Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg spent more than $1 billion on his failed presidential campaign, more than both Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and President Trump in all of 2016.
Bloomberg spent a total of more than $1.2 billion on his bid for the White House in 2020, according to 2019 and 2020 Federal Election Commission filings. More than $1 billion of that was spent in 2020 alone before the former mayor dropped out of the race at the beginning of March.
The former 2020 candidate, who self-funded his campaign, outspent Clinton’s and Trump’s totals from the last election year.
Clinton spent a total of $969.1 million in 2016, with super-PACs boosting her total to $1.18 billion. Trump spent $531 million in 2016, and super-PACs brought the total to $616.5 million, Bloomberg News reported.
Bloombeg announced his presidential bid at the end of November, meaning his campaign lasted a little more than three months.
His late entry meant he could not compete in the first four Democratic primaries in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. His Democratic opponents had previously knocked the billionaire in debates, accusing him of trying to buy the election.
Bloomberg ended his campaign after disappointing results on Super Tuesday and immediately endorsed presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, saying he was the best chance the party had to defeat President Trump.