In a surprising turn of events, Vice President Kamala Harris must secure the Democratic presidential nomination to retain the nearly $100 million raised by the Biden-Harris campaign for the general election, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations.

Following President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, the Democratic Party now faces a financial hurdle. Biden has endorsed Harris, and she must now become the official nominee at the Democratic National Convention in mid-August to access the campaign’s funds.

Trey Trainor, an FEC commissioner and election lawyer, explained that the funds were allocated for the general election as part of the Biden-Harris ticket. If Harris is not the nominee, the law requires that the campaign refunds contributions made for the general election. “The money cannot be transferred to the DNC or anywhere else — it must be refunded,” Trainor stated.

This funding dilemma intensifies the urgency for the Democratic Party to rally behind Harris, as any alternative nominee would have to begin fundraising anew. Harris has already secured key endorsements from President Biden and the Clintons, but former President Barack Obama has yet to publicly endorse her candidacy.

As the party grapples with these financial implications, the focus remains on unifying support for Harris to ensure the campaign’s continuity and financial stability in the face of a potential challenge from former President Donald Trump.