Apple’s latest iOS update is poised to kneecap Republican fundraising efforts just before the 2025 midterms.
Fox News reported that in September 2025, Apple will roll out iOS 26 with a feature called Screen Unknown Senders, automatically diverting texts from unknown numbers to a separate folder without notifications.
This could stifle conservative campaigns that rely heavily on text messaging for voter outreach and donations. The update builds on iOS 18’s manual text filter, now making it more aggressive and user-friendly with a visible filtration button and a blue badge for unread messages.
Republican fundraisers are sounding alarms, fearing a significant hit to their voter registration and rally mobilization efforts. The National Republican Senate Committee’s July 2025 memo estimated a potential $25 million revenue loss due to this change.
Data from 2024 shows Republicans used text campaigns at a two-to-one ratio compared to Democrats, making them uniquely vulnerable.
“It’s no surprise that Big Tech wants to stop Donald Trump and other Republicans from communicating with people,” said Sean Dollman of American Made Media Company.
That’s a spicy take, but it’s hard to ignore the pattern when conservative messages keep getting sidelined. Past Gmail filtration issues from 2019 to 2022 cost Republicans $2 billion, with 68% of their emails marked as spam.
Between 2019 and 2020, only 32% of GOP fundraising emails reached inboxes, leading to a $1.5 billion loss in 2020 alone. This iOS 26 update feels like déjà vu, with Silicon Valley’s algorithms once again tilting the playing field. The timing, right before midterms, raises eyebrows about intent, even if it’s just a clumsy coincidence.
Dollman added, “Big Tech has suppressed him, suspended him, and banned him outright.” He’s not wrong—conservatives have faced platform restrictions before, and this text filter seems like another hurdle dressed up as a user convenience. Still, accusing Apple of deliberate sabotage might be a stretch without hard evidence.
Republican strategists aren’t sitting idle; they’re crafting workarounds to dodge the iOS 26 filter. Campaigns are urging supporters to save fundraising numbers or reply to texts to establish a chat history, ensuring messages land in the main inbox. Screenshots from 2025 show texts like “From Trump: Did you save my number yet?”—a clever, if desperate, plea.
Some campaigns are pushing supporters to download contact cards, like one labeled “Trump Contact Card,” to add numbers directly to address books. It’s a scrappy response, but it puts the burden on voters to opt in. This extra step could dampen the spontaneity that makes text campaigns effective.
Launchpad Strategies, the digital firm behind Trump’s 2024 campaign, raised $509 million for him and $18 million for 40 other clients. That kind of cash flow shows why texting matters to Republicans. Losing even a fraction of that due to a software update stings.
The iOS 26 filter won’t just hit political texts; it could also bury non-political messages like doctor appointment reminders from unsaved numbers.
This broad-brush approach might frustrate users who miss critical updates, not just campaign texts. Apple’s quest for a cleaner inbox could leave everyone scrambling.
Fast Company reported in July 2025 that iOS 26 is already in public beta testing, giving users a glimpse of the Screen Unknown Senders feature. The filtration button and unread message badge make it easier to check filtered texts, but only if users know to look. Most won’t, and that’s the problem.
In 2022, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, NRSC Chairman Sen. Rick Scott, and NRCC Chairman Rep. Tom Emmer called out Big Tech for “suppressing free political speech.”
Their joint statement about Google’s email suppression resonates here, as Apple’s update risks muting conservative voices again. The pattern feels too consistent to dismiss as mere chance.
Republicans argue this update unfairly targets their outreach, given their heavier reliance on text campaigns. The 2024 data showing their two-to-one texting edge over Democrats underscores the stakes. A $25 million hit, as the NRSC memo warns, could reshape tight midterm races.
Apple’s defenders might say this is just a user-friendly feature, not a political plot. But when the impact disproportionately kneecaps one side, it’s hard to wave off concerns about bias. Conservatives aren’t wrong to feel like they’re fighting an uphill battle against tech giants.
