Bernie Sanders reports massive $34.5 million 4th quarter haul, topping Democratic field


Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) raised $34.5 million in the fourth quarter, with more than 1.8 million donors chipping in an average of $18.53 per donation, the Sanders campaign announced Thursday. That brings Sanders' 2019 total to more than $96 million. His fourth-quarter haul, which includes $18 million from December alone, is the single biggest sum for any Democrat this election cycle. Candidates don't have to report their donations from October, November, and December until Jan. 31, but presidential hopefuls with good financial news to share tend to share it earlier. The Sanders campaign has not yet reported how much cash it has on hand or how much it spent last quarter.
The only other top-tier Democratic candidate who has reported total Q4 donations is Pete Buttigieg, who raised $24.7 million. Andrew Yang said Thursday he raked in $16.5 million last quarter, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) has announced $3.4 million in fourth-quarter donations, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said he has raised more than $6 million, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — the final top-tier candidate, along with former Vice President Joe Biden — told donors she has raised at least $17 million and is shooting for $20 million.
President Trump's re-election campaign has outpaced all the Democrats and has more than $150 million cash on hand. There are still 15 Democrats running for president, and there is no clear frontrunner ahead of the first contest, the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3. The Sanders campaign said Wednesday it has gotten 5 million donations, a huge number bolstered, the campaign suggested, by repeated serial donations of $2.70.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The state of Britain's Armed Forces
The Explainer Geopolitical unrest and the unreliability of the Trump administration have led to a frantic re-evaluation of the UK's military capabilities
By The Week UK
-
Anti-anxiety drug has a not-too-surprising effect on fish
Under the radar The fish act bolder and riskier
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
Sudoku medium: April 21, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
The anger fueling the Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez barnstorming tour
Talking Points The duo is drawing big anti-Trump crowds in red states
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US