U.S. Senator Bob Menendez in Secaucus, New Jersey on April 2, 2020. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael SchwenkCampaign Legal Center (CLC), ACLU Texas, MALDEF, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and DĒMOS asked a district court to order Secretary of State John B. Scott to produce records responsive to their August and October 2021 records requests seeking information about the state’s new voter purge program.In the absence of federal voting rights reform, states have needed to step up and become the new vanguard for protecting the freedom to vote. Across the country, Americans voted to strengthen our democracy through ballot initiatives. In Michigan, voters passed Proposal 2 by a whopping 20 percent margin. This …Regulation of Political Campaigns. The Supreme Court has made several rulings on when campaign regulations violate First Amendment rights of free speech and when the government has a compelling interest in limiting such speech to try to prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption. For example, in 2022, the Supreme Court …Brent graduated from Columbia Law School (J.D. 2010), where he served on the administrative board of the Columbia Law Review. He graduated with honors in political science from the University of Southern California (B.A. 2006). Brent is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York. He joined CLC in …Campaign Legal Center Action (CLCA) filed suit on behalf of Giffords against the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Matt Rosendale for Montana and Josh Hawley for Senate, alleging illegal coordination through the use of a common …If you are trying to reach Vanessa Sayasane, Auditor for State Legislative committees, her number has changed to 515-423-4107. For assistance, please contact the Board's office staff. You can email us at [email protected] is a nonpartisan organization that fights for every American’s rights to responsive government and a fair opportunity to participate in and affect the …May 21, 2010 · The Campaign Legal Center (CLC), a lobbying and litigation front-group for wealthy foundation supporters seeking to restrict the First Amendment rights of American citizens, attacked the Center for Competitive Politics (CCP) and the James Madison Center for Free Speech Friday in a memo to reporters about campaign finance litigation. "A great number of the challenges in recent years have been ... Item 1 of 2 Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to supporters during a campaign rally at the …Campaign Legal Center (CLC) has released a new analysis discussing how the current Supreme Court led by Chief Justice John Roberts, otherwise known as the Roberts Court, has a record for being consistently anti-democratic when deciding cases that affect American democracy.. The analysis shows how the Roberts Court has reversed decades of work by …Date. July 13, 2022. In this analysis, The Supreme Court’s Role in Undermining American Democracy, Campaign Legal Center discusses how the Roberts Court's record in cases affecting American democracy is consistently anti-democratic, reversing decades of work by prior Courts that sought to perfect and protect our democracy. The report also ...The FEC was created in 1974, as part of reforms to the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), following the public revelation of campaign finance abuses and corruption stemming from the Watergate scandal. A primary goal of FECA, and the new agency, was to provide the public with access to information about the money raised and spent to influence ...The FEC was created in 1974, as part of reforms to the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), following the public revelation of campaign finance abuses and corruption stemming from the Watergate scandal. A primary goal of FECA, and the new agency, was to provide the public with access to information about the money raised and spent to influence ...A left-leaning advocacy group, which plans to spend millions opposing Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, has obscured its funding sources through an opaque organizational structure. … Brendan Fischer, director of the Campaign Legal Center’s federal reform program, agreed with that analysis. “It is not entirely uncommon for a 501(c)(4) …Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is representing two Tennessee citizens, Ernest Falls and Artie Bledsoe, who want to exercise their right to vote. Tennesseans, like these plaintiffs, who have been convicted of felonies in other states have an established legal right to vote in Tennessee if their rights of …Feb 22, 2024 · The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) limits the amount of money individuals and political organizations can give to a candidate running for federal office. You can donate to more than one candidate in each federal election. The current contribution limits are: Primary election. General election. To combat a racially targeted attack on voters’ right to equitable representation, on Jan. 18, 