Why Aren’t More People Running for President?

The Presidential election of 2020 is drawing near and for many, the selection of the two leading candidates representing the Republican and Democratic parties can seem like a foregone conclusion. But why isn’t a larger pool of successful individual running for this most esteemed position?

The answer is not so simple, and it covers a variety of points. This article will delve into the various reasons why more people may not be running for president, along with some possible solutions to help open the door to a new batch of challengers.

The Challenges of Presidential Politics

It goes without saying that running for president is an immense undertaking that requires incredible amounts of time, energy, and money. During the election cycle, a person will need access to the necessary resources to be able to run a successful campaign.

The Mental and Emotional Investment

Campaigning involves appearances before large crowds, conversations with potential voters, and the decision involves a combination of allocating large sums of monetary funds on the campaign trail, along with a heavy mental and emotional investment. It also requires a great time commitment, as the candidate needs to be available to speak, interview, and discuss issues from early in the morning until late at night.

The Cost of Presidential Politics

The burn rate for a presidential campaign is extremely expensive, to say the least. The most recent elections have seen over $1 billion in direct candidate spending, and the number is projected to be ten times that amount by 2024. This cost requires an extensive fundraising network and an exhaustive strategy of tremendous resources and energy so that the campaign is supported financially.

The Potential Damaging Media Attention

Media attention can be both invaluable and detrimental. The bid for the presidency includes the scrutiny of the political opponents, the press, and the public. The campaign narrative is subject to harsh criticisms and can be mercilessly dissected in every corner of media.

The Overall Stress of Campaigning

The campaign trail brings a tremendous amount of stress to the candidate, their family, and their staff. Stress levels can easily rise with the pressure of winning the nomination, debating other candidates, or the risk of poor decision making that can detriment the campaign.

Possible Solutions

Given the many challenges mentioned above, How can we create a more open system that invites new faces and enthusiasm for the presidential path?

State Sponsorship for Candidates

One possible solution to this issue is for state governments to provide financial resources to presidential candidates. This can be done through a system of grants which could provide an avenue of support to those independent candidates indescribably with the larger two parties.

Flexible Campaign Rules

The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) should consider making some rules flexible or eliminating others so that independent candidates are able to compete better. This also includes new fundraising rules that increase the cap of individual contributions.

Financial Concessions for Candidates

Another possible solution is for the FEC to provide financial incentives for candidates, such as reimbursement for individual voter contact expenses or providing technical assistance to those who need support in setting up an online donation platform.

Elimination of Expenditure Reporting

To avoid the tremendous burden of filing reports, the government could exempt certain candidates from expenditure reporting requirements. These candidates would then have a much better chance of competing with more well-funded candidates.

Incentivize Third parties

It can also be helpful to incentivize third parties who are willing to open up the running for office to more people. Examples of this are organizations that recruit candidates and provide training in the nuts-and-bolts of electioneering, or campaigns that offer free access to party primaries and debates.

More Tax Incentives

Government could also offer more tax incentives to aid potential presidential candidates. For example, providing deductions for charitable or business donations to presidential campaigns, alongside, creating more mobility at a federal and state level.

The Key is Public Outreach

What it comes down to is to make an effort to disseminate information that keeps all potential candidates informed on the state of presidential election rules and regulations. The government can facilitate this through public outreach campaigns, online resources and state-specific meetings to inform those individuals who have never even considered running for president.

Making a run for president is a daunting task any way you slice it, but for many the challenge remains far too great. Various solutions can minimize some of the issues that prevent more people from campaigning and possibly paving the way for a more efficient, equitable and accessibly way to running for office. After all, changed starts somewhere and by bringing visibility to a more hopeful and inviting process of advancement, more people feel confident and excited in getting more involved in the highest office of the land- the President of the United States.