The Democratic National Committee and its fundraising arm, ActBlue, have routed more than $23 million in payroll expenses through Rippling, a San Francisco-based human‑resources and payroll software firm, during the 2026 election cycle.
Federal Election Commission records indicate the transition to Rippling began in the second quarter of 2025, marking a shift from the committee’s previous payment methods.
Several former Rippling employees have filed lawsuits alleging that the company interfered with their rights under the California Family Rights Act and retaliated against them for taking family or medical leave.
One lawsuit, filed by a former manager in February, claims the employee was terminated immediately after exercising a legal right to bond with a newborn child, while another, filed in March, accuses the company of firing an engineer after she took in‑vitro fertilization treatment leave.
A separate class‑action claim alleges that Rippling required workers to perform uncompensated “off‑clock” labor, failed to pay certain wages and overtime, and improperly withheld paid sick leave.
The company has denied all allegations, stating it has never settled a family‑ or medical‑leave violation claim and has not been found liable in a court or by a jury.
Despite the unresolved claims, Rippling received substantial state incentives: California awarded the firm approximately $12.7 million in tax credits to expand its San Francisco headquarters, and New York granted an additional $7 million to grow operations in New York City.
These incentives were granted by governors who publicly champion paid family leave, a stance that contrasts sharply with the allegations of wage withholding and retaliation against employees taking such leave.
ActBlue itself has faced congressional scrutiny over its fraud‑prevention practices and the handling of potentially illegal foreign donations, with several lawmakers pressing for the release of documents and the platform’s CEO invoking the Fifth Amendment during hearings.
The revelations that the Democratic fundraising machine has relied on a payroll vendor facing serious employee‑rights allegations underscore a dissonance between the party’s public advocacy for workers’ rights and its internal practices.
