Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE raised $7 million for his presidential bid in April, a staggering haul that is likely to put the South Bend, Ind., mayor among the top fundraisers in the Democratic primary field.

The fundraising total, disclosed to donors in a conference call last month, was first reported on Monday by Politico. All told, the $7 million take in April underscores Buttigieg’s transformation from relative unknown to Democratic superstar since announcing his presidential campaign in January.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Hill has not yet independently confirmed the fundraising haul. A spokesperson for Buttigieg did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

The April fundraising haul is a promising sign for Buttigieg ahead of June 30, when books close for the second quarter of 2019. Campaigns have until July 15 to file their second-quarter reports with the Federal Election Commission.

The South Bend mayor is poised to blow past his fundraising total for the first three months of the year. His campaign reported in April that it had raised about $7 million since January.

Still, Buttigieg will have to contend with other adept fundraisers in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.), who announced his campaign in February, raked in nearly $18.2 million in the first quarter of 2019, not including another $2.5 million he transferred from his 2016 presidential campaign committee.

And former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE, who did not announce his candidacy until late April and did not have to file a first-quarter fundraising report, is expected to report a staggering second-quarter take after announcing that he raised more than $6 million in the first 24 hours of his campaign.

Still, both Biden and Sanders began their campaigns with significantly higher national profiles than Buttigieg, who has never before sought federal elected office.

After appearing at a televised CNN town hall event in March, however, Buttigieg’s campaign surged, and he has since worked his way to top-tier status in the Democratic primary field. A Fox News poll released Sunday showed the South Bend mayor tied for fourth place with Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHundreds of lawyers from nation's oldest African American sorority join effort to fight voter suppression Biden picks up endorsement from progressive climate group 350 Action 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing MORE (D-Calif.), each with 8 percent support.