What new fundraising figures tell us about the 2024 GOP presidential primary field

Former President Donald Trump pulls double than the numbers of his GOP opponents, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) spends about what he makes, and ex-Vice President Mike Pence has a debt problem.

These are just some of the key takeaways on the state of the Republican presidential race after the early Monday deadline for campaign finance disclosures to be filed with the Federal Election Commission. The third primary debate in November includes strict requirements for qualification as the country inches closer to what increasingly looks like a 2024 rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden.

BIDEN CLOSED Q3 WITH MORE CASH ON HAND THAN ENTIRE GOP FIELD

“I’d say Trump, DeSantis, and Haley got what they needed out of this fundraising quarter,” Rob Pyers, a campaign finance expert, told the Washington Examiner. “Trump is still clearly the favorite. But a data point that stuck out to me was Trump’s Make America Great Again Inc. is insisting the primaries are over and yet still spending money against DeSantis. It’s the only Republican candidate the super PAC continues to target.”

Trump holds a commanding 58% lead in the GOP primary, followed by DeSantis at 13%, ex-Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley at 7.6%, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy at roughly 6%, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average. Meanwhile, Pence is at 3.7%, followed by ex-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 2.8%, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) at 2%, Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) at 0.8%, and Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) at 0.4%.

Trump

The latest disclosures provide an inside look at the financial stability and varying appeal of White House hopefuls, as donors look to throw their weight behind candidates they determine could enjoy broad support among voters to unseat Biden. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told the Washington Examiner he is “powered by grassroots and everyday Americans who are sick and tired of living in Crooked Joe Biden’s America.”

“The fact is that President Trump will be the nominee and will beat Biden because he’s the only person who can supercharge the economy, secure our border, safeguard communities, and put an end to unnecessary wars,” Cheung said.

The former president’s campaign hauled in $24.5 million between July and September, while Biden pocketed $24.7 million, not including joint fundraising accounts. Trump’s fundraising lead comes as his legal troubles continue to mount (four indictments), though small-dollar donors have been his bread and butter. Trump’s cash on hand was $37 million.

Only 4% of the Trump campaign’s haul was from contributors giving the maximum $3,300 for the primary, while over 40% of the DeSantis camp’s haul was from maxed-out donors, NBC News reported, noting Scott and Haley enjoyed 30% from maxed contributors.

As far as debates, Trump has been a no-show, and his campaign called on the Republican National Committee in October to “immediately cancel the upcoming debate in Miami and end all future debates in order to refocus its manpower and money on preventing Democrats’ efforts to steal the 2024 election.”

(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

DeSantis

The Florida governor disclosed $11.1 million in donations, while the DeSantis-allied super PAC Never Back Down had $97 million on hand at the end of June. The campaign had $12.3 million on hand.

The DeSantis campaign notably spent $11 million in the third quarter and reported $1 million in unpaid invoices. It dished out roughly $1.5 million on private jets, among other travel, including commercial flights.

The disclosure shows the governor sought to reduce spending following a handful of Republican donors fleeing DeSantis. It spent $1.3 million in September, down from $3.8 million in August and almost $6 million in July. Moreover, the campaign did not report paying six companies that it had used in the past for private travel, including N2024D LLC, IsraJets, Empyreal Jet, Silver Air Private Jets, Advanced Aviation Team, and Avion Aviation, Politico reported.

Meanwhile, the DeSantis campaign spent about $1.3 million on payroll, as it reduced over a third of its staff this summer. It listed 63 staffers on its payroll by Sept. 29, whereas there were 90 paid on July 14, according to reports.

“Anyone that knows Ron DeSantis knows that he is a fighter, a winner, and a leader,” DeSantis campaign manager James Uthmeier said. “This significant fundraising haul not only provides us with the resources we need in the fight for Iowa and beyond, but it also shuts down the doubters who counted out Ron DeSantis for far too long. Ron DeSantis is the only candidate with the vision to reverse America’s decline and the track record to prove he will get the job done.”

Haley

Haley’s campaign disclosed $11.55 million on hand and hauled in $8.2 million for the quarter. The committee only spent about $3.5 million.

“We have seen a big surge in support and have real momentum,” Haley spokeswoman Olivia Perez-Cubas said. “Nikki is emerging as the candidate who can move America beyond the chaos and drama of the past and present, and we have the resources we need to do it.”

Haley has seen a surge in the polls after the second debate, seeking to position herself as a Trump alternative with an appeal toward suburban voters. Amid DeSantis’s momentum seemingly stalling this summer after his campaign’s staffing and brand chaos, the former South Carolina governor has leaned into her criticism of rivals, including Scott, accusing him of accomplishing little in Congress.

Haley has also particularly slammed Ramaswamy for his more isolationist foreign policy.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Ramaswamy

The 38-year-old entrepreneur pulled in $7.4 million in the past three months, including a $1 million in-kind contribution he made to his campaign. He previously loaned the campaign $15 million.

Ramaswamy disclosed $4.2 million on hand. His campaign told the Washington Examiner that around 40% of his contributors had never given to Republicans. He also raised $2.8 million from donors who gave under $200 — demonstrating how the White House hopeful has built a sizable grassroots base.

Since announcing his run, Ramaswamy has sought to align himself with Trump, whom he has called “the best president of the 21st century.”

“Vivek has held more than 250 events since he launched his campaign — his showing up on the ground and talking to everyone, not just those who agree with him, but those who ardently disagree with him, is building trust,” Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for Ramaswamy, told the Washington Examiner. “I think people can tell when you are saying what you believe versus when you are telling people what you think they want to hear. That kind of authenticity begets trust and builds a movement.”

Scott

The Scott campaign posted $13.3 million on hand and raised $4.6 million while spending over $12.3 million, records show. The numbers are in contrast to Haley’s, who has kept expenses down, following Scott at the beginning of his bid having $21 million from a Senate campaign transfer.

“Tim Scott is the only candidate with the resources and message to win the nomination and beat Joe Biden,” campaign spokeswoman Nicole Morales told the Washington Examiner. “Tim’s strong, consistent, and conservative message continues to resonate with voters. On the issues, Tim has led while others have followed. This campaign is built for the long haul and will continue to share Tim’s message to protect the American dream for generations to come.”

(AP Photo/Reba Saldanha)

Christie

Christie, a staunch anti-Trump candidate, received $3.7 million and spent $1.4 million. He disclosed $3.9 million on hand.

Last month, Christie told the New York Times, “If I don’t do well in New Hampshire, then I’ll leave,” referring to the state’s primary. The campaign, which has worked remotely and not had a headquarters, touted Sunday how he has no debt.

Republican strategists and lawmakers have argued that Christie clearly has no chance of nabbing the nomination and would serve his party by dropping out of the primary. “Chris Christie is wasting voters’ time,” ex-Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore, a former RNC chairman, said recently in an op-ed.

Burgum

The North Dakota governor hauled in $3.4 million, with $2 million of that coming from his own pockets. Like other candidates, Burgum will need to poll at least 4% in various national and state polls and have 70,000 contributors to qualify for the next debate.

Pence

The former vice president raised $3.3 million in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Pence’s campaign disclosed over $600,000 in debt and $1.2 million on hand, records show. Pence also gave his campaign $150,000.

The report, which one “Pence ally” told Politico was “brutal,” comes as he fails to surge in the primary and has not had any notable standout moments in the debates. A spokesman for Pence declined to comment.

(Susan Walsh/AP)

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Hutchinson

The Arkansas governor, who has argued that Trump is unfit to lead the country, pocketed a mere $666,000 in the third quarter and had $325,000 on hand. His campaign spent $720,000.