Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow ActBlue has transformed Democratic politics
PoliticoFor four years, President Donald Trump and allies have dismissed signs of opposition, from rough polling numbers to big protests. But theres no denying the overwhelming force of millions of people hitting ActBlues donate buttons.
Democrats from Joe Biden all the way down the ballot have buried Republican opponents under a remarkable avalanche of campaign ads, fueled by billions donated this year through ActBlue, the ubiquitous online fundraising processor for Democratic campaigns. Their wild success in 2020 has reshaped the way candidates not only raise money but campaign for office, building a culture of contributions as civic engagement that has grown into an overwhelming force. Republicans have tried to match it, but they still lag behind.
Amid all the once-in-a-lifetime features of this election, the explosion of online fundraising may be the one that truly transforms politics over time. And at the center is ActBlue, whose staff carefully grew a small startup over 16 years, enticing more and more Democratic campaigns to use it, making donating as easy as possible and guaranteeing that the platform essentially never crashes, especially in the most important and high-traffic moments like if a Supreme Court justice dies unexpectedly and small donors rush to give a combined $70 million to candidates and causes in 24 hours.
Some Democrats already worry about a different kind of crash, questioning what happens to the online fundraising machine theyve built when Trump is no longer president. But those nagging concerns are nothing compared to the disbelief, confusion or even anger from some Republicans, who have struggled to come to grips with the idea that this many online donors are really lining up against them.
Democrats from Joe Biden all the way down the ballot have buried Republican opponents under a remarkable avalanche of campaign ads, fueled by billions donated this year through ActBlue, the ubiquitous online fundraising processor for Democratic campaigns. Their wild success in 2020 has reshaped the way candidates not only raise money but campaign for office, building a culture of contributions as civic engagement that has grown into an overwhelming force. Republicans have tried to match it, but they still lag behind.
Amid all the once-in-a-lifetime features of this election, the explosion of online fundraising may be the one that truly transforms politics over time. And at the center is ActBlue, whose staff carefully grew a small startup over 16 years, enticing more and more Democratic campaigns to use it, making donating as easy as possible and guaranteeing that the platform essentially never crashes, especially in the most important and high-traffic moments like if a Supreme Court justice dies unexpectedly and small donors rush to give a combined $70 million to candidates and causes in 24 hours.
Some Democrats already worry about a different kind of crash, questioning what happens to the online fundraising machine theyve built when Trump is no longer president. But those nagging concerns are nothing compared to the disbelief, confusion or even anger from some Republicans, who have struggled to come to grips with the idea that this many online donors are really lining up against them.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
4 replies, 799 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (14)
ReplyReply to this post
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How ActBlue has transformed Democratic politics (Original Post)
brooklynite
Oct 2020
OP
I've been using Actlue since it started. Always ahead of the curve. N/T
IllinoisBirdWatcher
Oct 2020
#3
catbyte
(34,393 posts)1. Fuck Citizen's United. We The People are stronger.
Even after trump is kicked to the curb, there will still be a lot of his enablers to oust. I won't be deleting ActBlue from my bookmarks anytime soon.
BigmanPigman
(51,604 posts)2. I have been on a monthly recurring donation
for 4 years. It isn't much since I have health bills and little income, but if everyone donates small amounts, it adds up like we are seeing. Lindsey Graham is pissed off about the donations and that is an unexpected added bonus.
crickets
(25,981 posts)4. Repubs weren't expecting Citizen's United to get turned on its head this way.
Too bad, so sad. The way people have been voting with their pocketbooks during this election cycle has been amazing.
IllinoisBirdWatcher
(2,315 posts)3. I've been using Actlue since it started. Always ahead of the curve. N/T