion. Republicans raised over $1.8 billion and spent $1.6 billion.
An analysis of financial statements shows that the main funds from both parties were spent on media campaigns and advertising, focused mainly on seven key states that will determine the outcome of the election.
In addition, a significant portion of Trump’s spending was directed at legal cases against him, with more than $100 million, or about 14% of all campaign funds, spent on this.
Earlier, Reuters reported that entrepreneur Elon Musk, before opening his support for Donald Trump, had been funding a conservative political organisation for several years that criticised Joe Biden’s administration.
