WASHINGTON _ The Democratic National Committee has hired the digital and technology firm Hawkfish, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation, bringing the Michael Bloomberg-founded company on board for the final four months of the 2020 campaign.
The DNC's decision will be controversial among some progressives, who bristled at the idea of Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and multibillionaire, gaining influence within the party. Earlier this month, Joe Biden's campaign opted against hiring the firm, though the DNC and Biden campaign are working hand-in-hand during the general election.
The nature of the Hawkfish's contract with the DNC, and what work the firm will specifically do for the committee, was not entirely clear. One source with knowledge of the agreement said it was for a "small data contract."
A DNC spokesman declined to comment for this story.
Hawkfish, which was founded in 2019, has pitched itself as an all-in-one data and digital package, identifying key voters and determining the best messages to reach them. And with Bloomberg's money behind it, company officials have said it's the most cost-effective option on the market.
But the agency's inexperience has also raised concerns among some Democratic strategists that it's not ready for the high-pressure environment of a presidential race. Hawkfish was part of Bloomberg's failed bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
In March, Bloomberg transferred $18 million from his defunct campaign to the DNC.
