Campaign Funds Now Eligible for Child Care Expenses, AG Kris Mayes Declares

Arizona’s Attorney General Kris Mayes has stated that candidates for public office can allocate campaign funds for child care expenses while campaigning. This legal opinion, issued on September 16, aligns Arizona with 34 states and Washington D.C. in permitting such expenditures.

Mayes’ decision comes at the request of four Democratic state legislators—mothers seeking clarification on existing campaign finance laws. Spearheaded by Sen. Eva Diaz from Tolleson, the legislators approached Mayes in a letter dated May 9, co-signed by Reps. Stacey Travers, Quantá Crews, and Sarah Liguori. Together with the Vote Mama Foundation, they aim to formalize the use of campaign funds for child care in state law.

In her opinion, Mayes indicated that Arizona’s campaign finance law allows for the use of privately raised funds towards dependent care, provided these expenses facilitate campaign activities. She noted that funds could still be used for child care when candidates are engaged in campaign-related tasks, even if they remain at home.

Stacey Travers expressed optimism about the change, highlighting it as a step toward parity with federal law. Since 2018, federal candidates have been permitted to use campaign funds for child care expenses, following the Federal Elections Commission’s decision regarding New York congressional candidate Liuba Grechen Shirley.

Shirley later founded the Vote Mama Foundation, which advocates for similar legislation across all 50 states. With only seven weeks until the November general election, the immediate impact of Mayes’ ruling may be limited. However, Travers believes that educating potential candidates about this development could encourage more individuals, especially single parents, to pursue public office.

“We need a multitude of diverse voices in our legislature,” Travers stated, emphasizing the importance of varied life experiences in governance. The previous uncertainties in Arizona’s campaign finance laws created obstacles for aspiring candidates. Currently, around 7% of Arizona’s state legislators are mothers of children under 18, according to a 2022 report from Vote Mama.

Mayes acknowledged the “care gap” theory that suggests caregiving burdens deter women from political candidacy, noting that when women do run, they win at comparable rates to men. Her opinion draws support from similar legislative rulings in states like Virginia, North Carolina, Connecticut, and Maryland.

Despite this positive development, challenges remain for elected parents. Arizona state legislators earn an annual salary of $24,000 and receive a minimal per diem for those residing in Maricopa County, which can pose a significant barrier. Travers mentioned a proposal to increase legislator salaries to $35,000, which, unfortunately, never received a committee hearing.

The legislators that supported the request for Mayes’ legal opinion celebrated the news, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by parents in political roles. Quantá Crews remarked that the attorney general’s clarification helps reduce barriers that have historically made political service difficult for parents, enabling a broader array of candidates to contribute to Arizona’s governance.