With fewer than 40 days until Election Day, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has a sizable advantage locally in a key measure of voter support: individual financial contributions.
Harris has raised $608,000, nearly double the $264,000 collected by Donald Trump, the former president and Republican nominee. Her take so far also is outpacing Democratic contributions in the last two presidential campaigns and could set a record in Monroe County by the time votes are counted.
Nationwide, the story is much the same. Harris is ahead of Trump in overall fundraising ($678.2 million vs. $309.2 million), spending ($445.3 vs. $178.4 million), and cash on hand ($235.4 million vs. $134.5 million). Based on campaign statements and media reports, contributions to Harris surged in August—when the Democratic Party held its national convention—and dwarfed donations to Trump ($190 million to $45 million).
The fundraising edge Harris has gained locally, documented in the most recently available federal election finance data (spanning the period from the beginning of 2023 until the end of July), is not unexpected. The Rochester area has been an increasingly blue stronghold, for a number of reasons. Voter enrollment in the Democratic Party has steadily grown (up 48 percent since 2006), while Republican enrollment has fallen in that same time frame (down 23 percent since 2006). Democrats currently hold a 87,000 enrollment advantage in the county.
Among enrolled voters in Monroe County, 41 percent are Democrats, 25 percent are Republicans, 27 percent are unaffiliated, with the remaining 6 percent enrolled in third parties. This Democratic advantage is reflected in recent presidential elections as well, where Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden topped Trump with 55 percent and 59 percent of the vote countywide in 2016 and 2020, respectively.
Local donations
Among individual donors in Rochester, the Harris campaign raised more than $608,000 in 67 weeks. (No contributions were recorded until after April 2024.) Unique donors (1,279) on average donated $133. About half of the total sum was in the “Transfers From Other Authorized Committees” category; that is, transfers to Harris from Biden committees after he withdrew.
Contribution limits set by the Federal Election Commission for individuals are determined by the donation recipient. For example, individual contributions to local or state party committees, such as the New York State Democratic Party or New York Republican State Committee, are limited to $10,000 per year. The limit for national party committees is $41,300 per year.
Candidate committees, such as Harris for President or Donald J. Trump for President 2024 Inc., have a yearly contribution limit for individual donors of $3,300. Therefore the maximum donation possible for currently available data is $6,600 since the period covers 2023 and 2024.
Individuals in ZIP codes within the town of Brighton and city of Rochester were the biggest donors to the Harris campaign, accounting for 28 percent of the total funds raised. ZIP codes fully within Rochester and those in the town of Pittsford contributed 24 percent and 18 percent to the total, respectively.
The majority of individual donors listed themselves as unemployed or retired. Among the employed contributors who gave to Harris, the largest number of them worked at the University of Rochester. The most common occupations listed were physician, registered nurse, professor, attorney, and teacher.
Large donors to the Harris campaign include Jody Flesicher, one of the founders of Bakewise Brands; and Eric Rueckwald, a real estate developer who runs Rueckwald Management Corp., who each are listed as giving $6,000. Former Rochester Institute of Technology president William Destler and University of Rochester Medical Center ophthalmic surgeon Scott MacRae each contributed $5,000.
Most striking about the Harris campaign numbers is the spike in local donations on the day Biden announced he was withdrawing from the race. The week of July 21 (the day Biden made the announcement), the Harris campaign received 1,049 donations totaling over $176,000, nearly 29 percent of its total take in the Rochester area.
The Trump campaign’s 85-week total of $264,000 came from 651 unique donors with an average donation of $43. (Unlike Harris, Trump lists contributions through the entire period from January 2023 to July 2024.) Similar to the Harris campaign, most Trump campaign contributors are retired. Unlike his opponent, there was no commonality among other Trump donors with their employers or occupations.
Even if they were in small amounts, a number of those who gave to Trump were committed donors. Richard Colt, a sales associate at Walmart, is listed in the dataset for 550 separate contributions. Retirees Lyn Ward, Richard Bassney, and Carol Bronson hold the next highest spots with 344, 240, and 213 entries, respectively. The separate donations among those four individuals varied but were typically under $12.
In total, Colt gave $1,800, Ward donated $2,400, Bassney gave $700 and Bronson contributed $2,500.
