Biden campaign rakes in $28 million ahead of star-studded Los Angeles fundraiser
The Biden campaign and its allies have raked in $28 million so far as part of a star-studded fundraiser, breaking the record for the Democratic Party’s largest fundraising event, the campaign announced on Friday.
The massive haul was announced just hours before President Joe Biden is set to appear at the Los Angeles fundraiser alongside former President Barack Obama, actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts, and comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
“This Saturday we are going to see an unprecedented and record setting turn out from the media and entertainment world,” said campaign Co-Chair Jeffrey Katzenberg in a statement. “The enthusiasm and commitment for Biden/Harris couldn’t be stronger. We all understand this is the most important election of our lifetime.”
A campaign official said that the fundraiser money “will be used to open offices, hire organizers, and launch paid media campaigns to communicate directly” with voters.
The Biden campaign continued to accept donations in the hours leading up to the fundraiser, so the final total may not be known until later Saturday evening.
NBC News has reached out to the Democratic National Committee to ask whether the event broke fundraising records. NBC News cannot independently verify the claim, as the fundraising numbers are not immediately reflected in Federal Election Commission data.
The figures reported from Saturday’s fundraiser eclipse the total reportedly raised from the New York City fundraiser in March, which also featured a slew of celebrities. That fundraiser swept in $26 million, according to the Biden campaign, which said it was the largest Democratic fundraiser to date.
Like the New York fundraiser, the Los Angeles fundraiser will feature a comedian-moderated conversation among presidents. Jimmy Kimmel will moderate a conversation between Biden and Obama. During the March fundraiser, Stephen Colbert moderated a conversation with Biden, Obama and former President Bill Clinton.
Kimmel has been open about his son facing a heart condition, and a campaign official said that his son “has benefitted from the Affordable Care Act’s protections for Americans with preexisting conditions.” Kimmel has also praised the impact of the ACA on helping doctors serve patients.
The campaign official said that Kimmel’s conversation with the presidents will center around the “stakes of this election.”
The Biden campaign ended April, the month with the most recently available FEC report, with more than $84 million on hand, dominating in the cash race compared to the Trump campaign’s more than $49 million during the same period.
The Trump campaign said that it, along with its allies, raised more than $34 million after his conviction last month. NBC News cannot independently verify that claim, as May FEC filings are not yet available.
