Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL) has reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at preventing the phenomenon of "zombie campaigns," which involves the misuse of campaign accounts after an officeholder leaves office as a personal slush fund.
Specifically, Rep. Castor's Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain (HEC No) Act requires all former lawmakers and those no longer seeking office to close their campaign accounts within two years of their last election.
In 2018, the Tampa Bay Times reported on the continued use of campaign funds by former lawmakers or their associates to support their personal lifestyles after leaving office. Notably, a campaign advisor to the late Representative Mark Takai (D-HI) continued to pay out his firm despite Takai having been deceased for 17 months.
More recently, former Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) was described by Roll Call as still using her campaign account to cover flight expenses, hotels, and other travel-related costs, despite being out of office for six months.
"Campaign accounts should never be allowed to become personal slush funds for ex-lawmakers and former candidates to personally benefit from and enrich themselves, as has become all too common," said Rep. Castor in her press release, adding, "Our bipartisan HEC No Act will finally put an end to the misuse of leftover campaign cash. This is a straightforward reform to build trust and ensure campaign contributions are used as intended — to support public service and serve the public interest, not private gain. It's time Congress passed the HEC No Act to put Zombie Campaigns in the grave once and for all."
Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), the bill's cosponsor, said, "Elected officials have a duty to uphold the public trust. Unfortunately, we've seen troubling cases where former members keep their campaign accounts open indefinitely and use the funds for personal benefit. While these actions may not technically violate the law, they clearly defy its spirit — and that's unacceptable. It's time to close this loophole and restore public confidence."
