The alarm relayed on the call reflected a larger concern: that the Democratic Party has grown too dependent on a small handful of companies to carry the bulk of its campaign operations. | Paul Holston/AP PhotoA company at the center of the Democratic Party’s digital strategy is on the verge of a meltdown — sparking alarm among a broad constellation of liberal groups that are relying on it ahead of 2024.
“I’m hoping that I’m wrong, that we’re all wrong, that everyone’s fine,” said a former NGP VAN employee, granted anonymity to speak candidly about their former employer. “But this could mean something really bad for 2024.” But the company’s monopoly-like grip on Democratic campaigns means there’s no clear alternative that can immediately replace it.
“Every minute you spend dealing with [software] is time spent not talking to potential donors,” said Kalani Tissot, founder of Tissot Solutions, a fundraising firm. “It just adds all these laborious processes that slow down your ability to actually focus on fundraising.”to its customers that the layoffs were part of a companywide restructuring “designed to break down organizational silos.
Apax “has added nothing but chaos to everyone’s lives,” said Tara Harwood, who was laid off from her job as an ActionKit quality assurance engineer. “Everything they did was poison as far as I’m concerned.” Campaign technology is quickly evolving — on both sides — and Democratic tools will need resources and investment to stay competitive in the long term.