There was a move in the Republican Party of Arkansas to increase the filing fees for Republican candidates for all offices. When that move didn’t gain traction, a proposal was put forward to only increase the filing fee for candidates for Congress. A divided executive committee voted to double the filing fee for Congress from $15,000 to $30,000. How the members voted is posted at the bottom of this article.
Reason stated for increasing the filing fee
In a nutshell, the reason stated for doubling the filing fee was to generate more money that could then be used to support the winners of the Republican primary. Party spokeswoman, Amber Crawford, said:
“The thinking expressed by the Executive Committee was a desire to increase our federal dollars.
“As you probably know, we are required to spend a mix of state and federal dollars during each election cycle,” she said. “They felt that going from $15,000 to $30,000 would not price out any potential candidates and would allow the RPA to better assist campaigns in the general election.[i]
Why there was opposition to the increase
Jennifer Lancaster of Bauxite, who serves on the Executive Committee as chair of the party’s 2nd Congressional District, opposed the increase and is one of the committee members who wants the executive committee to reconsider the issue. Lancaster expressed her hope the decision will be reversed since it was a close vote and some members were absent.
Lancaster said she believed doubling the filing fees is “outrageous,” creates “an artificial barrier” limiting competition, and discourages newcomers from running for Congress.
If the Republican Party of Arkansas continues down this route, the RPA will become known as the “IPA, which is the “Incumbent Protection Agency,” she said.[ii]
Certainly, incumbents are better equipped to raise large sums of money. They already spend considerable time fundraising for their campaigns and for support of the National Republican Party. In fact, congressmen are required (or at least have been required in the recent past) to meet party fundraising goals in order to be considered for better committee assignments in Congress.[iii]
With the claim that an increased filing fee favors incumbents, party spokeswoman, Amber Crawford made sure to note the increase “was not made at the request of any congressman or anyone affiliated with them. In fact, I’m confident they had no idea filing fees were even on the agenda for the Executive Committee.” U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman echoed this point saying, “I had no idea raising the fee was even being considered.” He also said he would gladly pay the increased filing fee.
Comparing filing fees
By comparison the filing fee for Democratic congressional candidates is only $2,500. But it should be noted the Democrat Party does not hold any of the Arkansas congressional seats, does not hold the Governor’s office or any of the other six Arkansas constitutional offices, and only a small minority of members in the Arkansas House of Representatives and Arkansas Senate.[iv]
The new filing fee for Republican candidates for Congress is now $5,000 higher than the Arkansas filing fee for running as Republican candidate for President. Crawford addressed this difference saying, “Presidential campaigns have to file in 49 other states and DC, so their filing fee is left the same as 2020.”[v]
The Arkansas Democrat Gazette also noted, according to a survey by the National Council of State Legislatures, in the 2020 election cycle, Arkansas’ filing fees for state legislative candidates was the highest in the nation.
Gauge of candidate viability?
One of the questions being asked is: Can a candidate who cannot raise the $30,000 filing fee really be considered a viable candidate?
David Manns a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford said “He feels that a credible candidate should have no trouble reaching that threshold easily if they have a strong message and they’re running a serious campaign.”[vi]
The idea of viability based on money raised may reflect the reality of how difficult it is to run a congressional campaign, especially against an incumbent who will be well funded. Some on the executive committee, however, see the viability of the candidate being developed on the campaign trail in discussing the issues, and not on whether the candidate can pay a high filing fee.
One of the ideas that has not been directly expressed, but we know is out there, is some people don’t want a frontrunner attacked in the primary by a candidate who has little to no chance of winning the nomination. But committee members like Jennifer Lancaster see it differently and think the increase is a barrier to new candidates and a protection of incumbents.
In one extreme, you could argue an even much higher filing fee would raise even more money for supporting nominees and credible candidates should be able to raise however much money may be required for filing. In the other extreme, you could argue any filing fee is a barrier to new candidates who do not have the support of special interests.
But the real question is what amount gives the correct balance between the goal of raising money and the desire to encourage new conservatives to run for office?
What do you think?
We encourage you to take our poll on the Conduit News Facebook page. The poll questions are:
- Are you a Republican voter in Arkansas? Y/N
- Is the doubling of the fee to $30,000 to file as a Republican candidates for Congress:
- A good way for the party to raise money to support nominees, and is not a barrier to a credible candidate? Or
- An unnecessary barrier to good candidates and serves to protect incumbents?
How they voted
This list has been circulating on the internet. It purports to show how the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Arkansas voted on increasing the filing fee to $30,000.
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[i] State GOP doubles 1 filing fee, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, June 29, 2023; https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jun/29/arkansas-republican-party-doubles-filing-fee-to/
[ii] Ibid
[iii] “Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), testifying at the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress’s recent Member’s Day Hearing, spoke candidly about the House’s “pay to play” system:
“Too often, Members arrive in Washington expecting to make a difference, but quickly lose faith after realizing that their ability to make a difference is tied to their fundraising prowess. Republicans and Democrats alike are required to raise a certain amount for their respective Party Campaign Committees before the Steering Committee will even consider granting a Member’s preferred committee assignments. Chairmanships and “A” Committees require an even greater dedication to fundraising for the party. This should not be the way we do business. Our constituents didn’t elect us to raise money, they elected us to solve problems. This practice must stop.” https://www.rstreet.org/outreach/fundraising-requirements-should-not-be-a-part-of-the-chair-committee-assignment-process/
[iv] Arkansas’s seven constitutional officers are: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor of State, Treasurer of State, and Land Commissioner.
[v] State GOP doubles 1 filing fee, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, June 29, 2023
[vi] ibid
