# Kalshi disciplinary actions against political figures

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kalshi-disciplinary-actions-against-political-figures
> Updated: 2026-08-31T21:15:04.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The prediction market platform Kalshi has issued disciplinary actions and fines against several political figures for wagering on their own campaigns or candidacies.

Republican nominee Laurie Buckhout was fined $2,500 and received a three-year ban after betting on her own race for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. Buckhout characterized the incident as a “dumb mistake” and cooperated with the platform’s inquiry.

In related actions, Kalshi suspended former Maine Republican gubernatorial candidate Ben Midgley for three years and fined him $5,434 for wagering on his primary candidacy. The platform also issued a permanent ban and a $71,356 fine to former New York Representative George Santos. Kalshi noted that these wagers violated rules prohibiting trading by individuals who act as a “decision maker” or possess influence over an event’s outcome.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: Kalshi bans Maine Republican for betting on own candidacy

Kalshi has suspended Maine Republican candidate Ben Midgley for three years and fined him for betting on his own gubernatorial candidacy, violating the platform's rules against decision-makers trading.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kalshi-bans-maine-republican-for-betting-on-own-candidacy

### 2026-08-31: Laurie Buckhout fined and banned from Kalshi for betting on own race

Republican North Carolina congressional candidate Laurie Buckhout was fined $2,500 and banned from Kalshi for three years after betting on her own election race.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/laurie-buckhout-fined-and-banned-from-kalshi-for-betting-on-own-race

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Cite as: Kalshi disciplinary actions against political figures. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kalshi-disciplinary-actions-against-political-figures