Rep. Steube Introduces ELECT Act to End Taxpayer-Funded Presidential Campaigns
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today announced the introduction of the House companion to the Eliminating Leftover Expenses for Campaigns from Taxpayers (ELECT) Act of 2025, legislation originally introduced in the Senate by Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). The bill would permanently terminate the outdated and wasteful Presidential Election Campaign Fund and return any remaining balances to the Treasury to reduce the national deficit.
“For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to subsidize presidential campaigns, even those they fundamentally oppose,” said Rep. Steube. “This fund is a relic of the past, riddled with abuse and irrelevant in today’s campaign financing landscape. It’s long past time we ended this unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars and put the money toward reducing our nation’s ballooning deficit.”
“The last thing we need to use tax dollars for is to line the pockets of political consultants,” said Senator Ernst. “There is no better way to pay down the $36 trillion debt than by defunding welfare for political campaigns. Washington should be working to benefit all Americans instead of itself.”
The ELECT Act eliminates the ability for taxpayers to designate $3 on their federal tax return to fund presidential campaigns and nominating conventions. It also shutters the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and directs all remaining funds to the U.S. Treasury for deficit reduction.
Background:
Despite being created in the 1970s as a means of campaign finance reform, the system has been largely abandoned by modern candidates. No major party presidential nominee has participated in the public financing system since 2008.
Read the full bill here.
