Starting Your Political Campaign
EINs, bank accounts, registration, treasurers, and compliance — a practical guide for first-time candidates.
Your First 90 Days as a Candidate
A chronological checklist of everything a new candidate needs to do in the first 90 days, from the announcement to your first voter outreach.
How to Get an EIN for Your Campaign
Getting your committee's federal tax ID is free at IRS.gov and takes about 15 minutes — here is exactly how to do it and why it matters.
Opening a Campaign Bank Account
Every campaign dollar flows through one dedicated committee account — here is what banks ask for and how to get the order of steps right.
Registering with the FEC or Your State
Federal candidates file FEC Forms 2 and 1 on strict clocks; state and local candidates register with their state — and your details must match everywhere.
The Campaign Treasurer: What They Do and How to Choose One
Your treasurer signs every report and answers for its accuracy — here is what the job really involves and how to pick the right person.
Campaign Finance Compliance Basics
Contribution limits, recordkeeping from dollar one, reporting deadlines, and the "Paid for by" disclaimer — the four habits that keep a campaign clean.
Naming and Branding Your Campaign
Your ballot name is your brand — how to build a name, logo, and visual system that stays consistent from the first yard sign to election day.
The Candidate's Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the compliance, organizing, voter contact, and digital terms every first-time candidate runs into.