Google has launched the Gmail Verified Sender Program, a new scheme that allows US political campaigns to bypass Gmail's spam filter, according to The New York Times. The move follows years of tension between Google and the Republican National Committee, which had long accused the company of deliberately suppressing its fundraising emails, and comes just ahead of the 2026 US mid-term elections when campaigns typically ramp up email outreach.

To qualify, political committees must send emails from a verified domain and keep their spam-flag rate below 0.3%, with the programme set to begin on 8 September. Google has framed the initiative as beneficial for both campaigns and users, saying it connects people with wanted emails while keeping them in control of their inboxes, and that participants must meet strict security and compliance standards. The announcement follows a 2022 FEC complaint and subsequent RNC lawsuit against Google over alleged spam-filter bias, a case that was dismissed in 2024.