Trump’s fundraising dominance is masking a long-term problem for Republicans

What happened: Republicans' small-dollar donor base has shrunk, leaving the party reliant on a small group of wealthy megadonors while candidates struggle to raise money online, according to POLITICO. Key numbers: WinRed had roughly 1.5 million donors this cycle versus 2.2 million at this time in 2022. Why it matters: Candidates face strict contribution limits and need large donor pools, and Democrats' cash advantage has helped them run nearly as many ads despite having less money overall. Strategists cite donor fatigue from repeated urgent messages.

Republicans' small-dollar donor base has shrunk, leaving the party reliant on a small group of wealthy megadonors while candidates struggle to raise money online, according to POLITICO.

Candidates face strict contribution limits and need large donor pools, and Democrats' cash advantage has helped them run nearly as many ads despite having less money overall. Strategists cite donor fatigue from repeated urgent messages.