Even as he is constitutionally barred from seeking another term, former President Donald Trump continues to dominate online fundraising dynamics, energizing donors for both the GOP and Democrats. A detailed POLITICO analysis of 2025's fundraising data shows that Trump's influence remains a powerful financial catalyst for his party, while simultaneously boosting Democratic coffers, particularly when they confront him directly.

The analysis, which drew on comprehensive data from ActBlue and WinRed — the major fundraising platforms for Democrats and Republicans, respectively — highlights the pivotal role Trump plays in the GOP's digital strategy. His joint fundraising committee, the Trump National Committee, amassed more money than the next two largest GOP groups combined, accounting for a significant 20% of the total funds raised through WinRed last year.

On the Democratic side, the conflict with Trump proved to be a lucrative fundraising trigger. High-profile Democrats like Senator Cory Booker and California Governor Gavin Newsom saw substantial spikes in donations following their public opposition to Trump's policies. Booker's marathon 25-hour speech in the Senate, challenging Trump’s agenda, resulted in the highest single-day fundraising total for any federal committee on ActBlue in 2025, with nearly $2.5 million from about 92,000 donations.

Newsom's legal confrontation with the Trump administration over National Guard deployments triggered a three-day fundraising surge, drawing more than $1.3 million. Similarly, Senator Mark Kelly's defiance against questionable directives from the Trump-aligned Pentagon propelled him to the forefront of Democratic fundraisers during the final months of 2025.

The impact of Trump-related controversies extended beyond individual moments. Democratic Senate hopefuls in key battleground states like North Carolina, Ohio, Maine, and Texas capitalized on anti-Trump sentiment to kickstart their campaigns, collectively drawing millions through ActBlue. This trend underscores the broader strategic implications for Democrats aiming to flip the Senate.

However, the fundraising landscape showed a more mixed picture in the House races. Progressive icons like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led the pack, attracting significant repeat donations, while candidates in the most competitive districts struggled to replicate this success, posing challenges for Democrats’ hopes of regaining control of the House.

Political analysts suggest that while opposing Trump can generate immediate financial support, broader electoral success might require a more nuanced approach. "The things that work to raise money from small donors are the opposite of the things that work to beat MAGA," noted Liam Kerr, co-founder of the centrist Democratic group WelcomePAC. He emphasized the potential for moderate candidates to resonate with a wide donor base, potentially shifting the fundraising landscape in future elections.

As the 2025 midterms approach, the dual-edged sword of Trump's influence on political fundraising continues to shape the strategies of both major U.S. parties, with each leveraging his polarizing persona to galvanize their respective bases, and in turn, fuel their campaign war chests.