Caroline Gleich, a professional ski mountaineer and online content creator running for U.S. Senate in Utah, is challenging Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules that she claims disadvantage influencers seeking public office. As she’s competing to replace retiring Senator Mitt Romney, the Democrat filed a request on Wednesday asking the FEC to update its regulations for the digital age.

The Washington Post reports that current FEC rules classify sponsored social media posts featuring Gleich and distributed in Utah within 90 days of the November 5 election as “coordinated communications.” This designation requires such posts to be reported as in-kind political contributions. Gleich argues these posts should be considered “business communications” and exempt from the rule.

The challenge highlights the growing intersection of the creator economy and politics. Goldman Sachs projects the influencer industry to be worth $480 billion annually by 2027. Despite this growth, federal labor statistics offer no reliable measurements for the creator industry, even as hyper-specific jobs like “canary raiser” are tracked.

Gleich told The Washington Post that the existing rules have disrupted her sponsorships. One brand canceled a deal due to complexities associated with booking ad campaigns for political candidates. Two long-term brand partners are considering terminating their contracts due to uncertainty surrounding the regulations.

Campaign finance experts acknowledge that some rules may not be suited to the influencer era. Daniel Weiner, director of the elections and government program at the Brennan Center, noted that many regulations were written when social media was in its infancy and needed to account for the concept of social media influencers.

According to The Washington Post, Gleich’s filing also requests permission to use an alternative method for calculating the replacement salary candidates can draw from campaign funds. She argues the traditional method fails to accommodate individuals with irregular income.

The FEC’s decision on Gleich’s request could have broader implications for content creators considering political careers. Gleich’s deputy campaign manager, Ben Anderson, suggests that updating the rules could encourage more people who make a living on the internet to run for federal office.