The Democratic National Committee paid $1.6 million in September to cover debt from Kamala Harris' 2024 campaign — bringing the DNC's total payout to the campaign to more than $20 million, and counting.
Why it matters: The DNC is trying to rebuild in the aftermath of 2024, and is being hampered by debts the party racked up last year.
Driving the news: Harris spent an unprecedented $1.5 billion during her 107-day campaign, and invoices continue to roll into the DNC nearly a year later.
- The DNC had only about $12 million in cash on hand by the end of September, as the party made investments in campaigns in Virginia and New Jersey, along with other state parties.
- The DNC usually covers such debts after a presidential campaign, but such obligations can still make it harder for a losing party to rebuild for the next election cycle.
- Democratic officials aren't sure how much more outstanding debt there is from Harris' campaign, people familiar with the matter told Axios.
Flashback: The DNC also was on the hook for more than $20 million in debt after Barack Obama's reelection in 2012.
- Even with Obama helping to raise funds in the years afterward, the DNC didn't fully pay off the debt until 2015. That left the committee in a vulnerable position heading into the 2016 election, which Hillary Clinton ultimately lost to Donald Trump.
What they're saying: Harris and the DNC declined to comment.
