• Schadrach@lemmy.sdf.org
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    5 months ago

    You can see how the system is designed to be a barrier to poor and unrepresented people.

    Just poor people. You can be a black trans woman who is also disabled and a lesbian but if you can put up the fee you can run. And if you were poor enough for the fee to be a meaningful barrier, the $174k/year you make if elected is more than you were making from your old job, and so long as you save a bit of that gives you enough of a cushion to find a new one afterward (plus being a former senator opens more career doors for you).

    • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      That $174k is for some major federal offices.

      Your state level legislators are pulling like $40k. Those are going to be the bulk of your uncontested races.

      Some positions are outright uncompensated but the official has a daily stipend of $50-$150 they can be reimbursed for their spending while on official business, so like: gas and food.