Elizabeth Warren’s Presidential Bid Depends on Big-Donor Money

Before taking her pledge to skip high-dollar donor events during the primary, Elizabeth Warren built up a war chest largely filled with dollars from big-time donors, including defense contractors and corporate executives.

NY Times: “Ms. Warren wooed wealthy donors for years, stockpiling money from fund-raisers, and has used $10.4 million from her 2018 Senate race to underwrite her 2020 bid.”

At fundraisers in Boston, Manhattan, Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and Martha’s Vineyard, Warren was a prolific fundraiser of America’s richest, most well-connected, and privileged donors. That money has underwritten her Presidential bid, where she has now disavowed these sorts of fundraising events. 

One of the more notable examples of Warren’s traditional big-dollar fundraising is the defense industry, which she has dedicated a lot of time criticizing during her campaign.

From 2011 to 2018, Warren solicited $80,000 in donations from the defense industry and even sought out a private phone call with Raytheon’s CEO during her 2012 Senate campaign. 

It’s no wonder Sanders’ supporters commonly criticize Warren and could cause a similar dynamic to 2016 if she were to become the nominee.