Left-wing Democrat Graham Platner's "grassroots" campaign for Senate in Maine has paid tens of thousands of dollars to a left-wing consulting firm that pays a "network of powerful online messengers"—better known as influencers—to promote Democratic candidates and causes on social media, campaign finance disclosures reviewed by theWashington Free Beaconshow. One of the firm's featured influencers has showered Platner with praise for attacking billionaires and accusing Israel of genocide and solicited donations for Platner's campaign without disclosing any financial connection.

Platner has paid the Louisville, Kentucky-based company Be a Good Influence LLC—commonly referred to as Good Influence—at least $36,437.94 since September for "digital organizing," according to his campaign'sspending records, which show a recent payment of $4,114 on March 27. Founded by Democratic operative Stuart Perelmuter, who served as communications director for former Kentucky Democratic congressman John Yarmuth, the firmcalls itself"the trusted partner for measurable creator-led campaigns."

"Good Influence creates meaningful impact for causes and campaigns through our network of powerful online messengers," the company's website says. "Rather than paying to work with a single influencer or content creator, Good Influence bundles elite news and cause-focused online creators together to create a network effect for our partners. With their combined audience and a united voice, our creators effectively mobilize awareness and action for issues we care about."

Good Influence does not list all of the influencers in its "network," but its website includes headshots for some of its "creators." They include Qasim Rashid, a Pakistani-born left-wing activist and self-described "human rights lawyer" who ran for Congress unsuccessfully in both Virginia and Illinois—and who has since emerged as a top online supporter of Platner.

In a Substackarticleposted on Sept. 8—five days after Platner first paid Good Influence $8,350.50—Rashid credited Platner with sending "the best fundraising text I've ever seen." Rashid said his "jaw dropped" when he saw the text from Platner, which accused ICE of kidnapping people, charged Israel with "genocide," and said, "billionaires have taken over our government." Rashid said it "convinced me to donate to him."

"I was astounded!" Rashid wrote. "A U.S. Marine veteran, running in a purple state, who rejects billionaire funding, condemns ICE raids, condemns fascism, condemns genocide, and acknowledges the fact that the status quo isn’t working. Refreshing doesn’t begin to describe how I felt reading his text."

Platner's payments to Good Influence are at odds with the "grassroots" image his campaign presents. Platnersaidin October that he doesn't "need corporate PACs" because he has a "grassroots army." Two months later, hecalled his Senate run"the strongest grassroots campaign Maine has ever seen."

Mainstream media outlets have painted Platner in a similar light, withPoliticocitinghis "grassroots energy" and theNew Yorkersuggestinghis "grassroots organizing can beat the establishment." None have reported Platner's payments to Good Influence, including theNew York Times, which last weekpublished a pieceon campaign payments to influencers that did not mention Platner.

A Good Influence spokesman said the firm "does not comment on its work for clients." Platner's campaign and Rashid did not respond to requests for comment.

Rashid has continued to promote Platner since his initial September post. He landed a brief "1 on 1" sitdown with Platner in October,posted to TikTok, in which he asked Platner questions like, "What happened to the Democratic Party of FDR?" and, "Who's going to win the World Series this year?"

Source: Drudge Report