Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke raised $9.4 million in 18 days during the year's first quarter according to his campaign, placing him among other top candidates for the nomination in total dollars raised, but above them in the rate at which they raised it.

"Not only is this a sign of our grassroots strength during the first two weeks of our campaign but it is a sign of what's possible when you put your full trust in the people of this country," the former U.S. representative from El Paso said in an announcement.

In just 18 days, you've proven the power of people everywhere joining together to run a true grassroots campaign:

✅$9.4 million raised

✅218,000 contributions

✅98% of donations under $200

✅99% of fundraising via online

✅$0 from PACs, special interests, lobbyists &corporations

— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) April 3, 2019

O’Rourke’s haul ranks third among candidates who have already released their totals for the first three months of the year. According to their campaigns, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., raised $18.2 million and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., raised $12 million. The Democratic mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, reportedly came behind O’Rourke with $7 million.

However, O’Rourke raised more than $520,000 a day between his campaign announcement on March 14 and the end of the quarter on Sunday. Sanders raised more than $440,000 a day during his first 41 days, and Harris raised more than $170,000 a day during her first 70 days.

In March, O’Rourke announced that he raised $6.1 million during the first day of his campaign, dethroning Sanders’ one-day fundraising record of $5.9 million.

Real change always takes place from the bottom on up, not the top on down. We are building an unprecedented coalition to not only defeat Trump but transform the country into one that works for all people.



Thank you to all who are a part of this movement. Let's keep going. https://t.co/FATWexiL7Q

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 2, 2019

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Common themes among the candidates are emphasizing the number of donations from individuals and declining corporate and lobbyist dollars.

"In just 18 days, people in every state and from every walk of life have organized in homes, contributed a few bucks online and united together to show that the power of people is far greater than the PACs, corporations and special interest that have captured, corrupted and corroded our democracy for far too long," O'Rourke said.

O’Rourke’s campaign said the average donation to his campaign was $42 and that teachers were the top contributors by occupation. The average donation to Sanders was $20, according to his campaign.

With just under a year until the first nominating contest in Iowa, fundraising totals are considered an early indication of the support and viability of a candidate.

Over the last two months, the response to our campaign has been inspiring:



- $12 million raised

- 218,000 individual contributions

- 99% of donors can give again



No corporate PACs. No federal lobbyists. A real, grassroots campaign — by the people and for the people.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 2, 2019

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In a mid-March Fox News poll of likely Iowa caucusgoers, O’Rourke polled 8%, behind former Vice President Joe Biden at 33%, Sanders at 25% and Harris at 8%. He also polled 8% nationwide in a Morning Consult poll conducted at the end of March, ranking him fourth behind the same field.

O’Rourke rose to national prominence during his 2018 Senate campaign, in which he lost to Texas GOP incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz by 2.6 percentage points. On Saturday, O’Rourke officially kicked off his presidential campaign with rallies in El Paso, his hometown; Houston; and Austin.

RELATED: Beto O’Rourke returns to Austin, now as a presidential candidate

Candidates are required to report their quarterly fundraising totals to the Federal Election Commission by April 15. Fundraising announcements before then are unofficial.

This is just a preliminary analysis, but our team’s initial report shows we raised over $7 million dollars in Q1 of this year. We (you) are out-performing expectations at every turn. I'll have a more complete analysis later, but until then: a big thank you to all our supporters. pic.twitter.com/rDmTEiTfCs

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) April 1, 2019// // //