What Your Political Campaign Donations Are Actually Used For
Politics at their worst can be brutal and divisive. But at their best, politics brings people together and helps communities shine. So, how does this system work? Campaigns are funded by a variety of sources from donors, committees, and some candidates even use loans to get ahead. In any given candidate’s hands, donation money is being used to build up American communities.
Into the Hands of the People
When you give money to a political campaign, you’re actively participating in democracy, capitalism, and wealth redistribution in some form or another. It might be easy to believe in the democracy part, but how are you participating in capitalism and wealth redistribution? That’s actually even easier to prove. In order to function, campaigns have to hire a staff, and that staff needs an office.
For perspective, Lis Smith, Senior Communications Advisor for candidate Pete Buttigieg, received approximately $70,000 of the $1.2 million spent on salary, according to OpenSecrets.org. That’s well below the $110,000 average listed salary on Glassdoor. Interns are also paid as an expense. Bernie Sanders, for example, has received flak for what he pays his interns.
More Than Meets the Eye
Campaign events can also get expensive quickly. Whether promoting to new regions, or setting up a fundraiser, candidates have to pay rent for the venue. And that’s not all; they also have to pay for setup, AV equipment, travel expenses, and boarding for themselves and the staff.
This is an example of why media critics keep a vigilant eye out for where these events are taking place. There have been cases where candidates have been accused of using a particular venue thanks to personal interest. A quick read of the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) standards on personal use would clarify that if a bona fide transaction takes place, it’s within the legal realm.
Getting the Word Out
This may be the first response you’d expect. Candidates have to buy various types of advertising to spread the word. From TV, to radio, to billboard – not only do they need to pay for the space; they also have to pay for it to be made. Each campaign has some sort of communications director that coordinates the efforts to get a branded message out.
It might surprise some people to learn that politicians have to spend campaign money on these kinds of expenses. While there isn’t a standard of where the money goes from candidate to candidate, it’s all being injected back into the economy in some way, shape, or form.
Every candidate is surely spending money on fundraising, administration, and salaries. OpenSecrets.org is a website dedicated to tracking their expenditures, so empower yourself and get involved with the political process!