What happens to the cash when the campaigning ends?

Reader-driven questions answered by the reporters of Montana Free Press. Federal candidates and incumbents often leave political life with sizable balances in their campaign committee coffers. And constituents frequently ask journalists what happens to the money politicians leave on the table. Retiring Republican incumbents Rep. Ryan Zinke and Sen. Steve Daines both had seven-figure balances when they released third-quarter finance details in mid-October. Daines had $2.58 million and Zinke $1.3 million. “Conversion of campaign funds to personal use by any person, including the candidate, is prohibited,” Myles Martin, deputy press officer of the Federal Election Commission, told Montana Free Press earlier this week. “However, there are a number of permissible expenses for which the residual funds of a former federal candidate may be used.” In other words, politicians don’t get to pocket their leftover campaign cash.

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