Former Vice President Mike Pence’s campaign committee has been approved for a $100,000 payment from the U.S. Treasury. The Federal Election Commission ruled that Pence is eligible to receive matching taxpayer funds to pay off debts from his unsuccessful run for the White House. During an FEC meeting on May 16, it was requested that Pence’s campaign committee, Mike Pence For President, receive an initial payment of $100,000 from the Treasury. Pence dropped out of the Republican Party’s presidential nomination race in October 2023. The committee still owes over $1.3 million in debts to various consultants for services provided during his campaign. It is unclear how much money Pence may receive overall through the federal program. The FEC stated that Pence’s campaign met the requirements to receive public matching funds by raising at least $100,000 from 20 different states and agreeing to spending limits set by the FEC.
The spending limits entail capping primary election spending at $10 million plus a cost-of-living adjustment, and restricting overall campaign spending in each state to either $200,000 or a specified amount based on the state’s voting-age population. Campaign expenditures must be documented and audited as per FEC regulations. Pence’s campaign spent over $4.7 million during his four-month run, while Donald Trump’s principal campaign committee spent over $68.7 million between January 2023 and March 2024. Pence is the only presidential candidate in the 2024 cycle to request and receive federal funds. The presidential public funding program, funded through individual income tax returns, provides matching payments to candidates during the primary campaign and grants for nominees in the general election.
A letter from FEC Chairman Sean Cooksey to Pence stated that the Treasury funds must be used solely for paying off campaign debts and winding down costs. Pence recently launched the American Solutions Project, an initiative under his non-profit organization Advancing American Freedom Inc., with plans to spend $20 million in 2024. Representatives from the FEC and Pence did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
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