Childcare IS Campaign Infrastructure

The current Persist PAC project is to reimburse candidates for their campaign-related childcare expenditures.

The availability and cost of childcare is one of many significant barriers that prevent women from working or engaging in civic activities, like running for office. In Seattle, childcare costs average out to around $1,800 per month, per child -- a huge expense that many families can’t meet. The pandemic forced the closure of hundreds of childcare providers across the state, many of them for good -- Kent, in South King County, has seen a 40% reduction in available childcare/daycare facilities, for example -- increasing demand, and driving costs ever higher.

Women who have children and are interested in running for office face a unique challenge in accessing childcare services. Three years ago, the FEC confirmed childcare as an allowable campaign expense in federal elections, and Washington is one of twenty-two states that allow childcare as a campaign expense in state and municipal races -- but the truth is that stigma over the use of campaign funds for personal or family needs like childcare is deeply embedded in the political environment. Public scrutiny is a common consequence of reporting childcare expenses on campaign disclosure reports. As a result, many women running for office either choose to pay for childcare out of their own pocket rather than face public condemnation of their campaign expenses -- or decide not to run at all. Black women candidates, in particular, have historically received far less in donations and independent expenditures to support their campaigns, meaning less support for childcare, and a much bigger hurdle to having a successful candidacy. 

All of this makes for vastly uneven representation in our municipal bodies and legislature. Running for office or participating in local governance is really only accessible to those who enjoy a comfortable income and can afford childcare, those who are retired, or those without children. Persist PAC believes we can do better.

Persist PAC is committed to dismantling systemic barriers to civic participation and facilitating the inclusion of the most marginalized voices. Our 2021 project, Childcare is Campaign Infrastructure, is removing this barrier by providing the necessary support to help women run and win in local elections.

Our goal with this project is to normalize and destigmatize the use of campaign funds to pay for childcare, just as the law allows. We’ll do this by shining a brighter light on the real costs of childcare and the barrier it creates for women who want to participate in the political landscape. We’ll work to generate positive attitudes and press around claiming childcare expenses during campaigns. And, crucially, we pledge to reimburse candidates, up to the campaign limit and our budget, for childcare expenses claimed on their campaign reports to the Public Disclosure Commission. Any candidates running for office in Washington State endorsed by an approved organization will be eligible for reimbursement.

Want to contribute to this effort? You can do that here.

How to Request Reimbursement

For any candidate who reports childcare as a line item in their PDC report, Persist PAC will reimburse the expense up to the allowable campaign limit, as long as our budget lasts. The only requirements for eligibility are:

• candidate is endorsed by a democratic or progressive organization (if not provided in the list provided, then as decided by Persist PAC)

• childcare expense is properly filed in their PDC report

To apply for reimbursement, fill out this form. Questions can be sent to info[at]persistpacwa[dot]org.

Approved Organizations

• National Women’s Political Caucus

• Opportunity PAC

• OneAmerica Votes

• Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii

• Sage Leaders

• Service Employees International Union

• SEIU Healthcare 1199NW

• SEIU 775

• SEIU Local 925

• SEIU Local 6

• Sierra Club

• Snohomish Ebony PAC

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Are childcare expenses valid under Washington’s campaign finance laws?

  • Yes. Per the PDC website, “Child care can be reimbursed if the expense would not have occurred but for the campaign.”

• Does it matter whether the campaign pays for the childcare directly or whether it is an in-kind contribution?

  • Persist PAC does not have a preference. Consult with your finance and compliance teams to determine which is best for your campaign.

• What types of records are needed to qualify?

  • Consult with your finance and compliance teams and/or the PDC for the recommended documentation. If you are already tracking and reporting mileage, that system can likely be adapted for child care. Persist PAC’s only requirements are our form and the corresponding PDC filing.

• Is this only available to female-identifying candidates?

  • No, parents of all genders are encouraged to normalize the need for childcare.

• How much is Persist PAC’s budget for this project?

  • Based on our research, the total reported political spending in WA on child care since 2007 is $14,498. Persist PAC is committed to make contributions up to that amount this year and we also hope to raise additional funds to make more possible.