Removing Financial Barriers to Running for Office

Across partisan lines and other divides, American voters overwhelmingly believe the cost of political campaigns makes it hard for candidates who represent their values and life experiences to run for office. Looking at our elected officials — most of whom are independently wealthy — it's hard to disagree. In fact, the number of candidates self-funding their campaigns is on the rise.

While winning a competitive election has become more and more expensive with each election cycle, municipalities across the country and federal agencies have been making moves to lessen that financial burden and make running for office a more obtainable goal.

Most Americans cannot forgo regular employment, giving up not only their pay but often their healthcare and medical insurance, in order to spend a year on the campaign trail. Likewise, campaigning often necessitates paying for childcare or care for other dependents, creating yet another barrier for Americans with those responsibilities.  

Thankfully, agencies like the Federal Election Commission and those in charge of elections in some states and local municipalities have begun to recognize this. CLC hosted a discussion with experts and former candidates about these innovations — those that have already been implemented and others that have been proposed — and discussed what else can be done to break down financial barriers to running for office and make holding political office an obtainable goal for all Americans.