Contributors who gave in larger amounts included Jerry Cellura, a dentist in Spencerport, who gave $5,100 over two years. In April 2024, Jeffrey Marks, a lawyer, also donated $5,000 to the Trump campaign. Thomas Wilmot, a leader of the Wilmorite Management Group, gave $3,000.
Trump’s financial support was strongest in ZIP codes that include Webster, Pittsford and Fairport, although he was roughly equal to or trailed Harris’ fundraising in those same locations. ZIP codes that clearly supported Trump over Harris include those in the towns of Greece, Gates, and Henrietta.
The Trump campaign donations remained steady in Rochester throughout the reporting period. The best week was at the end of May, when a jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts in a New York criminal hush-money case; his campaign raised $35,800 locally. The first attempted assassination of Trump, on July 13, and Republican National Convention starting on July 15 resulted in slight bumps in donations.
Recent history
Both parties saw primary competition at some point over the past two presidential elections, which likely affected fundraising results at the time.
Democrats’ choice in 2016 was largely between Clinton, the former secretary of state and establishment candidate, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, a challenger from the progressive left. The two had a competitive primary battle before Sanders eventually endorsed Clinton, who held the majority of delegates, a few days before the Democratic National Convention.
At the same point in the election cycle, Clinton’s fundraising efforts in Monroe County were far lower than the Harris campaign’s total. In fact, through July 2016, Clinton’s total of $262,000 was $10,000 less than the amount Sanders had collected in the local area. Her funds did increase in the months leading up to the general election, with a total of $591,000 at the end.
In 2020, Biden distanced himself from another crowded primary pack and became the presumptive Democratic nominee in April. He ultimately eclipsed the $1.16 million mark in Monroe County donations, nearly doubling Clinton’s total.
Harris’ $608,000 raised locally through the month of July is even better than Biden’s, who had $324,000 at the same point in his 2020 campaign. If Harris can replicate even a modicum of Biden’s success in the months of August, September, and October, she will set a new contributions record in Monroe County.
The Republican field in 2016 was a more splintered group, which included Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio; two governors, Jeb Bush and John Kasich; and political outsiders such as neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, and the eventual primary race winner, Trump.
Trump defeated Clinton in the 2016 general election, but without much financial help from voters in Monroe County. His campaign picked up a mere $157,000 here across the entire year of fundraising.
In 2020, Trump was the unquestioned Republican pick and enjoyed his best financial performance in the Rochester area. He collected $356,000 through the month of July, nearly $100,000 more than his current level. In total, he raised $692,000 that year.
In both previous races, the Democratic candidate dominated the fundraising. Biden took 63 percent of all Monroe County contributions in 2020; Clinton eight years ago received 78 percent. Harris will likely continue that trend, currently with 70 percent of the total raised by the two major-party candidates.
Other races
In Rochester-area races, several incumbent Democrats are facing challenges this year. Rep. Joe Morelle is opposed by businessman Gregg Sadwick in the 25th Congressional District. FEC records show that through the month of July, Morelle has raised over $1.6 million while spending $965,000. In comparison, Sadwick raised $256,000 and spent $102,000.
State Sen.Jeremy Cooney is up against former Gates chief of police James VanBrederode and Sen. Samra Brouk faces businessman Luis Martinez.
According to state Board of Elections records, Cooney raised a hefty $419,000 during the most recent reporting period, taking his total to $878,000 for the year. He listed $108,000 in expenditures.
VanBrederode, on the other hand, opened this period with less than $1,000 but raised $26,000 during the year. He has also spent heavily, using up $19,000 (74 percent).
Brouk raised $95,000 in the most recent reporting period, bringing her total contributions to $360,000 for the year. She has spent $196,000, according to disclosure reports. Martinez started his campaign with no prior funding but has raised $19,000 so far. He has spent $15,000 as of the most recent reporting period.
Jacob Schermerhorn is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and data journalist. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. Submissions to the Letters page should be sent to [email protected].
