We are waiting to find out who will win the US elections in November 2024, most likely between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. It is too early to take stock of the electoral campaigns of the two, also from a financial point of view. One thing is certain: becoming president of the United States can cost a lot.
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The most expensive electoral campaigns in US history
Due to the size of the United States and the way American political life is organized, election campaigns are very expensive. But how much did past electoral campaigns cost?
US elections 2020: 14 billion
In the 2020 US presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden won against Donald Trump, who was the Republican Party nominee.
The total cost of the 2020 presidential election was nearly $14 billion. This is the estimate by the Center for Responsive Politics, a research group that monitors money in politics in the United States.
The elections held on November 3rd 2020 broke all previous spending records. Even taking inflation into account, the dollars spent were more than double those of the 2016 elections.
US elections 2016: 6.5 billion
In the 2016 US presidential election, Donald J. Trump, the Republican Party nominee, won against the Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton.
According to estimates by the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign spending, the 2016 US elections were one of the most expensive in history. The total spending for the presidential and congressional elections combined was estimated to be over $6.5 billion. This figure includes spending by candidates, political parties, and outside groups such as Super PACs.
US elections 2012: 6.3 billion
In the 2012 US presidential election, the Democratic Party candidate, Barack Obama, won re-election against the Republican Party candidate, Mitt Romney.
The cost of the 2012 US elections refers to the total amount of money spent on campaigning, fundraising, advertising, and related activities for the presidential and congressional elections held that year.
Like the 2016 elections, calculating the exact total cost is complex due to the decentralized nature of campaign finance in the United States. According to estimates, the total spending for the 2012 US elections exceeded $6.3 billion.
US elections 2008: 5.3 billion
In the 2008 US presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama, won against Republican candidate John McCain. Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States.
As for the cost of the 2008 US elections, it was one of the most expensive in history up to that point. The total spending, including both presidential and congressional races, was estimated to be around $5.3 billion, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. This figure encompasses spending by candidates, political parties, and outside groups such as Super PACs.
Read also: Trump raised 37 million for the primaries: who are the donors