2022, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) joined a longstanding federal lawsuit against Galveston County, Texas for approving maps that would intentionally discriminate against and dilute the electoral power of Black and Latino voters.The Campaign Legal Center puts it clearly on its Campaign Finance webpage: The dependence of political candidates on wealthy special interests is a serious flaw in our political system, and makes elected officials responsive to their large donors rather than to the public. The tremendous power of special interest money in politics …Our democracy works best when we have a government responsive to the people. That means we need our democratic process to be transparent, inclusive and accountable. This toolkit provides the information you need to achieve solutions that promote these ideals in your community. As Supreme Court Justice Louis …Campaign Legal Center is a nonpartisan organization that fights for every American’s right to participate in the democratic process. Learn about their …The ballot measure was approved by 72% of Arizona voters in November 2022 after many years of hard work by Voters’ Right to Know (VRTK), …Manager, Individual Giving. Jon Roux works closely with CLC’s philanthropic partners who are dedicated to making our democracy work for all Americans. Prior to joining CLC, Jon served as the corporate and major gifts officer at the Center for American Progress, where he managed the organization's corporate membership program and worked with ...The latest tweets from @CampaignLegalItem 1 of 2 Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Forum River Center in …Photo by Michael Ventura / Alamy Stock Photo. Last month, a federal court ordered the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to take action on allegations that the National Rifle Association (NRA) violated federal campaign finance laws. The order, which gave the recalcitrant agency 30 days to comply, is significant, …While in law school, she also helped to found Vanderbilt Law School’s Social Justice Reporter, which launched in 2022. Kate graduated from Vanderbilt Law School (J.D., 2022) and University of California, Berkeley (B.S.; B.A. 2015). She joined CLC in 2022. Kate is admitted to practice law in Tennessee, the U.S. District Court for the Middle ...The 2024 presidential election is likely to be one of the most contentious ever. In advance of the 2024 election and to protect the will of the people, CLC successfully urged Congress to update the Electoral Count Act (ECA) of 1887, the law that provides the primary legal framework for casting and counting Electoral College …The Clinton-supporting super PAC, Correct the Record, asserts it can coordinate directly with the Clinton campaign as long as it doesn’t run paid advertising. CLC filed a complaint with the FEC alleging Correct the Record has violated federal election law by coordinating with Hillary Clinton. Download this document. The Clinton-supporting ...Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is representing two Tennessee citizens, Ernest Falls and Artie Bledsoe, who want to exercise their right to vote. Tennesseans, like these plaintiffs, who have been convicted of felonies in other states have an established legal right to vote in Tennessee if their rights of …Campaign Legal Center Action (CLCA) filed suit on behalf of Giffords against the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Matt Rosendale for Montana and Josh Hawley for Senate, alleging illegal coordination through the use of a common …In 2018, Campaign Legal Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center launched the Alabama Voting Rights Project (AVRP) employing three full-time Re-Enfranchisement Fellows across the state. We individually assisted over 2,600 …Director, Voting Advocacy and Partnerships. Jonathan Diaz advocates for laws and policies that expand the freedom to vote for all Americans, and coordinates CLC’s relationships with national, state, and local voting rights partners. Jonathan helps lead CLC’s work on combatting election manipulation and participates on behalf of CLC on a ...Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is dedicated to advancing democracy through law, fighting for every American’s right to participate in the democratic process. CLC uses tactics such as litigation ...6. Legal and Accounting Services 41 CHAPTER 7 Sources of Support 43 1. Contributions 43 2. Free Legal and Accounting Services 43 3. Volunteer Activity 43 4. Travel Cost Exemptions 45 5. Vendor Discounts 46 6. Support from Other Campaigns 46 7. Party Support 48 8. Corporate/Labor Exceptions 50 9. Use of Corporate/Labor Facilities and …The Campaign Legal Center puts it clearly on its Campaign Finance webpage: The dependence of political candidates on wealthy special interests is a serious flaw in our political system, and makes elected officials responsive to their large donors rather than to the public. The tremendous power of special interest money in politics …Diagram by the Sunlight Foundation depicting the American campaign finance system. The financing of electoral