Former Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li claims Kamala Harris told major donors Biden would stay in the 2024 race days before he dropped out.
Former Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li is alleging that then-Vice President Kamala Harris privately reassured some of the Democratic Party’s biggest donors that President Joe Biden would remain in the 2024 presidential race just days before he announced his withdrawal.
Li, who worked as a fundraiser for both Biden and Harris, made the claims in an interview with Fox News Digital and in her forthcoming book, Unburdened. She characterized Harris’ outreach to donors as a calculated effort to position herself for the nomination while publicly maintaining support for Biden.
According to Li, Harris participated in calls with major donors shortly before Biden ended his reelection campaign. Li recalled one call on July 19, 2024, two days before Biden announced his withdrawal, during which Harris allegedly said there was “no way” Biden would drop out and that she would remain with him through the end of the campaign.
Biden ultimately announced on July 21, 2024, that he would no longer seek reelection.
Li calls Harris’ donor outreach a “charade”
Li alleged that Harris was simultaneously building relationships with donors who could potentially support her if Biden left the race.
“I was on the call,” Li told Fox News Digital, describing Harris’ donor conversations. According to Li, Harris presented herself as firmly supportive of Biden while also using the interactions to establish herself with influential Democratic donors.
Li described the strategy as a “charade,” claiming Harris was effectively auditioning for Biden’s endorsement while avoiding direct criticism of the president.
The allegations come amid renewed scrutiny of the Democratic Party’s handling of Biden’s 2024 campaign and the events that preceded his withdrawal.
Biden’s withdrawal changed the political landscape
Biden’s July 21 announcement immediately transformed the Democratic nomination fight. Harris quickly emerged as the leading contender and secured Biden’s endorsement later that day.
Li said Harris moved rapidly to consolidate support among Democratic leaders and donors after Biden exited the race. She described the former vice president’s outreach as an intensive “charm offensive,” alleging that Harris worked quickly to convince party figures that Biden had backed her succession.
Other accounts have also documented the uncertainty surrounding Biden’s departure. Harris later wrote in her memoir that her inner circle had maintained a contingency plan, known as the “Red File,” in case something happened to Biden, although she said she did not personally participate in those early discussions.
Donors allegedly questioned the message
Li also claimed that some donors immediately questioned what they had been told about Biden’s political prospects.
According to Li, private group chats among donors reflected anger and disbelief after Biden withdrew. She said some donors felt they had been assured Biden was capable of continuing even as concerns about his condition were becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Li’s account is her own characterization of events and has not been independently established by the claims in the Fox News report. Representatives for Harris did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The allegations add another layer to the continuing debate over what Democratic leaders knew about Biden’s political viability before his campaign collapsed and how Harris prepared for the possibility that she could become the party’s nominee.
With Biden leaving the race only months before Election Day, Harris ultimately became the Democratic presidential nominee and launched a 107-day campaign against Donald Trump.
Also read: Trump Responds to Lindsay Clancy Pardon Plea
