The 2024 election will be the most expensive ever – with an overall price tag of $15.9 billion. According to OpenSecrets, a non-partisan organization that tracks money in US politics, this year’s elections will break the $15.1 billion record set in 2020.
Brendan Glavin, OpenSecrets’ Deputy Research Director said in a statement: “There may be a saturation point where elections can no longer get more expensive, but we haven’t reached it yet.”
He added: ”Super PACs and billionaires continue to spend more and more hoping to select our elected officials. And right now it is looking as though there isn’t a ceiling to how much an election in the U.S. can cost.”
According to Open Secrets research, the top ten individual donors in the country have contributed $599 million or about 7% of the total federal election fundraising. Small donors, who give under $200, account for about 16%.
Outside groups, including SuperPACs, have spent $2.6 billion up to this point and are projected to spend $5 billion by election day.
Sarah Bryner, OpenSecrets’ Director of Research and Strategy stated: “Spending on the 2024 election cycle started slowly but ramped up significantly when Vice President Harris took over the Democratic nomination.”
Open Secrets data shows Harris’ campaign and groups supporting her have raised more than $1 billion since she replaced President Biden at the top of the ticket in July. Trump’s campaign and groups supporting him have brought in $642 million.