campaigns in the United States happens at the federal, state, and local levels by contributions from individuals, corporations, political action committees, and sometimes the government. Campaign spending has …Faith Gay is a founding partner of the Selendy & Gay law firm, described by Northwestern University when honoring her this year as “an elite majority female-owned litigation firm in New York City. Since its inception in 2018, the firm has been lauded as an innovator in diversity, inclusion, training and public interest …Lindsay Krieger. Lindsay supports the Development Team by performing administrative functions, communicating with donors, executing donor-facing events and assisting with research. Prior to joining CLC, Lindsay interned at Way to Win, managing the president’s calendar, helping to execute virtual events and writing …Stories and Impact. Our vision is for a future in which the American political process is accessible to all citizens, resulting in representative, responsive and accountable government.Political transparency advances the principles of the First Amendment by encouraging the exchange of ideas needed for voters to make informed decisions. The First Amendment’s overarching aim is to promote democratic self-governance and ensure that elected leaders are responsive to voters. The power of wealthy special interest money on our ...Designing an Independent Redistricting Commission. Effective IRCs require the commissioners to adhere to strict criteria, such as complying with federal and state constitutions, equal population, protecting language and racial minorities, partisan fairness, compactness, and contiguity, among others. Effective IRCs also require the commission …He also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Azerbaijan from 2009 to 2011. Aaron is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School (J.D., 2015) and the University of Wisconsin–Madison (B.S., Agricultural and Applied Economics, 2008). Aaron is admitted to practice law in Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. He joined CLC in 2018.The FEC was created in 1974, as part of reforms to the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), following the public revelation of campaign finance abuses and corruption stemming from the Watergate scandal. A primary goal of FECA, and the new agency, was to provide the public with access to information about the money raised and spent to influence ...Jail Voting Advocacy Manual. Date. December 11, 2019. Case. Assisting Voters in Jail. This manual is designed to provide advocates with the tools they need to take action to combat jail-based disenfranchisement and ensure eligible incarcerated voters can exercise their constitutional right to vote. Download this document.U.S. Senator Bob Menendez in Secaucus, New Jersey on April 2, 2020. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael SchwenkIn August, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) submitted testimony to the Nevada Deputy Secretary of State for Elections, Mark Wlaschin, warning of the myriad issues that a full hand count system would likely introduce and emphasizing the comprehensive procedures the state already has in place to verify election results.In addition to her digital chops, Meghan has extensive experience in grassroots field organizing and advocacy. Meghan is a graduate of Cornell University (B.A., 2010), where she studied government, Spanish and Latin American studies. She joined CLC in October 2016. Stay up to date. Get the latest from CLC in your inbox. Meghan …Jan 15, 2024 · Campaign spending by corporations and other outside groups increased by nearly 900% between 2008 and 2016. In 2020, total election spending was $14.4 billion, up from $5.7 billion in 2018, and more than $1 billion in dark money was spent. Additionally, even though it’s illegal for outside groups to coordinate election spending with candidates ... While in law school, she also helped to found Vanderbilt Law School’s Social Justice Reporter, which launched in 2022. Kate graduated from Vanderbilt Law School (J.D., 2022) and University of California, Berkeley (B.S.; B.A. 2015). She joined CLC in 2022. Kate is admitted to practice law in Tennessee, the U.S. District Court for the Middle ...In 2018, Campaign Legal Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center launched the Alabama Voting Rights Project (AVRP) employing three full-time Re-Enfranchisement Fellows across the state. We individually assisted over 2,600 …Summary. On October 20, 2023, Campaign Legal Center and OpenSecrets (plaintiffs) filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that the Commission unlawfully failed to act on or respond to their 2019 rulemaking petition. The plaintiffs seek injunctive and declaratory relief under the …One Tennessee law, which Campaign Legal Center (CLC) fought in court, required voters to cast their ballot in person the first time they vote, even if they are eligible to vote by mail. Fulfilling this unnecessary requirement to vote would be impossible for someone in jail. The challenges