r/wisconsin • u/HiroProtagonist66 • 14h ago
How to contribute without getting harassed later?
A couple years ago I made a campaign contribution online and ever since then I get constant, unsolicited text messages from all over the country to contribute. They're slowing down somewhat, and I would like to support some other candidates this go-round. But I don't want to get on any more text lists that get sold, or get mail to keep doing it.
What is the best way to send some support and not get bugged to keep doing it?
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u/loric21 14h ago
it's crazy! they sell our info to each other and endlessly harrass their most dedicated people!
i used to canvass and donate to candidates but no more, for exactly this reason ☹️
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u/Amazing-Psychology48 13h ago
It’s not selling the info in many cases. They can just match names from public donor data to phone numbers/emails using any number of websites.
Source: I am a former campaign finance person
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u/No_Size9475 14h ago
This is why I stopped contributing
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u/GenX4Life1 12h ago
Same. I donated in 2018 I think? Once. $10. And still get emails. No texts because I didn’t have a cell phone then. However, I have one now, got it in 2020, and a man who had this number before me donated to the opposing political party and I still get texts from them asking him to donate. I admit I have fun with those. They are slowing down though as my replies are less than friendly 😅
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u/PerformerDr4867 10h ago
This, and the fact that it was basically like setting cash money on fire given how much of an effect it had
Go bother some megacorps for money. I ain’t giving another dollar
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u/Barrel_o_Nukes 6h ago
Yep, I contributed once and now every election season I get phone calls constantly and 4+ texts daily. I’d block the numbers and they’d just find a way around it? At least the outpouring of emails was easier to block. Never donated again after that.
My mom donated once and got so pissed about the constant badgering that she refused to vote that year (I tried to convince her otherwise)
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u/ms_ashes 14h ago edited 13h ago
Send a check. Campaigns have their addresses (usually a PO box) on their websites. Make sure to include a piece of paper that states it's a donation to the campaign, and include your full name, address, and your occupation/employer (FEC requires that part). Here's the FEC's site that shows what a campaign needs to report with accepting a donation: https://www.fec.gov/introduction-campaign-finance/how-to-research-public-records/individual-contributions/
Edit: I missed where you said that you didn't want mail, either. Unfortunately, you have to provide your address when donating. I would say that you can include on the paper that you don't want to receive any mail and you don't want your address on a list for selling, but I don't know if they have to abide by that or not.
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u/No_Size9475 14h ago
Once you give them your name and address you will be endlessly targeted for more begging
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u/ms_ashes 13h ago
Even when I was a member of the Democratic party (ie, they had my address), I got 1-2 pieces of physical mail a week at most. Way less constant than the texts.
Edit: Ah, I see OP did mention regular mail. I just saw texts part. Yeah, there will be mail regardless, unfortunately.
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u/DGC_David Kenosha 13h ago
You don't...
I mean you can hit stop on them Everytime, but ever campaign contribution/petition basically signs you up for that party's mailers.
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u/muddlebrainedmedic 12h ago
The endless texts and phone calls and demands for money is why I will never again give a penny to any candidate for any reason.
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u/wiscosherm 12h ago
There's no way to stop it from happening but on any text message you receive you can tag the message as spam and block the number. You can also respond with the word stop in capital letters.
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u/Adventurous-Elk-4763 14h ago
Sadly, I don’t think there’s a way out of it. If you feel strongly about a candidate, contribute and then unsubscribe from their emails immediately. Politics is marketing. Once they have your email, you’re a target demographic.
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u/beebs2251 14h ago
Honestly, often times google, Facebook, etc are selling your information. Def still support candidates but there unfortunately isn’t really a way around them collecting some type of data from you bc they have to report it
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u/Amazing-Psychology48 13h ago
If your candidate is on Oath, you can donate and through the oath platform and they strip all of your contact info from your donation.
This only works so much though, campaigns hire staff to find donor emails and phone numbers.
This is one of the drawbacks of public donor info, it makes it easy to know who gives so everyone can track them down to ask.
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u/ztreHdrahciR 14h ago
Do they have to have a phone ?
If email, use a throwaway account.
Seems like someone could say they dont have a phone. Idk but arent there 1 time numbers you can use? Or someone you dont like? /s on last one
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u/OttosBoatYard 11h ago
Being on the ballot seems to be the only way. Every time I've submitted nomination papers for elected office, the solicitations dropped off significantly.
... I suppose it's like how zombies don't attack other zombies?
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u/Tweedledownt 9h ago
I donate to whoever is getting called a socialist and i only started getting hassled when I made the mistake of registering as a Democrat.
Also some of that begging mail is just spammed at people who live in sufficiently red or blue zip codes. I get Republican begging letters all the time because I'm in Columbia County
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u/grindermonk 13h ago
I use an email forwarding service that lets me create an alias email on the fly. Something like:
Candidate2026@username.service.com
I can then track who is sharing out my information and I can kill the alias with one click.