Campaign Funds for Security

About

Vote Mama Foundation is the only organization tracking the authorization and usage of Campaign Funds for Security (CFS) at the federal and state levels.

Amid escalating threats and violence, Campaign Funds for Security (CFS) is a necessary resource that keeps candidates and officeholders safe—at no cost to taxpayers. When political violence deters certain Americans from running for office, our government is unable to fully represent us. CFS prevents candidates and officeholders from having to choose between public service and their personal safety, keeping the door open for all Americans to participate in politics.

Problem

From the assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, to the targeted killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, political violence continues to be on the rise. It’s a growing problem that threatens to gatekeep who can safely participate in our politics—and it disproportionately excludes the voices that are historically the most underrepresented, including moms.

According to a 2024 Pipeline Fund poll, three out of four moms running for state and local office experienced some form of harassment on the campaign trail. Of those moms, nearly half said that it “negatively affected” their desire to run for office in the future.

Solution

We need more parents in office, and to achieve that, we must provide the tools and protection they need to run and serve safely.

In 2024, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) issued explicit guidance that all federal candidates and officeholders may use campaign funds to pay for security measures, so long as they are addressing ongoing threats or dangers directly related to their public status. Permissible expenses include:

• Non-structural security devices: such as hardware, locks, alarm systems, motion detectors, and security camera systems
• Structural security devices: such as wiring, lighting, gates, doors, and fencing, as long as they are intended solely to provide security and not to improve the property or increase its value
• Professional security personnel
• Cybersecurity software, devices, and services

At the state level, Vote Mama Foundation research has found that more than 30% of states allow some form of Campaign Funds for Security (CFS).
You can submit an Advisory Opinion request to find out if candidates in your state can use their campaign funds on security expenses directly related to campaign activities and/or carrying out official duties. If not currently allowed, you can ask a member of your state legislature to introduce legislation allowing for CFS.

Access

15 states have authorized Campaign Funds for Security (CFS)—so far.