of trying to vote from jail can be so difficult to ...Senior Legal Counsel, Campaign Finance. Elizabeth is a member of CLC’s Campaign Finance team, working with state and local partners to develop and advocate for campaign finance reforms that lift the voices of voters and lead to a more transparent and accountable democracy. Prior to joining CLC, Elizabeth worked as Chief of Staff for …The owner of a firearms training center in Vermont who was ordered arrested by a judge in December in a long-running legal battle with a town has …Campaign Legal Center is working in Tennessee to assist people with convictions through the rights restoration process, train community leaders on that process and break down the notion that a felony conviction always means that you cannot vote for life. Through assisting hundreds of Tennesseans, we plan to iron out the rights restoration ...Kimberly Hall works to design and manage multifaceted issue-based communications campaigns to advance CLC’s policy initiatives and litigation. Kimberly has an extensive background in political and nonprofit messaging strategy, advocacy and campaigns. She has used her skills in communications and public affairs to help political/issue ...Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is representing the League of Women Voters of New Jersey (LWVNJ) and Salvation and Social Justice (SandSJ) as amici curiae to represent the voices of harmed voters. CLC and the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice have filed a brief in opposition to the defendants’ motion to dismiss on their behalf.Dec 14, 2023 · In discussion with Campaign Legal Center President Trevor Potter, Professor Hasen described his vision for the freedoms an amendment on voting rights would protect, its potential impact on our democracy, and why he believes it’s possible to pass such an amendment, despite a challenging political climate. Thursday, February 29th, 2024 Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is representing the League of Women Voters of New Jersey (LWVNJ) and Salvation and Social Justice (SandSJ) as amici curiae to represent the voices of harmed voters. CLC and the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice have filed a brief in opposition to the defendants’ motion to dismiss on their behalf.On January 9, 2023, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that recently elected Rep. George Santos and his 2022 campaign committee, Devolder-Santos for Congress, violated federal campaign finance laws by engaging in a straw donor scheme to …WASHINGTON - Today, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and Barton Mendez Soto PLLC filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Arizona Students’ Association (ASA) and the Arizona Democracy Resource Center (ADRC) challenging …Simone received her J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019 and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University in 2016. Simone is admitted to practice as an attorney in the District of Columbia and Florida. She is a member of the bar of the Western District of Wisconsin. Simone joined CLC in 2019.Chris is a graduate of Yale Law School (J.D., 2013) and Yale College (B.A., 2007, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa). He is based and licensed to practice in California, not in the District of Columbia. Chris joined CLC in 2022. Christopher is a Legal Counsel on CLC's Voting Rights team.On January 4, 2023, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and 24 other organizations sent a letter to the full House of Representatives, strongly urging the chamber to revise language in the proposed House rules package for the 118th Congress that would weaken the U.S. Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). This coalition letter describes how the proposed House rules package would …The latest tweets from @CampaignLegalCampaign Legal Center (CLC), ACLU Texas, MALDEF, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and DĒMOS asked a district court to order Secretary of State John B. Scott to produce records responsive to their August and October 2021 records requests seeking information about the state’s new voter purge program.Diagram by the Sunlight Foundation depicting the American campaign finance system. The financing of electoral campaigns in the United States happens at the federal, state, and local levels by contributions from individuals, corporations, political action committees, and sometimes the government. Campaign spending has …David Hiller. Former President of the McCormick Foundation and Publisher of the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. David Hiller is an experienced news media publisher, attorney, and philanthropic executive. He had a 20-year career with Tribune Company, where he started as VP & General Counsel in 1988. Mr. Hiller served in many leadership ...This guide is intended to arm legislators, good government advocates, and activists with the knowledge needed to design an independent redistricting commission for state legislative or congressional districts. Download