Friend, she was a prosecutor, top law enforcement officer in her county and state, not a defense attorney. Altogether different. Kind of like saying Marines are just sailors in funny uniforms. 🙂
I have that feeling you haven’t worn a uniform of any kind. I wore the Marine uniform with pride during a most difficult period. My daughter served in the Navy. My father a decorated Dutch soldier. We have our jokes internally about one vs. the other. In the end we are, all branches, on the same team. Prosecutor she may have been. She was also the last to leave the room in which Joe Biden made a singular decision to withdraw in an impossible timeframe. That caused 13 deaths and a host of injury. Left behind allies and friends. Interpreters who were murdered in the most creative ways. Our international trust factor has been destroyed. Our military is being reduced to dangerous low levels. Your apparent ignorance on the military and foreign policy shows. I’m not a Trump fan, but I deplore the fact that she was proud of murdering our own. And don’t come up with Trump this or that. Biden made that choice AGAINST the joint chief advice, PERIOD. I find that act repulsive. And, lastly, I’m not your friend.
Your assumption is incorrect. Yes the withdrawal was bad, but saying Harris murdered our troops is simply extremist rhetoric. Lest we forget it was Trump who made the deal with our enemies to withdraw releasing those who did the killing. Enough blame to go around, we should have never been there to begin with. Deflection aside, on topic the fact remains Harris was not a defense attorney as you alluded to. Curious how my stating a fact regarding law enforcement makes one ignorant of foreign policy. The point stands.
?! After Brilliant Vice President Kamala Harris was elected District Attorney, she did such a good job, she was elected District Attorney for the most populous state in the nation, California. She did such a good job at that, the people of California trusted her to represent them nationally and elected her to the U.S. Senate, where she impressed on the Judiciary Committee. It was Republican Donald Trump who cowardly kicked the can down the road for the next President (a Democrat), President Biden to finally get our troops out of Afghanistan, the longest war in U.S. history – started by Republican George W. Bush. It was George W. Bush who kicked the can down the road for Democratic President, Brilliant President Barack Obama to be the one to take the bull by the horns and get our troops out of Iraq, ending That war, started by W. Bush, too.
So, President Biden bit the bullet and got us out. Finally. He could have lolly-gagged and beat around the bush and let war linger the way Republicans Bush and Trump had (Again, President Obama had been busy with getting us Out of Iraq). Anyone who cares to see how the U.S. pull-out from Vietnam is welcome to. Any pull-out from War would have been problematic. Even deadly. The kinds of things President Biden has been “faulted” for was not even a blip against other Presidents whose constituents fared far Worse under Republican Presidents’ tenure.
My father was a Marine (and an educator and a businessman), my brother was a Navy Seal, my uncles/cousins were/are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and National Guard vets and active duty. It is not just insulting, but Insane to try to Pretend that brilliant, compassionate, mentally strong Vice President Harris was ever “proud” that any of our military or anyone else were murdered. The glaringly obvious FACT is the exact Opposite. Clearly, She Prosecuted Murderers! It was Dumb Donald Treasonous Trump whose own staff described him as Laughing at the TV as destructive mayhem from his thugs was unleashed against the very seat of democracy, Our Capitol – resulting in the deaths and maiming of brave Capitol police officers!
Vote for Brilliant, Patriotic, Effective, Hardworking, Humorous, Compassionate, Strong, SANE Vice President Harris for President in 2024!! Save Democracy! Vote for All Democrats ’24! Save Democracy! Vote Blue! Save Democracy! Vote Harris/Walz 2024! Save Democracy! Vote for Brilliant, Patriotic, SANE Vice President Kamala Harris! Save Democracy!
Btw, Gary Pudup sounds like he was being nice in calling you “friend.” According to our loving God, you are to be more than just our “friend.” You are to be our brother.
Setting aside the fact that anyone who claims that the US military machine, with a price tag equal to the military spending of the next TEN countries COMBINED is, “being reduced to dangerously low levels”, has all the credibility of someone claiming that Haitians are eating pets in Ohio, I do enjoy how you pretend not to be a Trumpublican and then prcoeed to blame Biden for an Afghan withdrawal deal negotiated by (and bragged endlessly about) by the Trump admininistration. Followed by blaming Biden for a poorly-handled withdrawal TOTALLY the responsibility of the Pentagon and for which they had over a year to plan. And then blaming Biden for the timeframes when in fact he EXTENDED the amount of time Trump had negotiated for the withdrawal. To say nothing about the fact that the major cause for the problems with the withdrawal was the actions of the Taliban thgugs Trump released under his deal long before Biden was elected.
