President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have expressed their gratitude to the key Democratic donors who played a pivotal role in last month’s election campaign, despite the party’s loss to President-elect Donald Trump. Speaking at a Democratic National Committee (DNC) holiday reception on Sunday, Biden and Harris thanked the donors for their unwavering support, while urging them to remain politically engaged and hopeful in the face of a significant defeat.
The DNC event, attended by Biden and Harris along with their spouses, sought to rally the party’s most generous financial backers, who had raised record amounts during the election. Despite the loss of the White House and Senate to Republicans, Democrats managed to garner considerable support, with donors across the political spectrum contributing an estimated $4.7 billion to the election campaign.
“We all get knocked down. My dad would say, when you get knocked down, you just gotta get up,” Biden remarked. “The measure of a person or a party is how fast they get back up.” These words were intended to reassure major donors that, although the party had faced setbacks, it must remain resilient and continue striving for its goals.
Harris, who had stepped in as the party’s presidential nominee after Biden ended his campaign in July, praised the donors for their commitment and efforts. She acknowledged the financial and personal sacrifices made by supporters who backed her and the Democratic candidates they believed in, stressing that the party’s progress had been driven by the dedication of those who gave both their time and resources.
“Democrats, their allied super PACs, and other groups raised about $2.9 billion, compared to about $1.8 billion for the Republicans,” Harris noted. “We raised a whopping $700 million over just 700 events organised by the Democratic finance committee.” She also thanked donors for opening their homes, reaching out to friends and family, and putting their personal relationships at risk in order to remind people of the stakes of the election.
Despite the disappointment of the election result, Biden emphasised that Democrats should take pride in the significant achievements they had accomplished during the past years. These accomplishments, he noted, include a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, the CHIPS and Science Act aimed at boosting semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., and a surge in federal environmental spending via the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law by Biden in 2022 after passing through Congress with solely Democratic votes.
“You could never have gotten as much done as we did without you,” Biden told the donors. “You not only contributed to the campaign, but you did something, I think, even more important. You were willing to lend your names, your reputation, your character to the effort.” The president’s words underscored the integral role that donors had played in driving the party’s legislative successes, even in the face of electoral defeat.
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Biden also addressed his own future in politics, stating that he intended to remain involved with the Democratic Party once he leaves office on January 20. He further predicted that Kamala Harris would continue to be a central figure in the party’s future. “You’re not going anywhere kid. We aren’t letting you,” Biden said to Harris, reaffirming her importance to the party’s long-term plans.
Harris, who will likely begin weighing her future political ambitions in earnest in the coming months, expressed her gratitude for the support from the Democratic donor base. “You rallied, you opened your homes, you reached out to your friends and your family,” Harris said, emphasising the vital role that personal relationships played in the success of the campaign. “You put your personal capital and by that I mean your relationships at stake to talk with people because you care so deeply, and you connected with people and took the time to remind them of what is at stake and what was at stake.”
The holiday reception served as a reminder that, despite the election loss, the Democratic Party remains committed to its long-term objectives and values. With key legislative victories under its belt, the party aims to continue working toward its goals and rebuild momentum for future elections, relying on the continued engagement of its dedicated donor base.
As Biden and Harris expressed their gratitude and hope for the future, it became clear that the Democratic Party intends to stay active and engaged in the political process, focusing on the work ahead and the issues that matter most to American citizens.