this document. Though redistricting has always been a problem in American politics, the outsized role of partisanship in the ...In August 2021, Campaign Legal Center Action (CLCA) sued the FEC on behalf of End Citizens United (ECU), after the Commission dismissed ECU’s administrative complaints alleging inappropriate coordination between Scott and New Republican, among other campaign finance violations. The district court, however, affirmed the FEC’s dismissals of ...Photo by Casey Atkins/Campaign Legal Center Every election cycle, candidates and political parties use a legally dubious tactic known as “ redboxing ” to provide instructions and strategic guidance to supportive super PACs, 501(c)(4) dark money groups, and other supposedly “independent” groups that collectively raise and spend billions ...The latest tweets from @CampaignLegalDec 14, 2023 · In discussion with Campaign Legal Center President Trevor Potter, Professor Hasen described his vision for the freedoms an amendment on voting rights would protect, its potential impact on our democracy, and why he believes it’s possible to pass such an amendment, despite a challenging political climate. Thursday, February 29th, 2024 Diagram by the Sunlight Foundation depicting the American campaign finance system. The financing of electoral campaigns in the United States happens at the federal, state, and local levels by contributions from individuals, corporations, political action committees, and sometimes the government. Campaign spending has …Candidates and their authorized committees. An individual running for a seat in the Senate or the House of Representatives or for President of the United States becomes a candidate when he or she raises or spends more than $5,000 in contributions or expenditures. Presidential, House and Senate candidates must designate a campaign committee.Big donors and special interests have come to dominate the financing of American elections. Candidates rely on donations from a handful of wealthy donors, while super PACs increasingly exert an outsized influence on our elections. As a result, elected officials are more responsive to large donors than to their constituents. Public financing is a …Senior Director, Redistricting. Mark manages CLC's redistricting litigation and policy program, which seeks to achieve fair maps for racial and language minority groups, and to curb the influence of partisanship in redistricting. Mark has served as counsel in major redistricting cases over the past 10 years, including Abbott v. Perez, Cooper v.Photo by Casey Atkins/Campaign Legal Center Every election cycle, candidates and political parties use a legally dubious tactic known as “ redboxing ” to provide instructions and strategic guidance to supportive super PACs, 501(c)(4) dark money groups, and other supposedly “independent” groups that collectively raise and spend billions ...The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center is dedicated to advancing democracy through law at the federal, state and local levels, fighting for every American’s …Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and Barton Mendez Soto PLLC filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Arizona Students’ Association (ASA) and the Arizona Democracy Resource Center (ADRC) challenging H.B. 2492, an anti-voter law which undermines the …On Dec. 3, 2020, Campaign Legal Center (CLC), the Tennessee Conference of the NAACP, and five Tennessee residents – who tried to restore their right to vote in November’s general election but were denied – filed a lawsuit challenging the systemic failure of Tennessee’s voting rights restoration process. Our most fundamental …
Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed the complaint with the FEC in May 2019, following reporting by The New York Times that detailed Zekelman’s efforts to curry favor with the Trump administration to advance his company’s business interests.. Otherworld columbus ohio
Director, Voting Advocacy and Partnerships. Jonathan Diaz advocates for laws and policies that expand the freedom to vote for all Americans, and coordinates CLC’s relationships with national, state, and local voting rights partners. Jonathan helps lead CLC’s work on combatting election manipulation and participates on behalf of CLC on a ...In June 2018, Campaign Legal Center reached a settlement agreement with the Secretary of State of Arizona and the Maricopa County Recorder over a lawsuit challenging the state’s overly burdensome voter registration process. Going forward, Arizona must treat all registrants the same regardless of whether they use a state or federal form to ...The Right to Vote & the Criminal Justice System. In the United States, contact with the criminal justice system often leads to disenfranchisement. These forms of disenfranchisement can vary. Voters in jail pending trial or for misdemeanors are usually eligible to vote but cannot easily access the means to cast a ballot.During law school, Ellen interned at Campaign Legal Center, the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia, Fair Elections