Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain Act
Rep. Castor Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Force Former Candidates to Empty Leftover Campaign Accounts
This bill was recently introduced in the House and is currently being reviewed by two committees. It is in the early stages of the legislative process and is not yet scheduled for a vote. There is no companion bill at this time.
Passage Likelihood
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill requires former federal candidates who are not running again to fully empty their campaign accounts and leadership PACs within a set window. These so-called zombie accounts can no longer sit indefinitely holding unspent donations.
- Candidates who want to become lobbyists or foreign agents must empty their campaign funds before starting that work. They must certify compliance under penalty of perjury, creating a legal enforcement mechanism.
From policy text
“the date on which the candidate first makes a lobbying contact or is employed or retained to make a lobbying contact that would require registration under section 4 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995”
View in full text - Leftover campaign money can only be used in specific ways: paying off campaign debts, refunding donors, donating to charity, or transferring to a political party. Personal enrichment from leftover funds is not allowed.
- The bill bans disbursing leftover funds to a candidate's relatives unless the payment covers a legitimate, previously reported campaign expense. The definition of relative is very broad, covering parents, children, siblings, in-laws, step-relatives, and more.
From policy text
“an authorized committee or leadership PAC may not disburse funds to a relative of the candidate unless the funds are disbursed to pay an obligation of the committee as described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) which is reported by the committee or PAC as a disbursement under section 304(b)(5)”
View in full text - Candidates who file to run in the next election are exempt from the disbursement requirement, so the bill only targets people who are truly leaving the political arena.
From policy text
“Paragraph (1) does not apply to the committee or PAC of a candidate who, prior to the first day of the applicable disbursement period, provides the appropriate State election official with the information and fees (if any) required under State law for the individual to qualify as a candidate for the next election”
View in full text - The new rules take effect starting with the November 2026 general election, giving current officeholders and candidates time to prepare for the change.
From policy text
“The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2026 and each succeeding election for Federal office.”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(4)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.