'The DNC learned nothing from the last election': Dem donors pull back on funding to party, leftist causes

Donations coming in from left-wing donors to the Democrats has slowed in recent weeks as President Donald Trump has taken hold of the White House, with many left-wing groups needing more cash.

According to the New York Times, small donor dollars have slowed down in comparison to Trump's first term in office, when money was pouring in to oppose him. This time around, things are different. Large backers of Democrats also have paused their donations, becoming frustrated with the Democrats for what they see as a lack of vision with the party.

Some reliable donors to Democrats are even turning to Trump to support him. Additionally, some are still frustrated that Vice President Kamala Harris blew $1.5 billion in her loss against Trump. Many are dialing back, it seems, with the exception of mega-donor George Soros, who is looking to invest in the left-wing media landscape, the outlet reported.

Staffers for Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn and one of the Democratic Party's largest donors, have said that he is more reluctant to fund political projects and campaigns and "thinks that the Democratic Party strategy needs to reform, and when it does, he’s happy to hear new ideas and new pitches."

John Morgan, a wealthy Democratic donor and vocal supporter of former President Joe Biden, told the outlet, “For me, it’s going to be giving to people, not party,” adding, “The DNC learned nothing from the last election." He now considers himself an independent.

It is common for donations to slow down after a presidential election, however, the outlet said that interviews with 50 donors, Democratic operatives, as well as activists have shown that the cash has slowed to only a trickle.

Some left-wing groups, instead of donating to Democrats, are instead preparing for legal challenges with the Trump administration.

Left-leaning groups have been laying off staffers as the funds have been slow to come in. “No one is giving until they see a plan for how we are going to better navigate this unprecedented situation,” political consultant Alexandra Acker-Lyons said, adding that it is not a “normal administration.”

The left-wing Human Rights Campaign, which has had its Corporate Equality Index become a target as companies have rolled back DEI initiatives, has laid off 20 percent of its staff, saying that it was a “strategic restructure” of the organization.

The Center for American Progress has also laid off eight percent of its staff. A representative for the origination said, “It was the right time to reset our staffing in the environment we find ourselves in.”

Democratic consultant Robert Raben told reporters, “People are mostly on the ropes or on the mat waiting for leadership, scratching our heads and giving grace to Schumer and Jeffries, who are saying, ‘Pick your battles.’”