Some run because they want to make a change, others run because they feel they have the call to serve, or perhaps they run out of frustration to see potholes that never get fixed, policies that don’t reflect our community, decisions being made without transparency, among others.
Yes, sometimes it can be out of ego too; politics comes with attention, media coverage, public recognition, and power. Thus, for some people, that is attractive. The title matters. The influence matters. The spotlight matters. It’s human.
Running a campaign is also a platform, regardless of whether you win or not. Running for office gives visibility. For some, it’s about elevating an issue: housing, education, public safety, taxes. Even if they don’t win, campaigns can bring attention to causes that otherwise get ignored.
But if we are talking about the local level, such as Ventura County, many candidates are parents, business owners, and teachers. They run because something directly affected them.
In larger arenas like Los Angeles County, campaigns can also open doors to future political or professional opportunities.
Although this is something many people don’t realize. Often, someone doesn’t wake up and decide alone. Community leaders, business owners, party members, or advocacy groups approach them and say, “We need you to run.” That is why encouragement can turn hesitation into candidacy.
But there are deeper layers. Running for office requires thick skin: You will be criticized, your past will be examined, and your family may be scrutinized. You will ask people for money repeatedly. No one does that lightly.
Whether we like it or not, money and politics are deeply connected. And although more money does not guarantee a win, it definitely does give visibility, exposure, frequency, and outreach. But it does not necessarily give trust.
So even when motivations are mixed, service, ambition, frustration, ego, there is usually something strong enough pushing them forward. People run because they believe their voice matters. The question voters must decide is whether that voice represents them.
As any citizen, regardless of economic status, one is entitled to run since democracy is not, and it should not feel like a luxury purchase. However, have you ever thought about running for office or covering a local race? Still, one of the first questions that comes up is simple: How much does it actually cost?
Then, the answer is not simple at all. Because if it wasn’t for the cost, financially and emotionally, it wouldn’t stop anyone.
It also depends on where you run, what seat you’re seeking, and how competitive the race becomes. But one is clear: running a political campaign in Ventura County looks very different from running one in Los Angeles County.
In the case of Ventura County, campaigns tend to feel more community-based. Voters expect to see you at events. They want to shake your hand. They want access.
A small city council race can sometimes be run on $10,000 to $30,000 if you have strong volunteer support and name recognition. But if the race becomes competitive, that number can easily climb to $50,000 or more.
Now, if you’re running for County Supervisor, that is a different story. Those districts are larger. Mailers alone can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Add consultants, compliance, digital ads, and field outreach, and you are often looking at $75,000 to $150,000; sometimes more.
And let’s be honest: printing and postage are not cheap. One mail piece sent to thousands of households can cost more than people expect. Multiply that by three or four drops, and your budget moves quickly.
Campaigning in Los Angeles County is on a completely different scale. The population is massive. The media market is expensive. Visibility requires more money.
Even a city council race in parts of Los Angeles can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Competitive races often surpass $500,000.
And when we talk about citywide offices, the numbers jump dramatically. The 2022 Los Angeles mayoral race showed just how expensive campaigning can become. In that race, billionaire developer Rick Caruso spent more than $100 million of his own money in a campaign against Karen Bass. That level of spending is not the norm for most candidates, but it demonstrates how high the ceiling can go in a county the size of Los Angeles.
In LA, television ads, digital saturation, consultants, polling, and paid field operations quickly turn campaigns into million-dollar operations.
But what are candidates actually paying for? People sometimes assume candidates just pay a filing fee and start campaigning. That is far from reality.
Campaign budgets typically include: Printing and mailing campaign literature, social media and digital advertising, website development, compliance and legal reporting, consultants and campaign managers, texting and phone banking programs, yard signs and banners, community events and fundraisers, among others. And here is something many first-time candidates underestimate: Campaign finance reporting in California is strict. Mistakes can be expensive. Many candidates hire professionals just to manage reporting requirements.
In Ventura County, retail politics still matters. Conversations still matter. In Los Angeles County, name recognition and coalition-building matter deeply.
Money amplifies a message. However, it does not create authenticity.
When campaigns cost this much, it raises a larger issue: who can realistically afford to run?
If competitive races require six figures or millions, it inevitably limits access to those who can fundraise at high levels or self-finance. Democracy should not feel like a luxury purchase.
But in both counties, one thing remains constant: campaigns are investments: financial, emotional, and personal. And before anyone decides to step into that arena, they should understand exactly what that investment looks like.
