Democratic-Aligned Group Raises $4.8 Million

Priorities USA raised $4.8 million in the first six months of 2019, and had $5.1 million cash on hand at the end of June.

Many of the Democratic candidates have railed against big money in politics, but the biggest party-aligned super political action committee is relying on deep-pocketed donors to get ready to take on Donald Trump.

Priorities USA raised $4.8 million in the first six months of 2019, and had $5.1 million cash on hand at the end of June. It spent just $182,333, according to its latest filing with the Federal Election Commission.

Hedge fund manager S. Donald Sussman gave $2 million and philanthropist Marsha Laufer gave $1 million. Laborers International Union of North America and the political arm of the American Federation of Teachers each gave $500,000.

Two entities supporting President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, America First Action, a super political action committee, and America First Policies, a political nonprofit, announced they had raised $17.8 million.

Most Democratic presidential candidates have refused to take money from PACs or registered lobbyists. Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont don’t hold fundraisers with wealthy contributors, relying on small-dollar donors for the bulk of their funding. — Bill Allison