By The Daily Caller (U.S.) | Created at 2026-09-21 19:46:39 | Updated at 2026-09-25 02:30:51
3 days ago
Democratic candidate Blake Gendebien appears to have violated Federal Election Commission (FEC) law by hiring a foreign national for his campaign, the Daily Caller learned.
Gendebien briefly hired Ukrainian foreign national Gabriella Grabovska to work on his campaign from April to June 2026 and paid her over $8,000, according to FEC filings. Grabovska was born in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, but came to the United States in 2022, “leaving her family and familiarity behind” to go to college and pursue a career in politics.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to the Caller that Grabovska is a foreign national who legally entered the United States in 2022 on temporary status.
Given Grabovska’s nationality, Gendebien’s campaign may have violated FEC laws that prohibit foreign nationals from working on campaigns. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Talarico’s Spiritual Mentor Caught On Camera Touting ‘Inclusive’ Bible)
“Commission regulations prohibit certain foreign national activity including contributions, donations, expenditures (including independent expenditures) and disbursements solicited, directed, received or made directly or indirectly by or from foreign nationals in connection with any federal, state or local election,” FEC Deputy Press Officer Myles Martin told the Caller.
“Foreign nationals are also prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in the decision-making process of any person regarding election-related activities, such as decisions concerning the making of contributions or expenditures, or disbursements in connection with elections for any Federal, State, or local office or decisions concerning the administration of a political committee,” Martin added.
Grabovska listed “finance assistant” for Gendebien’s campaign on her LinkedIn profile. Since leaving her role on Gendebien’s campaign in Aug., she has been working full time at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) as a phone banker. Grabovska’s role as a phone banker does not require her to handle finances and therefore does not likely violate FEC laws. (RELATED: Washington Can’t Win Your Vote, So The Swamp Wants To Buy It)
“This is a non-story and uninformed trash from Republicans who know they’ve lost the midterms, have no message and are resorting to picking on junior staffers,” DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton told the Caller. “The DCCC follows ALL applicable laws, rules and regulations when hiring and employing staff. Anyone who suggests otherwise is acting in bad faith.”
Gendebien’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Daily Caller.
Martin noted a 2007 advisory opinion in which the FEC allowed a congressional campaign to use funds to hire Canadian citizens as campaign staff. In the opinion, the Commission wrote that “such use of campaign funds is an otherwise authorized expenditure in connection with your campaign for Federal office, and is therefore a permissible use of campaign funds.”
“An advisory opinion answers the specific, factual questions that have been submitted by the requestor, but will not necessarily cover all possible scenarios that may arise,” Martin told the Caller. “For scenarios that differ, a person may wish to request their own advisory opinion from the Commission.”
Gendebien is running in New York’s 21st congressional district to replace retiring Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. Gendebien will face off against Republican candidate Anthony Constantino in the general election on Nov. 3.
