Democratic candidates and party leaders have been making regular summer trips to Nantucket and neighbouring Martha's Vineyard, two affluent Massachusetts holiday islands, to court wealthy donors ahead of November's US midterm elections. The visits underline the pressure Democrats face to close a significant fundraising gap with Republicans, as the party seeks to shore up campaign finances before a pivotal election cycle.

As of 30 June, the Democratic National Committee and its Senate and House campaign arms held roughly $136 million in combined cash reserves, compared with about $277 million held by equivalent Republican committees. Figures spotted on the islands this summer include House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico, Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, and Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek, while former President Barack Obama attended a Martha's Vineyard fundraiser for redistricting efforts hosted by former Attorney General Eric Holder. The article notes Republicans have also previously used Nantucket for fundraising, including a 2022 event featuring JD Vance and other Senate candidates, and that Maryland Governor Wes Moore's attendance at a Vineyard fundraiser drew criticism from state Republicans over his national ambitions.