White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's failed 2022 campaign for Congress is over $300,000 in debt, according to a campaign finance quarterly filing reported by The Daily Beast. The debt totals $326,370.50, with no payments made for several months.
Campaign Debt Details
Leavitt, a Republican, ran for the House of Representatives in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district in 2022, losing to Democratic incumbent Chris Pappas. The campaign owes more than $40,000 each to a GOP consulting firm and a polling firm. Other creditors include former New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson (R).
Despite the debt, Leavitt did repay her parents $2,900 each, as previously reported by NOTUS. According to Open Secrets, Leavitt is not personally liable for the campaign debt.
FEC Complaint and Context
In 2022, the Democratic-aligned group End Citizens United filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging that Leavitt's campaign accepted excessive contributions. No ruling is expected soon, The Daily Beast reported. HuffPost has reached out to the White House for comment.
Leavitt's campaign debt is not unusual; many political campaigns incur debt. For example, Kamala Harris' presidential campaign owed millions and paid off part by selling her email donor list to the Democratic National Committee. A 2025 report noted that Republicans Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Mehmet Oz still owe significant amounts from losing campaigns.
Leavitt's Current Role
Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary at age 27 when she joined President Donald Trump's second term. Now 28, she announced in May that she gave birth to her second child.
