ActBlue, a major Democratic fundraising platform, is experiencing significant turmoil, with at least seven senior officials resigning in February. One lawyer even suggested that he faced “internal retaliation,” according to The New York Times. The nonprofit, which has directed hundreds of millions of dollars to Democratic campaigns across the country, is grappling with internal chaos. Given ActBlue’s critical role in processing election donations, the platform’s instability could have major implications for the Democratic Party.
Two unions representing ActBlue’s employees sent a letter to the platform’s board of directors, as reported by The New York Times. The letter, which highlights the wave of resignations since February 21, described the situation as an “alarming pattern” that is “eroding our confidence in the stability of the organization.” The newspaper also noted that the reasons behind the resignations remain unclear.
The letter pointed out that ActBlue’s directors of customer service and partnerships, both of whom had been with the nonprofit for over ten years, had resigned. Following their departures, several other senior officials, including the organization’s top legal officer, left a week later, according to The New York Times. Other resignations soon followed, including the assistant research director, a human resources official, the chief revenue officer, and an engineer.
The resignations and turmoil come amid an ongoing investigation into potentially illegal foreign sources of funding. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares sent a letter to the nonprofit in August 2024, pointing to hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to ActBlue coming from donors in Virginia “in volumes that are facially implausible and appear suspicious,” according to the letter, the Daily Caller reported.
In September, GOP lawmakers called for an investigation into ActBlue over potential “criminal activity,” with Republican Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin urging five states to examine the platform’s donations. Steil, who chairs the House Administration Committee, sent letters to the attorneys general of Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, and Virginia, asking them to look into an investigation alleging that ActBlue had illegally used individuals’ identities to fund Democratic campaigns.
The committee broadened its inquiry in October to include 19 state attorneys general. This investigation followed whistleblower reports highlighting discrepancies in donor records. “Now, my primary mission is rest,” Alyssa Twomey, ActBlue’s vice president for customer service, announced Feb. 28 on LinkedIn. “After 14+ years of living and breathing all things ActBlue, it’s time for a reset. I’m taking an intentional pause before setting course for my next adventure.”