Description

Summary
Running for office isn’t just about good ideas or a desire to serve — it’s about access. And in America, access starts with money. A lot of it.

In this episode, I take a closer look at why the cost of running for office is so high, who gets left out because of it, and how other countries are doing it differently. From campaign finance to media gatekeeping to public funding solutions, we’ll ask: What would democracy look like if it were built for the rest of us?

In This Episode, I Talk About

• Real-world stories like Gary Hart mortgaging his house to run
• How Citizens United changed everything
• The media’s role in deciding who gets taken seriously
• Why some voices are never heard — even when they’re qualified
• What countries like Ireland, France, and the UK do differently
• What a public financing system could look like in the U.S.
• How local reforms are already working — and where we go from here

Resources & Links:

Campaign Spending & Fundraising

• OpenSecrets – 2020 Election Costs
• Gary Hart – Wikipedia
• Citizens United v. FEC – Oyez Summary

Media Gatekeeping & Debate Access

• Shorenstein Center: 2016 Media Coverage Study
• Andrew Yang 2020 Campaign – Wikipedia
• Lawrence Lessig 2016 Presidential Run – Wikipedia

Global Campaign Finance Comparisons

• Ireland’s Spending Caps – SIPO
• BBC – UK Election Rules
• France – Campaign Finance Overview (in French)

Local Reform Examples

• Howard County Public Financing Program
• Seattle’s Democracy Vouchers
• NYC Campaign Finance Board

Listener Prompt

Would you be more likely to run for office if money weren’t such a huge barrier? What kinds of reforms would make our elections more accessible - and more fair? Have you seen local efforts that give you hope?

Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who’s said, “I wish someone like me could run.” Leave a rating, send a message, or post about it.

Use this link to send us a text, or email us at the address in show notes.

Email

shana@whynotme2028.com

Credits

Graphics and editing by Rory Lawson

Music by Universfield from Pixabay