Aug 14, 2025 - Politics & Policy
Scoop: ActBlue's new rules
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ActBlue, the online donation platform that makes it easy for Democratic candidates to hoover up small-dollar donations, is making it easier for independents to do the same.
- Republicans both fear and admire ActBlue for the ease with which it allows candidates to translate online enthusiasm into real-world dollars. President Trump also wants to investigate it for "illegal 'straw donor' and foreign contributions in American elections."
Why it matters: In the 2026 cycle, three independent candidates are seeking to challenge GOP senators in deep red states, but without a "D" next to their name.
- Dan Osborn, who has always been registered "unaffiliated," gave Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) a scare in 2024 by running as an independent. He's plotting a second run, this time against Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).
- Todd Achilles, a former Democratic Idaho state representative, declared himself an unaffiliated voter earlier this summer and announced a challenge to Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho).
- Brian Bengs, who ran for the Senate as a Democrat in 2022, is challenging Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), as an independent.
Zoom in: The new rules allow ActBlue to include independent candidates on a "case-by-case" basis.
- That change can give independents access to ActBlue earlier in the campaign cycle ā and even if a declared Democrat is in the race.
- A spokesperson for ActBlue confirmed the changes, which were made earlier this month.
ā Hans Nichols
