8 essential numbers to know from the latest presidential campaign finance filings

With Election Day just over 10 weeks away, big money is being pumped into the 2020 presidential race, even amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to new campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. 

Here are some of the essential numbers to know from an Issue One analysis of these new filings, which detail the money presidential candidates raised and spent in July.

$72 million: The total amount of money raised in July by President Donald Trump’s official campaign committee. That’s up from the $55 million Trump’s campaign raised in June. Trump’s campaign entered August with about $120 million in its coffers.

$50 million: The total amount raised in July by the campaign of Democrat Joe Biden. That’s down from the $63 million Biden’s campaign raised in June. Biden’s campaign entered August with about $99 million in its coffers.

$750 million: The total amount that President Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s campaigns combined to raise through July 31 since the election began, with Trump’s campaign alone raising about $420 million and Biden’s campaign raising about $330 million. In other words, Trump has raised about $1.30 for every $1 Biden has so far.

$540 million: The total amount that President Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s campaign combined to spend through July 31 since the election began, with Trump’s campaign alone spending about $320 million and Biden’s campaign spending about $220 million. In other words, Trump has spent about $1.40 for every $1 Biden has so far.

$580,600: The total amount of money a single individual donor can currently give to Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee that benefits Trump’s presidential campaign, the Republican National Committee, and Republican parties in 22 states.

$730,600: The total amount of money a single individual donor can currently give to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee that benefits Biden’s presidential campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and Democratic parties in 37 states.

$202 million: The total amount that the 13 top-spending outside groups — like super PACs and dark money groups — have spent in the 2020 presidential race. Of this sum, two-thirds has been spent on negative ads.

 75%: Portion of the $13.4 million raised in July by the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action that came from its sister dark money group, America First Policies, which does not reveal its funders — a total of $10 million. Secret money also flowed into the pro-Biden Priorities USA Action super PAC in July, when the group raised $6.9 million, including $2 million from its sister dark money group, Priorities USA.

New @IssueOneReform analysis of @OpenSecretsDC data: The 13 top-spending super PACs & dark money groups have combined to spend more than $200 million in the 2020 presidential race — and TWO-THIRDS of that spending has been on negative ads 📺😱 pic.twitter.com/kCyHUYv9x0

— Michael Beckel (@mjbeckel) August 21, 2020