Center, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She also served as a Student Attorney in GW Law’s Prisoner & Reentry Clinic. Finally, she was President of …The law applies to all charities that solicit donations or have an office in California. Americans for Prosperity Foundation has repeatedly failed to provide its “Schedule B” donor report to the AG’s office. And when the organization was put on notice that it had not been complying with the law, it responded by suing the state.Lata is a graduate of Columbia Law School (J.D., 2010) and the University of California, Davis (B.A., 2006). She is admitted to practice only in New York. Lata joined CLC in 2022. Lata Nott is a Senior Legal Counsel, Voting Rights at CLC.David Hiller. Former President of the McCormick Foundation and Publisher of the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. David Hiller is an experienced news media publisher, attorney, and philanthropic executive. He had a 20-year career with Tribune Company, where he started as VP & General Counsel in 1988. Mr. Hiller served in many leadership ...In a major victory for democracy, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 (ECRA). This vital legislation will update the Electoral Count Act of 1887 (ECA), an archaic law that provides the primary legal framework for casting and counting Electoral College votes in presidential elections. Congressional passage of the ECRA is ...Chris is a graduate of Yale Law School (J.D., 2013) and Yale College (B.A., 2007, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa). He is based and licensed to practice in California, not in the District of Columbia. Chris joined CLC in 2022. Christopher is a Legal Counsel on CLC's Voting Rights team.Follow Election 2024. Congress is nearly six months into the fiscal year and hasn’t fully funded the government for the entire year. Lawmakers are …Strengthening Democracy in Local Government Through Public Financing. Campaign Legal Center hosted a conversation with both activists and leaders who have helped to implement public financing programs as well as political candidates who have benefited from them. Friday, February 2nd, 2024. 01:00 pm - 02:00 pm • Virtual. Paul M. Smith works directly with CLC’s talented team of litigators to protect and advance American democracy through innovative litigation strategies. Paul has four decades of experience litigating a wide range of cases. He has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court 21 times and secured numerous victories, including in the important cases ... 6. Legal and Accounting Services 41 CHAPTER 7 Sources of Support 43 1. Contributions 43 2. Free Legal and Accounting Services 43 3. Volunteer Activity 43 4. Travel Cost Exemptions 45 5. Vendor Discounts 46 6. Support from Other Campaigns 46 7. Party Support 48 8. Corporate/Labor Exceptions 50 9. Use of Corporate/Labor Facilities and … Paul M. Smith works directly with CLC’s talented team of litigators to protect and advance American democracy through innovative litigation strategies. Paul has four decades of experience litigating a wide range of cases. He has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court 21 times and secured numerous victories, including in the important cases ... On January 4, 2023, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and 24 other organizations sent a letter to the full House of Representatives, strongly urging the chamber to revise language in the proposed House rules package for the 118th Congress that would weaken the U.S. Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). This coalition letter describes how the proposed House rules package would …Campaign Legal Center Action (CLCA) filed suit on behalf of Giffords against the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Matt Rosendale for Montana and Josh Hawley for Senate, alleging illegal coordination through the use of a common …The ballot measure was approved by 72% of Arizona voters in November 2022 after many years of hard work by Voters’ Right to Know (VRTK), …Now, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) has sent letters asking that six executive agencies deliver on the White House’s promise to take further steps to dismantle barriers to voting for voters with felony convictions. These letters highlight how the Executive Office of United States Attorneys (EOUSA), U.S. Department of Veteran … The meeting will be held in the Lady Slipper Room on the ground floor of the Centennial Office Building. Members of the public may attend the meeting in person or remotely by Webex by clicking this link or by calling either of the following phone numbers: 415-655-0003 or 855-282-6330 (toll free) and then entering meeting access code 2484 214 2675. Candidates and their authorized committees. An individual running for a seat in the Senate or the House of Representatives or for President of the United States becomes a candidate when he or she raises or spends more than $5,000 in contributions or expenditures. Presidential, House and Senate candidates must designate a campaign committee..