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Celerity

(49,343 posts)
24. ActBlue, the Democratic Fund-Raising Powerhouse, Faces Internal Chaos
Mon Mar 31, 2025, 08:19 PM
Mar 31
At least seven senior officials have left the group, setting off deep concerns about its future as it confronts scrutiny from congressional Republicans.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/us/politics/actblue-democrat-fundraising-resignations.html

https://archive.ph/Er9es

ActBlue, the online fund-raising organization that powers Democratic candidates, has plunged into turmoil, with at least seven senior officials resigning late last month and a remaining lawyer suggesting he faced internal retaliation. The departures from ActBlue, which helps raise money for Democrats running for office at all levels of government, come as the group is under investigation by congressional Republicans. They have advanced legislation that some Democrats warn could be used to debilitate what is the party’s leading fund-raising operation. The exodus has set off deep concerns about ActBlue’s future. Last week, two unions representing the group’s workers sent a blistering letter to ActBlue’s board of directors that listed the seven officials who had left. The letter described an “alarming pattern” of departures that was “eroding our confidence in the stability of the organization.”

What prompted so many longtime ActBlue officials to leave is not clear — none of the former officials agreed to be interviewed on the record. “Like many organizations, as we undergo some transition heading into this new election cycle, we are focused on ensuring we have a strong team in place,” said Megan Hughes, an ActBlue spokeswoman. “We greatly appreciate the contributions of our incredible team members and remain deeply committed to the success of our organization and our mission to enable grass-roots supporters to make their voices heard.” According to the letter from the ActBlue unions, which has not been previously reported and was confirmed as authentic by three people briefed on its contents, the senior staff departures began on Feb. 21.

That day, ActBlue’s customer service and partnerships directors, who had both worked at the group for more than a decade, left, according to the unions’ letter. “Now, my primary mission is rest,” Alyssa Twomey, ActBlue’s departing vice president for customer service, wrote on social media. “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.” The next week, several other senior officials left, including the associate general counsel — who was the highest-ranking legal officer at ActBlue — the assistant research director, a human resources official, the chief revenue officer and an engineer who had spent 16 years building and maintaining the electronic pipes through which the group’s donations flow.

As these people left, Zain Ahmad, who was the last remaining lawyer in the ActBlue general counsel’s office, wrote in an internal Slack message on Feb. 26 that his access to email and other internal platforms had been cut off and that other messages he had posted in Slack had been deleted, according to a screenshot obtained by The New York Times. Mr. Ahmad is now on leave from ActBlue, according to a person briefed on the group’s staffing. “Please be advised that we have Anti-Retaliation and Whistleblower Policies for a reason,” Mr. Ahmad wrote. The unions’ letter to the ActBlue board called Mr. Ahmad’s assertions on ActBlue’s Slack platform “unsettling and disturbing, and part of a growing pattern of volatility and toxicity stemming from current leadership.”

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That's why I never signed up w/any of these outfits. I don't want to receive endless emails/texts, and other nonsense. SWBTATTReg Mar 31 #1
I completely agree and liberalhistorian Mar 31 #14
I haven't signed up for any of 'em except for the rare ones I WANT to hear from. calimary Mar 31 #21
Beg-mail blubunyip Mar 31 #38
Your term 'Beg-Mail' is very appropriate and hits the spot. I was once on one of these send out mailers and crap by SWBTATTReg Apr 2 #48
Thank you! calimary Apr 2 #49
I only donate through ActBlue links. central scrutinizer Mar 31 #2
ActBlue, the Democratic Fund-Raising Powerhouse, Faces Internal Chaos Celerity Mar 31 #24
Wow, that's very concerning. I knew they were being attacked by Rethugs but didn't know LymphocyteLover Mar 31 #25
What I find so frustrating is that it's like whack-a-mole royable Mar 31 #3
honestly Skittles Mar 31 #7
No. "Stop" really does work. nt LAS14 Mar 31 #12
I have the same experience Skittles Mar 31 #13
LOL BumRushDaShow Mar 31 #18
yeah, I delete almost all political texts I get but I delete the LymphocyteLover Mar 31 #26
And they're new ones, from new organizations or candidates I've never heard of. calimary Mar 31 #22
yup Skittles Mar 31 #23
That makes it even more important that you keep tuned in EXCLUSIVELY to the ones you care about. calimary Apr 2 #50
Here is something you can do. Qutzupalotl Mar 31 #4
Politics Girl was pushing that site. I haven't switched over to it but it may be important LymphocyteLover Mar 31 #27
Just text back stop Meowmee Mar 31 #5
I usually just delete them without reading but will have to try to stop them! LymphocyteLover Mar 31 #28
On my phone if I select them it gives me an option to say delete and junk Meowmee Mar 31 #31
Hear Hear! AZJonnie Mar 31 #6
Before the 2020 elections I donated money to Dems across the country in tight races. Georgia, Florida, Arizona, etc.. OverBurn Mar 31 #8
Same here Alice Kramden Mar 31 #35
I unsubscribe and/or block every time stillcool Mar 31 #9
Yeah. I get emails daily asking, "What can we do to get you to open this email?" Silent Type Mar 31 #10
Open each one and REPLY "Stop." Pretty soon they disappear. nt LAS14 Mar 31 #11
Endless Requests for Donations lindalou65 Mar 31 #15
My favorite one is "Our records show that you are a Republican. True? Yes / No" NBachers Mar 31 #16
Totally agree gerryatwork Mar 31 #17
I got one from Kamala Harris today Wicked Blue Mar 31 #19
I think our Party has a management problem. Just a guess but I think the folks in control don't want new blood. jalan48 Mar 31 #20
IMO it's a bit more complicated than that. The party is very diverse and has no one person LymphocyteLover Mar 31 #29
Yes, that is probably the case though I'm not sure a diverse group can stop Fascism without a strong leader and message. jalan48 Mar 31 #36
A lot of the texts are not from the party they're from pacs raising money for D Meowmee Mar 31 #34
I've gotten to the point of deleting texts and reporting them as junk... Mark.b2 Mar 31 #30
It's not just texts... buzzycrumbhunger Mar 31 #32
Oh, jeez... buzzycrumbhunger Mar 31 #33
" At least texts can be stopped by simply replying STOP!" Grins Mar 31 #40
Yes, I know. I feel that! You can unsubscribe to email though LymphocyteLover Mar 31 #43
I have been trying to get rid of them for 3-4 YEARS, mercuryblues Mar 31 #37
Hell YES!!!! You, too? Grins Mar 31 #39
I believe the culprit in this case is Act Blue. Sogo Mar 31 #41
Hmm, interesting. I never heard that it was ActBlue but I imagine various groups buy lists LymphocyteLover Mar 31 #42
This is all absurdity blubunyip Mar 31 #44
It's the party that shares our phone numbers iemanja Mar 31 #45
I get them nonstop, too. DFW Apr 1 #46
The ones that say just unsubscribe, just text stop. DOES NOT work. 5 years since I donated and they keep coming. OverBurn Apr 1 #47
They could totally turn that around this way: say, "We heard Cory Booker. We Scrivener7 Apr 2 #51
If only!!! LymphocyteLover Apr 2 #52
So melodramatic - "In tears here," "On our knees," "You're the ONLY Dem from XXXXX, etc... 3catwoman3 Apr 2 #53
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