In exchange for raising money and investing in the DNC, Hillary would control the party’s finances, strategy, and all the money raised… This victory fund agreement, however, had been signed in August 2015, just four months after Hillary announced her candidacy and nearly a year before she officially had the nomination.

Emphasis mine. It was a captured field, with a performative primary - Hillary/‘s campaign abused their position against a broke DNC and elevated herself above all others.