Kamala Harris donations diverted into vote recount fund

Kamala Harris at Howard University
Kamala Harris conceded defeat in her speech at Howard University so it is unclear what a recount effort would be directed towards - Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

Donations to Kamala Harris’s election campaign are being redirected towards a vote recount effort.

The fine-print on the website ActBlue, a nonprofit fundraising platform for Democrats, suggests funding is being put aside to challenge the veracity of the Nov 5 election in which Donald Trump defeated Ms Harris by a landslide.

The website tells potential donors: “The first $41,300/$15,000 from a person/multicandidate committee (“PAC”) will be allocated to the DNC. The next $3,300/$5,000 from a person/PAC will be allocated to Harris for President’s Recount Account.”

There is no further information given about who controls the “recount account” and whether the money donated to it is actively being spent on efforts to recount votes.

In the lead up to the election, there was an expectation that Mr Trump and his supporters could demand recounts in the key battleground states if he lost, after spreading concerns over voter fraud.

Decisive victory

Half of states have automatic recount rules if the voting margin is too tight, but following the president-elect’s decisive victory, concerns about results have largely evaporated.

Mr Trump won the election with 312 electoral college votes, including a clean sweep of all seven swing states.

It is extremely unlikely that Ms Harris would request a recount in the presidential race having already conceded to Mr Trump.

Addressing her supporters at her alma mater, Howard University, the day after polls closed, Ms Harris admitted defeat in the election but promised to continue to fight for her vision of America.

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign,” she said.

In 2020, recounts were carried out in multiple battleground states including Wisconsin and Arizona, where Trump supporters launched a series of legal challenges after he lost the sunbelt states.

The election was not officially called until four days after polling day when Joe Biden won Pennsylvania following a recount.

Ms Harris’s website is currently soliciting donations to ensure that all votes are counted in down ballot races that are yet to be called.

“With a handful of key Senate and House races still too close to call, we are keeping our organizers and volunteers on the ground in those states to see the election across the finish line,” the website says.

“If you are able, please donate to the Harris Fight Fund today to ensure we have the resources to elect Democrats down the ticket ready to hold the Trump administration accountable.”

Republicans have won both the presidency and the Senate, and on Monday evening were projected to retain control of the House.

ActBlue was approached for comment.