Trump’s Small-Donor Zeal Fails to Reach Other GOP Candidates
- Trump’s supporters back him more than the Republican Party
- Grassroots donors have provided 56% of Trump’s fundraising
Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Sept. 8.
Photographer: Logan Cyrus/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Small-dollar donors provided more than half of President Donald Trump’s $1 billion campaign war chest, but their largess has not extended to other Republican candidates, raising alarms for down-ballot races and the party’s prospects in future elections.
Some 1.5 million Trump supporters have dropped money this election cycle on red MAGA caps and #BuildTheWall t-shirts, yet other GOP candidates, including some in key Senate races, aren’t seeing the same level of enthusiasm. Down-ballot Republicans are even trailing Democrats in small-dollar contributions.