According to a recent Federal Election Commission filing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raised $2.6 million for his independent presidential campaign in May. This amount, while significant, highlights the substantial difference in funding between Kennedy's campaign and those of his major party rivals.
The filing also revealed that Kennedy's campaign spent $6.3 million in May, more than double the amount raised. The funds were primarily allocated towards ballot access efforts, a crucial aspect for an independent presidential campaign.
Notably, the campaign paid approximately $2.7 million to a consulting firm, Accelevate 2020 LLC, for ballot access consulting services. Additional expenditures were directed towards securing ballot access, with a substantial portion, over $380,000, allocated to internet advertising.
Despite the significant spending, Kennedy's campaign ended May with $6.4 million in cash on hand. This amount pales in comparison to the war chests of his major party rivals, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who reported $84.5 million and $49.1 million in cash on hand at the end of April, respectively.
It is worth noting that Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, a wealthy Silicon Valley lawyer, did not contribute any funds in May. However, Shanahan had previously donated $10 million to the campaign and can make unlimited personal contributions, serving as a crucial financial resource for the independent presidential bid.
Monthly FEC filings due on Thursday will provide further insights into the fundraising and spending activities of presidential campaigns and associated committees.
