Trump Has Raised $207.5 Million Since Election Day – Not All Will Go To Legal Efforts

Topline

The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee announced Thursday that they raised $207.5 million since election day thanks to Trump’s continued refusal to concede and unproven claims of voter fraud – though they said some of the money would go to future elections rather than contesting 2020.

Key Facts

Key Background

Republicans have struggled to balance Trump’s refusal to concede the election with their own political interests in recent weeks. While most GOP officials have remained silent on the election or sided with Trump – with a handful splintering off and acknowledging Biden – many have still conceded Trump is unlikely to win and said the GOP’s focus should turn to Georgia. Other, more conspiratorial Trump supporters have argued the presidential election could come first and that Georgia is a lower priority.

Chief Critic

Outgoing Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) told Forbes in an interview that Trump’s refusal to concede is a “massive grift” and that Republicans supporting him are “just money-making” for 2022 and 2024, calling the effort “completely unethical.”

Tangent

Many Republicans have been caught inadvertently acknowledging the presidential election result while attempting to boost Loeffler and Perdue. A text message from NRSC, addressed from Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., told supporters that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer “takes control” if Republicans lose Georgia – tacit recognition that Kamala Harris is vice-president election and thus could serve as Senate tie breaker if Democrats win the runoffs and get to 50 Senate seats.

Big Number

53%. That’s the share of Republican voters in a Politico/Morning Consult poll released two weeks after the election who said they believe the presidential election results in Georgia – which Biden won by about 12,500 votes – were somewhat or very unreliable. Just 7% of Democratic voters said the same.