US POLITICS: ‘THE SQUAD’ RAISES RECORD $2.35 MILLION WHILE EXCLUDING POLICE UNION DONATIONS

US Politics | November 3, 2026

Four progressive Democratic lawmakers in the United States have raised more than $2.35 million through a joint fundraising committee during the 2025–2026 election cycle, even as the organization maintains a policy excluding contributions from the country's largest police organization.

The fundraising development has drawn attention to the political alliances, financial strategies and donor restrictions surrounding some of the most prominent progressive voices in the US House of Representatives.

The fundraising committee, known as the Squad Victory Fund, is authorized by Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.

According to federal campaign finance disclosures cited by Fox News, the committee raised approximately $2.35 million, representing its highest fundraising total since its establishment.

The development comes amid an increasingly competitive political environment ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, when campaign financing, public safety and ideological divisions remain important issues in American politics.

Police Donations Excluded from Fundraising

One of the most notable aspects of the committee's fundraising policy is its refusal to accept contributions from the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), widely recognized as the largest police organization in the United States.

The fundraising committee also excludes financial contributions from corporations, federal lobbyists and fossil fuel interests.

However, the committee's disclosure does not provide a specific explanation for excluding the police organization.

The restriction has attracted attention because policing, criminal justice reform and law enforcement accountability have been recurring issues in the political positions and public debates associated with progressive Democrats.

It is important, however, to distinguish the committee's donor restrictions from an outright rejection of police officers as individuals. The reported restriction specifically concerns contributions from the Fraternal Order of Police.

How the $2.35 Million Is Distributed

The Squad Victory Fund operates as a joint fundraising committee involving the four lawmakers and four affiliated political action committees (PACs).

Under its reported arrangement, contributions are generally distributed equally among the eight participating organizations, giving each a 12.5 per cent share. Donors may also designate contributions to a particular participant.

The arrangement allows the lawmakers and their affiliated political organizations to coordinate fundraising efforts through a shared financial structure.

Federal Records Reveal Updated Financial Figures

An examination of the US Federal Election Commission's records provides a more recent financial picture than the figures initially highlighted in the Fox News report.

Squad Victory Fund: Financial position

$2.35m

Total raised

$2.31m

Total spent

$96,019

Cash remaining

$894,000

Transfers to affiliated committees

Federal Election Commission records, covering January 1, 2025 to October 14, 2026. Figures are rounded where appropriate.

The FEC records show that the committee had received $2,351,388.02 and spent $2,313,836.02 by October 14, 2026.

This updated disclosure is important because the earlier Fox News report cited spending of approximately $1.6 million and cash reserves of about $68,000 based on figures available through March 31, 2026.

The newer federal records therefore provide a more current picture of the committee's financial activities.

Political Implications Ahead of the Midterm Elections

The fundraising performance highlights the continuing financial influence of progressive political networks within the Democratic Party.

For Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib, the joint fundraising structure offers an opportunity to mobilize financial support around candidates and political organizations that share aspects of their policy priorities.

At the same time, the exclusion of the Fraternal Order of Police raises questions about the relationship between progressive lawmakers and organized law enforcement groups.

Whether this fundraising strategy strengthens their political influence or deepens existing disagreements over policing will depend partly on how voters respond to their policy positions and campaign messaging.

The development also illustrates a wider feature of American electoral politics: campaign fundraising is not simply about how much money candidates collect, but also about the sources of financial support they choose to accept or reject.

What This Means for American Politics

The Squad Victory Fund's fundraising record offers an interesting perspective on the ideological divisions shaping the Democratic Party.

While the four lawmakers have built a recognizable progressive political identity, their fundraising restrictions demonstrate how political organizations can use donor eligibility as part of their institutional identity.

Nevertheless, the available disclosures do not establish that the police organization was excluded because of a particular policy disagreement, nor do they demonstrate that the fundraising achievement translates directly into electoral success.

Ultimately, voters will judge these lawmakers not only by their fundraising achievements but also by their legislative records, policy proposals and ability to address concerns affecting ordinary Americans.

Note:

The $2.35 million fundraising milestone highlights the growing financial organisation of progressive political networks in the United States. But the decision to exclude the Fraternal Order of Police introduces another dimension to the debate over policing, political accountability and ideological divisions.

The central question is whether political fundraising restrictions strengthen a movement's principles or limit opportunities for engagement with groups representing important sections of society.

As the United States approaches another important electoral contest, the relationship between campaign money, political ideology and public trust deserves close scrutiny.

Sources and verification

Editorial note: This article is independently structured and rewritten for publication. Financial figures have been checked against the FEC's published records. The police-donation restriction is attributed to the committee's reported disclosure; no motive has been assumed.