Chapter 2: Legal, Compliance, and Ballot Access

Legal, Compliance, and Ballot Access — Do Not Skip This

2.1 Constitutional and FEC Basics

U.S. House requirements (Article I, Section 2):

• At least 25 years old on Election Day.
• U.S. citizen for at least 7 years.
• Inhabitant of the state you seek to represent when elected.

FEC Trigger: You become a candidate the moment you raise or spend more than $5,000 in contributions or expenditures for a federal election. Within 15 days, file Statement of Candidacy (Form 2) and designate a principal campaign committee (Form 1 for the committee). File electronically if required. This starts quarterly or monthly reporting depending on activity.

Critical for our movement: Your committee must refuse corporate PAC contributions if you sign the pledge. Disclose everything. The book emphasizes transparency — use it as a strength.

2.2 State Ballot Access (Varies Wildly)

Check your state election office immediately. For 2026 cycle (primaries spring/summer 2026):

• Signature requirements: Often 1–5% of registered voters or previous vote total in district.
• Filing fees or petition alternatives.
• Deadlines: Often 3–6 months before primary. Earliest can be late 2025.

Work with your state’s District Team or aligned attorneys. Many states allow independent or minor-party paths, but for maximum impact, run in the major-party primary as a Clean Slate insurgent.

2.3 Compliance Infrastructure

Hire or contract a Treasurer/Compliance expert on Day 1. Use FEC-approved software (e.g., NGP VAN, Campaign Deputy, or free/low-cost options for small-dollar campaigns). File all reports on time — late fees destroy small campaigns. The 99-Cent Revolution model generates many small donations; track every one properly.

Recommendation: Discuss this early with your Treasurer/Compliance expert and your core team. Decide based on your personal finances, the campaign’s projected budget, and how it fits your public narrative. Document everything meticulously. This keeps the guide practical, honest, and aligned with the movement’s values of transparency and worker focus.

• Alternative: Many successful insurgent candidates do not pay themselves a salary, especially in the early phases. They live off savings, spouse income, or part-time work until the campaign can support it — or they never do, treating the race as service.
• Tax & compliance reality. This income is taxable. Work with your treasurer and a tax professional. Some candidates set up the salary through proper payroll processes.
• Pledge alignment. The WORK FOR US Pledge and Clean Slate principles emphasize putting workers first. A modest, documented salary for full-time campaign work is generally consistent with that, but excessive or poorly documented compensation could become a vulnerability in a primary.
• Transparency is power. Your small-dollar donors (the 99-Cent Revolution) expect every dollar to fight for workers. If you do draw a salary, be upfront about it in your communications. Many candidates publicly state they are taking a modest salary so they can campaign full-time without outside employment.

Important Considerations for Clean Slate / People Primaries Candidates:

• There is no fixed dollar cap, but it must pass the “reasonableness” test. In practice, many grassroots congressional challengers draw $3,000–$8,000 per month when the campaign can afford it, especially once fundraising is established. Some choose not to draw any salary to maximize resources for voter contact or to strengthen their small-dollar credibility message.
• It is reported on your FEC filings as a disbursement (usually under “salary” or “compensation to candidate”).
• You must keep clear records (hours worked, tasks performed). Your treasurer should document this rigorously.
• It must be for bona fide services rendered to the campaign, not a way to convert campaign funds into personal spending money.
• The compensation must be reasonable — comparable to what the campaign would pay a qualified third party for the same work (e.g., campaign manager-level duties if you are functioning in that role early on).

Key Rules:

Under FEC rules, candidates may receive reasonable compensation from their principal campaign committee for services they actually perform for the campaign. This is treated as taxable income and must be properly reported.

Short answer: Yes — with important guardrails.

One question that comes up frequently is whether you, as the candidate, can pay yourself from campaign funds.

2.4 Candidate Compensation from Campaign Funds (Salary Option)