Several major Democratic donors declined the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) invitation to host a California fundraiser featuring former Vice President Kamala Harris, with one reportedly responding with a “profanity-laced rejection,” the Washington Free Beacon reports. According to the Wall Street Journal, while the DNC eventually secured a host, the event raised significantly less than expected.
Many potential hosts cited scheduling conflicts or said they wanted to see clearer, more effective election strategies before donating again. The rejection comes amid steep financial struggles for the DNC, which entered October with about $12 million in cash on hand—far less than the Republican National Committee’s $86 million.
The Democratic Party has been riven by internal disputes and growing dissatisfaction with DNC chairman Ken Martin’s leadership. Some party insiders have described Martin as “weak and whiny” and “invisible,” and several high-ranking members, including former vice chair David Hogg and two prominent labor leaders, have left the committee over disagreements about its direction under Martin.
Adding to the unrest, insurgent Democratic candidates are openly challenging establishment figures such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, promising to wage an aggressive campaign against what they perceive as a stagnant party elite.
Donor frustration also stems from dissatisfaction with how funds were used during the previous presidential election—particularly spending on consultants in Washington, D.C. Rachel Pritzker, a major Democratic contributor and relative of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, criticized the party for failing to reevaluate its approach following its electoral defeat. “It is shocking how little reassessment the party and its leadership has done,” Pritzker said.