Newly disclosed Federal Election Commission documents obtained by the New York Times reveal that former Vice President Mike Pence sought public financing for his unsuccessful 2024 presidential primary campaign. This move, if approved, would mark a rare occurrence in modern politics, underscoring the financial challenges Pence faced during his bid.
Mike Pence actually wanted the tax payers so fund his nevertrumper 2024 Presidential campaign…🤣😂
Mike Pence Sought Public Funds as 2024 Presidential Bid Collapsedhttps://t.co/8sGvhL8OjG
— Bronx 🇺🇲 🇵🇷 🇮🇹 (@Bronx5759) May 15, 2024
The public financing program, established in the aftermath of Watergate, allows presidential candidates to apply for government funds. However, participation in the program entails stringent spending limits, rendering it largely obsolete in contemporary campaigning, where costs have surged.
Pence’s 2024 Republican campaign, which sought to distance itself from Donald Trump’s populism and represent the establishment, failed to gain momentum despite raising approximately $5.3 million. Struggling to garner significant support in polls, Pence withdrew from the race in late October, facing the prospect of missing debate qualification.
BREAKING: Mike Pence DROPS OUT of presidential race on stage at RJC, 'This is not my time'https://t.co/7rfcrudUlL pic.twitter.com/TxAx0bamfZ
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 28, 2023
Financial records reveal that Pence’s campaign amassed over $1.3 million in unpaid debts by March’s end, indicating financial strain. Seeking public funds could potentially alleviate these liabilities, though the motives behind the delayed action on Pence’s request remain unclear.
The eligibility criteria for public financing are rigorous, necessitating candidates to raise $5,000 from at least 20 states and restricting personal expenditures to $50,000. Pence initially injected $150,000 into his campaign in July 2023 but refunded $100,000 weeks before dropping out, potentially positioning him for eligibility.
While Pence’s bid for public funds underscores financial difficulties, it also highlights the waning relevance of the program. No candidate from either major party utilized public financing in the 2020 elections, reflecting its diminished status in contemporary campaigns.
The last significant-party candidate to benefit from the program was Martin O’Malley in the 2016 Democratic primary, receiving just over $1 million. John McCain was the last to receive matching funds in a general election, during his 2008 Republican campaign. Barack Obama’s decision to forgo public financing in 2008 marked a pivotal moment, signaling the program’s decline in general election contests.
