Senators Seek Answers About Prediction Market Influencers
Mike Goodpaster Published 09/09/2026
Two Democratic Senators are demanding that prediction market sites explain why they are using social media influencers to spread disinformation. The Senators seeking these answers are Alex Padilla (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, and Mark Warner (D-VA), the Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Together, they have submitted a letter demanding a response from prediction market companies Kalshi and Polymarket regarding concerns about their practice of hiring online influencers to spread false information on the internet.
Among the concerns expressed by the Senators was that the influencers are spreading debunked claims about election fraud on posts carrying branding from the prediction market companies.
Senators worry that influencers could hinder confidence in the validity of the 2026 midterm elections
In an exclusive report from Meidas News, the Senators outline their concerns. They worry about how Polymarket and Kalshi are utilizing social media influencers. It is especially alarming because both of these prediction market sites are offering event contracts relating to the 2026 midterms.
“By creating and aggressively promoting markets on elections, your platforms now play a significant role in shaping Americans’ perceptions of their elections,” the Senators. wrote in their letter.
"We are seriously alarmed that your marketing strategy includes paying numerous social media influencers willing to espouse unreliable information on elections. In doing so, we are concerned that your prediction market platforms may be subsidizing — and amplifying — social media influencers who echo President Trump’s baseless attacks and sow distrust in American elections.”
Former Congressman is among the paid influencers
One of the social media influencers listed on this payroll is former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. He's been a prominent supporter of the Republican-backed SAVE Act, which would dramatically reshape how voting works in the USA.
“In July, a series of major social media influencers, including former Congressman Matt Gaetz, all posted similar ‘paid partnership’ posts linking to Polymarket and Kalshi charts showing the odds of enactment of the SAVE Act dropping to all-time lows,” the Senators wrote in their letter. “As Majority Leader [Republican Senator John] Thune has noted, much of the pressure on the Senate to pass the SAVE Act, rooted in false claims of widespread election fraud, comes from ‘paid influencers.'”
The Senators also expressed another concern. Through these influencers, Polymarket and Kalshi may also be influencing the outcome of election-based event contracts. They also wondered whether the offering of event contracts relating to elections was a wise choice in itself.
Lastly, the Senators pointed out that even Elon Musk's right-leaning social media site X had banned the sponsored influencer posts.
"These paid posts on X, some of which have been removed for violation of X’s policies, added commentary that either undermined confidence in U.S. election integrity, advocated for the passage of this partisan, anti-voter legislation, or both,” the Senators said in their letter.
Senators ask prediction market sites to use better judgment
The letter from the two Senators provided a detailed list of questions put to executives from Kalshi and Polymarket. Among the answers sought are how these sites pay influencers. What strategy are they employing with influencer posts? What policies are in place to deal with posts from influencers about elections?
“As your platforms work to respond to these questions, we urge you to act now to reevaluate all paid influencer relationships regarding elections, the Senators wrote. "Thoroughly vet all existing and future paid influencer arrangements. Immediately terminate any existing relationships with those who spread election misinformation, disinformation, or undermine the integrity of U.S. elections.”