Campaigning for president is a multi-million dollar business, and not every candidate follows the same business model. 

OpenSecrets’ recently updated expenditures database reveals that 2020 Democrats are deploying vastly different spending strategies to compete for the nomination. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s extensive campaign infrastructure allows him to build on his massive cash advantage while getting his message out to voters. 

Compared to his top Democratic challengers, Trump has spent far more money on media — $30 million including $6.5 million of broadcast ads — to sway voters and find new donors. With a staggering $83 million in the bank, Trump can afford to spend that cash, especially because his joint fundraising committees partially cover the cost of fundraising, consulting fees and salaries. 

Digging deeper into Trump’s finances, he’s outspent Democrats in several other key areas. The incumbent Republican, who began campaigning for reelection in the early days of his presidency, has spent nearly $14 million on events, mainly campaign rallies. He’s shelled out nearly $3 million on polling and surveys, nearly double the next closest presidential candidate. That’s while spending less than the top Democratic challengers on salaries for his campaign staffers. 

Paying her staffers $14.5 million, Sen. Elizabeth Warren spends more than any other candidate on salaries. Sen. Bernie Sanders is right behind her, spending $13 million, nearly one-third of his campaign’s expenditures. 

During the early days of their respective campaigns, both Warren and Sanders said they wanted to pay their campaign staffers a fair wage. Sanders reached a deal with his staffers’ union in July and Warren did the same in September. With that added cost, and the fact that the two progressive candidates employ the most salaried staffers in the field, it’s no surprise that Warren and Sanders spend the most. 

The top 2020 Democrats are investing their money hiring staffers and opening offices in primary states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. 

Iowa is the battleground of choice for South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is polling second in the Hawkeye State but hasn’t caught on in other early primary states. The cash-rich candidate has more offices in Iowa than any other 2020 Democrat, with Warren a close second and former Vice President Joe Biden third. 

Some of the field’s struggling candidates are going all-in on Iowa in a last ditch effort to secure an upset win. 

Sen. Cory Booker, who has a massive team in Iowa, spends more than half of his campaign cash on salaries, by far the highest percentage of any presidential candidate. Sen. Kamala Harris is closing her offices in New Hampshire to focus on Iowa, and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro is getting rid of his staff in both New Hampshire and South Carolina. 

Harris doesn’t have the fundraising muscle to support staff in several states. That could become an issue for other candidates that spent more than they raised last quarter such as Biden, who spends 35 percent of his campaign cash on staff salaries. Help is already on the way for the former vice president, however, in the form of a super PAC organized by his allies. The group is allowed to make independent expenditures supporting Biden as long as it doesn’t coordinate with Biden’s campaign. 

While the top tier candidates focus on building up infrastructure in key states, lesser-known candidates are paying up to stay in the race and earn debate spots. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who recently announced she won’t run for reelection to Congress, has spent 59 percent on media — and $117,800 on an RV — but next to nothing on staff. 

Check out OpenSecrets’ recently updated expenditures database. Researcher Andrew Mayersohn contributed to this report. 

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