It’s kinda sad when you think about it. We have so many talented, solid intellectuals in this country. Yet we end up with two candidates that are what? Marginal at best. But we still chose a side and then talk them up. We hold them up so high that you would think that they are actually all we have to offer. Then we write articles about how much money they raise. How about policies, how about international experience, how about military experience. In addition we don’t hold up our candidate because he/she is the best person for the job, we hold them up because we hate the other. In the end you get what you deserve. Semper Fi.
The article states, “ZIP codes that clearly supported Trump over Harris include those in the towns of Greece, Gates, and Henrietta.” That may leave readers with the wrong impression for Henrietta. Of the four main zip codes in Henrietta (14623, 14467, 14586, and 14534), only 14623 saw greater donations for Trump than Harris. Harris led in donation totals in the other three significant zip codes in Henrietta.
HARRIS messaging is not working, while TRUMP messaging is working to elect him !!!
—————————————————————————————————–
For over a year, now, I have been worried about the ineffective Democratic arguments, against Trump and the Right. I contacted Rep. Morelle and others, to urge them to find better ideas. With all this money they spend on ADS, you would think they would be dominating in polls.
(Einstein said, “Everything should be made as simple, as possible, but not simpler)
It seems to me that it is a simple matter, for Democrats to TEST their arguments out on voter samples, to find what really wakes up voters. Perhaps, they do this, but I don’t sense that.
Now, there is still some time, and I hope Democratic arguments will start to work, for real.
———————————————————————————————————
This election is like no other, in modern times. All Hell may break lose if we get Trump, again. Destructive forces may be unleashed that are beyond anyone’s control. On the other hand, we may be on the threshold of a NEW DEMOCRACY wave, filled with great wonders.
(See: “Democracy by Leonard Cohen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifwtWF485HU )
Predicting that all hell may break loose if Trump wins is both irresponsible and threatening. Obviously you plan on pulling the lever for K.H. So, vote for K.H. or face the wrath of around 50% of the population? Is that the message? I happened to be an independent. That said, I guess I need to stock up on canned food and ammunition. Regarding the “wave filled with wonders”, is that referring to being out there in smoking those off brand cigarettes or suking on those gummies. Can’t we just focus on policies and forget about personalities, games, finger pointing and ….Threats. Happy voting. Semper Fi.
?! Are you serious? All hell may break loose if Trump wins because all hell broke loose when he was in office Before! So what’s with the brazen gaslighting? It is Trump who hurled his thugs at the very seat of democracy, Our Capitol, on Jan. 6th! Not Democrats! It is Dangerous Dumb Donald Treasonous Trump who, according to his own staff, Laughed at the mayhem unfolding at the Capitol before him on his TV screen and who only called off his “doawgs” when he realized they would NOT be allowed to turn our democracy into a dictatorship for him. No Democrat did that. So stop pretending that anyone was suggesting that Democrats would go berserk the way some of the crazy Republican followers of Trump have. Democrats won’t do that. And that is yet another reason Why Democrats should be Elected from President all the way down ballot in November! Save Democracy! Vote Blue!
As for policies? Again, it was the great, effective Biden/Harris Administration that actually pushed for and Got the crucial, jobs-creating Infrastructure Bill passed and signed into Law. But Incompetent, ineffective, lazy, easily distracted Trump only Promised to get an Infrastructure Bill passed but Never did! Vote for Effective Leadership! Vote for Brilliant Vice President Kamala Harris!
Allow me to add another song, “Gimme Hope Kamala” by the Marsh Family of UK
I think her campaign has to “jazz things up” and music might help, to sustain the energy.
“There’s no business like SHOW BUSINESS” Trump is winning with his showmanship.
Kamala has to have her own SHOW BIZ, too Here is the Kamala hope song:
Yup, that the attitude we need…..not for voting for someone, but rather voting against or beating someone. As a nation, if we are to survive as a nation, we need to do better. We have plenty of solid intellects in these United States of America. Why we have to “settle” for these two is beyond me. Semper Fi.
Harris has another advantage, she doesn’t have to pay defense attorneys
Nope she doesn’t. She is a member of that club already. Realize that this country is loaded with attorneys. They are all over Washington, DC. Hundreds live in Fairport alone. They are a real “blessing” to have. They make the rules, complicate them and make you pay for the interpretation. Hundreds an hour. And while you may lose your case, they still win. What a gig. Semper Fi.