‘Independent’ Senate Candidates Are Actually Relying on ActBlue, Dem Donations in Key Races

Two independent candidates for U.S. Senate have fundraising profiles on ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s key fundraising platform, raising questions about the candidates’ true political independence as they look to capture two long-held Republican seats this fall. 

Read more U.S. Park Police Are Investigating Giant ‘86 47’ Markings on National Mall Lawn

ActBlue allows independent candidates to fundraise on its platforms on a “case-by-case basis,” based on whether a Democrat is in the race, the candidate has an endorsement from the Democratic Party, or the candidate has demonstrated alignment with the Democratic Party’s ideals and policy goals.

But both independent candidates — Seth Bodnar in Montana and Dan Osborn in Nebraska — are running against Democrats, as well as Republicans. While the Nebraska Democratic Party has endorsed Osborn, Bodnar has not received an official Democratic endorsement.  

ActBlue did not respond when National Review asked what circumstances allow Bodnar and Osborn to fundraise on the platform.

“Seth Bodnar and Dan Osborn’s fundraising pages on ActBlue, Democrats’ scandal-plagued fundraising machine, tell voters everything they need to know. These are Democrats in disguise who would rubber-stamp the Democratic agenda in the Senate,” Bernadette Breslin, National Republican Senatorial Committee national press secretary, told National Review. ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones testified in front of Congress on Wednesday, following allegations that the fundraising platform funneled illegal foreign donations into campaigns. During her testimony, she repeatedly pleaded the Fifth, refusing to answer questions about allegations.  

ActBlue was founded in 2004 and has since helped facilitate more than $19 billion in fundraising for Democratic causes and campaigns.

A Bodnar campaign spokesperson told National Review the campaign also fundraises on Anedot and would like to fundraise on the GOP’s WinRed, but “two party control over fundraising resources is how Washington’s broken political system perpetuates itself, and that’s what Seth is running against.”

“As for Seth’s Independence, Seth has pledged not to caucus with either Party if elected. He is pledging his loyalty to Montanans above either party,” the campaign spokesperson said. “Seth rejects the notion that Montanans have to accept a political system where elected officials must submit to the leader of a Party, vote the way they’re told, and engage in endless political warfare with the other side. That’s why Seth will not caucus with the Democrats or Republicans.”

But the independent candidates’ fundraising ties with Democrats do not end with the use of ActBlue.

The Bodnar campaign’s FEC filings are filled with donations from groups like the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, a group that “works to elect candidates who will fight to lower energy costs, build a clean energy economy, and strengthen our democracy for all,” and Max’s PAC, a group that is affiliated with former Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana.

Bodnar has longtime ties with prominent Democrats and has endorsed progressive policies. During his tenure as president of the University of Montana, Bodnar allowed a transgender athlete to join the women’s cross country team. He was also a guest of former First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2012 debate between President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

The current Democratic nominee in Montana, Alani Bankhead, has insisted she is staying in the race, regardless of rumors that she may drop out. Bankhead took to social media earlier this month to reaffirm that she has no plans to exit the race. For Bodnar to win, Bankhead would likely have to drop out in order to avoid splitting the Democratic vote.

Read more Trump Taps Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton for National Intelligence Director

However, Montana election code requires a party to replace any candidate who drops out after the primary. The state Democratic Party bylaws include a similar mandate, which says the state central committee must fill any vacancies.

Bodnar and Bankhead are competing against Republican Kurt Alme to fill the seat left vacant by Senator Steve Daines (R., Mont.), who withdrew from the race right before the filing deadline.

Osborn, meanwhile, is running against incumbent Senator Pete Ricketts (R., Neb.), and while his campaign slogan is “Lifelong Independent,” his campaign has accepted thousands of dollars in donations from the campaign of Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), former Montana Senator Jon Tester’s Treasure State PAC, and former Democratic Senator Bob Kerrey, according to FEC filings. 

“Elizabeth Warren is rated as the most far-left politician in Washington,” Ricketts said in October in response to the campaign donations. “She supports the Green New Deal, taxpayer benefits for illegals, and abolishing private healthcare. By accepting campaign funds from Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer, and Bob Kerrey — Dan Osborn has shown Nebraska voters exactly who he will side with in the Senate: the same Democrats funding his Fake Independent campaign.”

Osborn also received a donation from the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund. The fund has also donated to Talarico for Texas, Analilia Mejia — who is running for Congress in New Jersey and is backed by progressives including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders — and the Ossoff Victory Fund, according to FEC filings.

The Osborn campaign did not respond to National Review‘s request for comment by the time of publication.

Democrats did not recruit a candidate for the Nebraska seat this cycle. State party chairwoman Jane Kleeb has endorsed Osborn.

Cindy Burbank, who is currently running for Senate in Nebraska as a Democrat without the local party’s endorsement, floated the idea of removing herself from the ticket after she won the Democratic primary. She previously sued the Montana secretary of state because he removed her from the primary ballot, citing concerns that she planned to exit the race if she won, in order to support Osborn. She stated her intent to do so on her own campaign website.

Now, she could make good on her promise. To be removed from the November ballot, she would have to once again take the secretary of state to court.

According to Burbank’s FEC filings and the Bankhead campaign in Montana, neither Democratic candidate has received money from fundraising on ActBlue, unlike their independent rivals.

Read more Family of Convicted Killer Karmelo Anthony Pocketed $630k in Donations Before Fundraiser’s Closure