Simone Lawson
Running a political campaign can be expensive, with costs varying depending on the level of government and other factors. For instance, a local office campaign can cost from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, while a presidential campaign can cost up to $1 billion. The expenses include staff, office space, advertising, research, travel, events, and more. To fund their campaigns, candidates may use their savings, donations from individuals or organisations, or public funding. However, the ability to fundraise effectively is crucial for the success of a campaign.
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What You'll Learn
Staffing
For example, a campaign for a local school board or city council seat can be successfully run with a small team of dedicated volunteers. On the other hand, a national political campaign, such as a presidential race, will require a much larger and more specialized staff.
Regardless of the scale of your campaign, there are a few key roles that are essential. One such role is that of the campaign manager, who is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the campaign and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Another critical role is that of the treasurer, who manages and documents all financial activities, including tracking expenses and donations, keeping accurate financial records, and managing the campaign budget and bank accounts.
Other important roles may include an advertising team, website designers, organizers to coordinate volunteers, and researchers to gather information on opponents and voter preferences. The cost of staffing a campaign can vary widely, depending on the number of staff, their level of expertise, and the specific roles they play.
In addition to paid staff, it is important to recognize the value of volunteers in a political campaign. Volunteers can play a crucial role in canvassing, phone banking, and other grassroots efforts that can be highly effective, especially in smaller districts or less competitive races.
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Advertising
There are several ways to fund a political campaign's advertising efforts. Candidates for local office may be able to rely on their savings or small contributions from family and friends. They may also receive funding from their local political party, which may have historical data on campaign spending in the area. Local campaign consultants or advisors can also provide valuable insights into finance data and help inform budgeting decisions.
For larger campaigns, funding often comes from a range of sources, including individuals, corporations, and other groups. Political action committees (PACs) can contribute significant amounts of money to candidates, and there are no limits on how much individuals or corporations can spend on advertising for their preferred candidate. This has led to the rise of "'dark money'" groups, which spend millions of dollars on elections without revealing the source of their funds.
In the United States, presidential candidates can receive federal government funds to cover the expenses of their political campaigns. The Presidential Election Campaign Fund, financed by taxpayers who voluntarily designate a portion of their taxes to the fund, provides matching funds for the first $250 of individual contributions received by eligible candidates. Major party nominees may also receive grants of $20 million or more for their general election campaigns, with minor party candidates eligible for partial funding.
In addition to traditional advertising methods such as TV ads, billboards, and mailers, campaigns are increasingly utilizing digital advertising and social media engagement to reach voters. This shift to online platforms and social media has opened new avenues for cost-effective campaigning and voter outreach, particularly for independent and less well-funded candidates.
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Research
Running a political campaign can be expensive, with the cost depending on various factors. For example, a school board election campaign can cost anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, while a countywide campaign might require $20,000 or more. In the US, the cost of running for office varies widely, with Senate races tending to be the most expensive, where campaigns can run into the tens of millions. The average successful Senate campaign expenditure in 2020 was nearly $20 million, and high-profile races can see combined spending from candidates exceed $100 million.
There are many costs associated with running a political campaign, including staff, office space, advertising, research, travel, and events. Candidates may need to pay for a campaign manager, advertising team, website designers, and organisers to coordinate volunteers. Advertising can be particularly costly, with TV ads, cable ads, or billboards in major cities incurring high expenses. Additionally, there may be costs associated with research, such as polling to understand how voters respond to a candidate's ideas. Travel costs can also add up, especially when campaigning in large or spread-out areas.
Funding for political campaigns can come from various sources, including personal savings, small contributions from family and friends, donations from individuals or organisations, and large contributions from wealthy people, corporations, and groups with specific interests. In the US, there is also public funding available for presidential elections, where eligible candidates can receive federal government funds to cover qualified expenses. However, there are limits on campaign spending, and candidates may need to comply with campaign finance laws, which can vary by state.
The cost of running a political campaign is not solely determined by financial resources. Strategic decisions, grassroots support, and digital engagement can also play pivotal roles in levelling the playing field, especially for independent and less well-funded candidates. Social media and other digital tools have opened new avenues for cost-effective campaigning and voter outreach, allowing candidates to engage with voters and communicate their message effectively without incurring high advertising costs.
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Travel
Running a political campaign can be expensive, and one of the key costs is travel. Candidates need to travel to campaign events, rallies, and to meet voters. This can be a significant expense, especially for large countries like the US, where travel by air is often necessary.
The term "campaign traveller" is defined by the FEC as any individual travelling in connection with an election for federal office on behalf of a candidate or political committee. This includes candidates travelling for their own campaigns and members of the news media travelling with a candidate. The cost of travel for the President of the United States is particularly high, with the iconic Air Force One costing around $200,000 per hour to operate.
For presidential campaigns, travel costs can be covered by public funding. Eligible presidential candidates can receive federal government funds to pay for qualified expenses, including travel. This funding is designed to match the first $250 of each contribution from individuals and fund the major party nominees' general election campaigns. In 2008, the funding for the major party nominee was $84.1 million, and it has increased to $123.5 million for 2024.
Overall, travel is a significant expense in running a political campaign, and candidates must carefully manage their funds to cover these costs.
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Events
For instance, rallies, dinners, and meet-and-greets are common events organised by candidates to interact with voters. These events can range from small town hall meetings to large-scale rallies, each with varying costs. The location and size of the event can impact expenses, with factors such as venue rental, catering, and audio-visual equipment contributing to the overall cost.
In addition to traditional in-person events, digital events and online engagement have become increasingly important in modern political campaigns. Creating a robust online presence through websites, social media, and targeted online ads can help candidates reach a wider audience more cost-effectively. This shift towards digital campaigning has been accelerated by the advent of technology and social media platforms, offering new avenues for voter outreach.
The cost of events can vary depending on the campaign's strategy and available resources. For example, a high-profile Senate race may involve spending tens of millions of dollars on events and other campaign activities. On the other hand, local campaigns, such as those for a school board or city council, typically have lower budgets and may rely more on grassroots efforts like door-to-door canvassing and community events.
To fund these events and other campaign expenses, candidates may utilise a variety of funding sources. Personal savings, small contributions from family and friends, donations from individuals and organisations, and support from political parties or Political Action Committees (PACs) are common ways to finance campaigns. Additionally, public funding programs exist to provide eligible candidates with government funds for their campaigns.
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Frequently asked questions
The cost of running for office in the United States varies by the level of government and other factors. Running for a local office, such as a seat on a school board or city council, is the least expensive and can cost anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. Countywide campaigns might require $20,000 or more. Running for Senate is more expensive, with average successful Senate campaign expenditures of nearly $20 million in 2020. Running for president can cost up to $1 billion.
Campaign expenses include both personal expenses and operational costs. Operational costs include staff, office space, advertising, research, travel, and events. Candidates may need to pay for a campaign manager, advertising team, website designers, and organizers to coordinate volunteers.
Candidates raise money through a combination of self-funding, donations from individuals, organizations, and political action committees (PACs), and public funding. In the US, taxpayers can choose to designate $3 of their taxes to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which provides public funding for eligible presidential candidates.
The amount of money spent on elections varies depending on the specific election and location. For example, about $6.5 billion was spent on the US presidential election and congressional races in 2016. Hundreds of millions of dollars are often spent on state and federal elections, with money coming from PACs, political nonprofits, and other groups.
Campaign spending limits vary by state and are based on factors such as the number of voting-age individuals in the state. For example, the state limit for campaign spending in Wyoming in 2024 was $1,236,000, while California's limit was $30,176,500.
