‘Squad’ rakes in record $2.35M while slamming the door on cop donations
The Squad Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee authorised by four progressive Democratic representatives, has raised a record $2.35 million in the 2025–2026 election cycle. Its rules exclude donations from the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as corporations, federal lobbyists and fossil fuel interests; the disclosure does not explain the police organisation’s exclusion.
The fund is authorised by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib, and includes four allied political action committees. Contributions are generally split equally among its eight participants, although donors can designate a recipient. By 31 March 2026, it had spent about $1.6 million and reported roughly $68,000 in cash; the committee is still active, so the figures may change.
In short
- The fund raised a record $2.35 million this cycle.
- Its donor rules exclude the Fraternal Order of Police.
- It reported about $68,000 in cash by 31 March 2026.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters may argue that elected officials should be free to reject donations from organisations whose interests or public positions they distrust, and that excluding police-union money helps reassure voters that the fund’s decisions are not shaped by those contributions. The fund also bars several other donor categories, which its backers could see as a consistent effort to limit perceived conflicts of interest while supporting allied campaigns.
The case against
Critics may argue that singling out the Fraternal Order of Police, without explaining the decision, risks appearing politically selective and may alienate people who see police organisations as legitimate civic participants. They could also question whether broad fundraising restrictions meaningfully improve accountability when the committee raises millions and generally distributes donations across multiple political groups.
Explained simply
The Squad is the name commonly used for a group of progressive Democrats in the US House of Representatives. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib are four of its members; they have authorised a shared fundraising committee called the Squad Victory Fund.
A joint fundraising committee collects money for several candidates or political groups and distributes it among them, unless a donor specifies a recipient. The fund’s rules bar donations from several sources, including the Fraternal Order of Police, a US police union and advocacy group, as well as corporations, federal lobbyists and fossil fuel interests. The disclosure gives no reason for excluding the police organisation.
Campaign fundraising helps candidates and political groups pay for election-related activity, and can shape the resources available to them. The fund’s reported totals cover an ongoing election cycle, so they may change.