Kalshi Bans Two Midterm Election Candidates For Betting on Themselves
David Genge Published 11/09/2026
Two candidates in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections have been banned by prediction market site Kalshi for backing themselves in their races. Kalshi banned Republican North Carolina congressional candidate Laurie Buckhout for three years and fined her $2,589.96 for wagering on her own race. Also banned from playing on the prediction market site was Republican Ben Midgley. He bet on himself in the Maine gubernatorial primary. Midgley received a three-year suspension from trading on Kalshi and a $,5434 fine.
Their punishments bring to five the number of 2026 U.S. midterm Congressional candidates who have been suspended for trading on themselves on prediction market sites.
Midgley pleads ignorance following his Kalshi suspension
Considered to be an up-and-coming star in the Republican Party, it evidently wasn't the time to shine for fitness company executive Midgley. He finished second to Bobby Charles in the Republican primary for the Maine governor's race.
As things turned out, disappointment was only beginning for Midgley. He was caught by Kalshi for having played $1,000 on the prediction market site on the outcome of the Maine primary race.
Midgley cooperated with the Kalshi investigation of his illegal trading. He sought to downplay his involvement, though. According to reporting by the Bangor News, Midgley pleaded ignorance of Kalshi's rules. Issuing a statement, he claimed not to have read “the fine print that candidates could not support themselves.” Midgley points out that he did not attempt to hide his name or identity.
“I viewed Kalshi as a novelty and entertainment source,” Midgley said. “The moment I became aware the site preferred not to have candidates supporting themselves, I suspended any involvement.”
He also seemed to mock the legitimacy of prediction market sites like Kalshi, saying it’s “hard to take a site seriously which allows bets on virtually anything.”
“Obviously, the novelty has worn off,” Midgley said. “I had no winnings and made a donation to charity in accordance with Kalshi’s policies.”
Buckhout admits her mistake
Buckhout purchased less than $1,000 worth of contracts, all related to her candidacy for Congress. She acknowledged her mistake in a statement made to the Carolina Journal.
“I bet on myself. Literally,” Buckhout said. “It was a dumb mistake."
The moment she learned she was in violation of Kalshi's rules, Buckhout says she immediately set out to rectify the situation.
"As soon as I learned there was an issue, I worked to make it right," Buckhout said. "Safe to say my career as a Kalshi trader was short-lived.”
Kalshi’s Compliance Department acknowledged that Buckhout did cooperate with its inquiry into the trading activity. She willingly agreed to resolve the matter by accepting the department’s conclusions. Buckhout accepted the payment of the financial penalty and accepted the three-year restriction from trading on the exchange.
The Kalshi rule explained
Here's the actual Kalshi rule that both of these candidates violated:
"If a trader is a decision maker, either directly or indirectly, or has any influence, directly or indirectly, no matter the scale and importance of the influence, on the outcome of the Underlying event of any contract, that trader is prohibited from attempting to enter into any trade, either directly or indirectly, on the market in such contracts."
Previously this year, three other Congressional candidates were punished by Kalshi for violating this rule. The penalties included a $539.85 fine for Minnesota congressional candidate Matt Klein. There was a $784.20 fine for Texas congressional candidate Ezekiel Enriquez, and a $6,229.30 penalty issued to Virginia Senate candidate Mark Moran.