Overview

• A July 11 fundraiser in Red Bank, New Jersey, hosted by Gov. Phil Murphy raised $2.5 million for the Democratic National Committee and marked Obama’s first post-2024-election fundraising appearance
• Obama called on party members to abandon self-pity and embrace action, saying Democrats need “less navel-gazing and less whining” to mount an effective opposition
• He stressed that upholding free speech rights even for unpopular voices requires courage and is essential to preserving democratic norms
• Obama highlighted the upcoming gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia as a “big jumpstart” opportunity and urged support for Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger
• He warned that the DNC must invest in data-driven, social media–focused operations to rebuild infrastructure and compete effectively under President Trump’s second term