Early fundraising figures from the second quarter, as reported by the Federal Election Commission, provide insights into the 2028 Democratic primary. Several Democratic candidates have reported significant fundraising totals, indicating their potential candidacies for the presidential race.
Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) raised $25 million across his federal accounts, contributing $10 million to support Democrats ahead of the midterm elections, including $2 million to the Democratic National Committee and $3.5 million to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) raised $472,544.64 but had over $2.08 million cash on hand.
Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) raised $12 million in the second quarter, totaling $50 million in funds from January 2025 to June 2026. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) raised $20 million for his reelection campaign, concluding the quarter with $42 million cash on hand, while his opponent, Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), raised $2.1 million.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) raised $1.5 million during this period and has $15 million cash on hand, with her campaign manager noting that she raised $4.87 million from over 138,000 individual donors. Other potential candidates, like Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), will need to demonstrate similar fundraising capabilities to show momentum.
Challenges for progressive candidates like Ocasio-Cortez and Khanna include the need to show heightened individual contributions to keep pace with established candidates. Ocasio-Cortez's aide reported that over 500,000 individuals from all 50 states have contributed to her campaign.
Khanna has faced scrutiny for his endorsement of Graham Platner, a former Democratic Senate candidate who exited the race amid allegations of sexual assault. Meanwhile, Gallego has been dealing with allegations of campaign finance violations and potential misconduct related to his association with former Representative Eric Swalwell.
As Democratic candidates accumulate funds, questions arise regarding how they will allocate their resources. Democratic strategist Brad Bannon suggested that Shapiro could use his funds to support candidates in close races and build political alliances for 2028.
Kelly expressed his intention to assist Democrats in winning the House and Senate, emphasizing the need for resources to achieve these goals. Additionally, there are concerns about the influence of socialist candidates who have successfully challenged incumbents in primaries, indicating a shift in the Democratic base's preferences.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is also a potential candidate for the 2028 race, with discussions about her future in the party ongoing. Political communications expert Kaivan Shroff noted that Harris would need to demonstrate grassroots support if she chooses to run again, despite her previous fundraising success.
Overall, the fundraising dynamics among Democratic candidates for the 2028 primary highlight the competitive landscape as they prepare for the upcoming election cycle.