Kalshi Donates $12,500 to Oregon Attorney General’s Campaign After His Efforts to Restrict Platform

^{Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield}

U.S. prediction market platform Kalshi has stepped up its engagement with Oregon officials by hiring two local lobbyists and donating $12,500 to the campaign of Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. Willamette Week reports.

Kalshi has registered lobbyists Mike Freese and Danelle Romain, who will work with Oregon officials, represent the company’s position and help lawmakers and regulators better understand its business model.

At the same time, the platform made a political contribution to Rayfield’s campaign as he prepares to seek re-election as attorney general in 2028.

The move has drawn attention because Rayfield previously took action against Kalshi.

In June 2025, he joined a group of state attorneys general that sought to restrict the platform’s operations through the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

Despite Rayfield’s position, Kalshi is currently still able to operate in Oregon. The dispute centers on whether the company’s prediction markets should be classified as financial products or as a form of gambling.

Rayfield’s campaign has already commented on the donation, saying that political contributions do not influence the attorney general’s decisions and that his work is focused on protecting Oregon residents, families and small businesses.

Kalshi’s outreach to state officials reflects a broader effort by the company to defend its business as regulatory scrutiny of prediction markets increases. The platform is seeking to maintain access to new markets amid ongoing debates over whether its products should be regulated as financial instruments or gambling activities.