RFK Jr. collects $2.6 million in donations during May.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy's campaign splurged big last month, doling out a hefty $6.3 million – over double what was raised – on ballot access measures. This crucial aspect is a challenge for self-governing campaigns like Kennedy's.
A significant chunk of this money, approximately $2.7 million, was showered onto Accelevate 2020 LLC, a consulting firm that provides ballot access advice for numerous federal aspirants, including ex-Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina and author Marianne Williamson. Kennedy's spending spree also included tens of thousands of dollars toward acquiring ballot access. Almost $380,000 was directed towards internet marketing.
As May concluded, Kennedy's campaign was left with roughly $6.4 million in the bank – a comparatively diminished bankroll contrasted to those of his primary adversaries, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. At the end of April, the latest available data indicated that Biden's campaign hoarded $84.5 million in their account, while Trump's campaign had $49.1 million in readily available funds.
Interestingly, Kennedy's campaign didn't receive contributions from his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, a wealthy tech lawyer who had previously gifted the campaign with $10 million. Yet, Shanahan's personal wealth presents a crucial financial backup for the independent presidential campaign, empowering her to contribute unlimited funds towards the venture.
Presidential campaign Monthly FEC filings, due this Thursday, will unveil more on the fundraising and spending activities of these campaigns and some significant affiliated committees.
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RFK Jr.'s campaign relied heavily on external sources for funding ballot access measures, allocating a significant portion of the $2.6 million collected during May to Accelevate 2020 LLC. Despite this substantial expense, Kennedy's campaign ended the month with a reduced bankroll compared to his primary competitors, such as Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
