GOP lawmakers worry about fundraising platform at retirement

BALTIMORE – Several Republican lawmakers expressed concern over the party's online fundraising platform, including access to data and the effectiveness of the tool, following a presentation to the party. Retreat House GOP in Baltimore.

Republicans launched WinRed earlier this year, seeking to emulate the successful fundraising efforts of Democrats experienced small donors with their ActBlue platform.

The party is counting on WinRed to help Republicans raise money for the 2020 races after facing a series of recent hurdles, including a wave of retirements.

But a source familiar with the discussion that took place during Thursday night's presentation described the meeting as "controversial", others said they were not satisfied with the responses received regarding their concerns, including who might access their data.

"WinRed was more like" seeing red "because the presentation ended with more questions than answers," said a GOP legislator at The Hill. "Questions have been asked about the scope of the WinRed program, about data control and about information protection."

Who has the control of data and information in the fundraising tool has become a key issue for Republicans.

"Most of the members were disappointed by the depth of the presentation," said a legislator at The Hill.

"In the opinion of many, everyone except the deputy would have control," added the legislator.

Discord has been reported for the first time by Politico.

But other members have rejected criticism.

During the presentation, WinRed President Gerrit Lansing said the platform played a key role in raising $ 800,000 for Senator Dan Bishop of North Carolina, who defeated Democrat Dan McCready of a special election in the House earlier this week.

"It's good," said a GOP legislator at The Hill.

In an interview with The Washington Free Beacon, Lansing extolled the success won by WinRed here and promised that the platform would do its best to catch up with ActBlue.

"They have had 15 years to evolve and we will try to catch up in 15 months, but they will surprise us every month," said Lansing. "It's the reality we have to face and try to catch up as quickly as possible," he told the publication.