New filings with the Federal Election Commission show Joe Biden’s reelection campaign significantly increased spending in March as the president set off on a battleground state tour following his State of the Union address. 

What You Need To Know

  • Last month, President Joe Biden’s principal campaign committee reported bringing more than $43.7 million while spending more than $29.2 million
  • Both figures marked a significant increase from February, when Biden’s campaign committee took in $21.3 million in contributions and spent $6.3 million 
  • Following his State of the Union address in early March, Biden’s team looked to take the momentum out on the road with what they called a “Month of Action" 
  • The new figures come as former President Donald Trump has lagged Biden in fundraising as the two stare down a likely rematch in November 

Last month, Biden’s principal campaign committee reported bringing more than $43.7 million while spending more than $29.2 million. Both figures marked a significant increase from February, when Biden’s campaign committee took in $21.3 million in contributions and spent $6.3 million. 

Following his State of the Union address in early March, Biden’s team looked to take the momentum out on the road with what they called a “Month of Action.” The president visited every major swing state and launched a $30 million ad buy over six weeks. Deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty noted amounts to more than the campaign spent in all of 2023. 

The new figures come as former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has lagged Biden in fundraising as the two gear up for a rematch in November. Trump’s principal campaign committee has yet to file its figures for March. The monthly report is due April 20. 

Earlier this month, Biden’s campaign announced that all of its fundraising entities, along with the Democratic National Committee, raised more than $187 million in the first fundraising quarter of 2024, nearly double the $97 million the campaign raised in the last three months of 2023. More than $90 million of that was raised in March, the campaign said. 

That fundraising haul has led to a $192 million cash-on-hand war chest, which Biden's campaign says is the highest total amassed by any Democratic candidate in American history.

It’s also more than double what former President Donald Trump has raised, $93 million, a figure the Biden campaign reveled in.

Biden’s total was bolstered by the $26 million-plus that the president reported raising from a March 28 event at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan that featured former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Trump’s campaign, meanwhile, said it raised $50.5 million from an event earlier this month with major donors at the Florida home of billionaire investor John Paulson, setting a single-event fundraising record. That money has not been included in his figures yet. 

Spectrum News' David Mendez and the Associated Press contributed to this report.