# Politicians who don't get elected **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163 "2010-11-10T12:55:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/1 "2010-11-10T12:55:22Z")
I was thinking about this and I realize there might not be _one_ answer to this, but I figured I’d throw it out there anyway. What happens to a politician who doesn’t get elected? Does he/she just wait, unemployeed, until his/her next chance to run? Does he/she go out and get a job? I’m not asking about the politicians who run only once, but the ones (such as Fimian in VA) who have run multiple times. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/2 "2010-11-10T12:58:03Z")
They usually have a day job, like lawyer, or if they are a defeated long-term incumbent they can often choose to become consultants or lobbyists. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/3 "2010-11-10T13:10:12Z")
Ask christine o’donnell; it’s a question I’d like to have answered where she is concerned. Or does the RNC take care of her? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/4 "2010-11-10T13:31:49Z")
Not unless the RNC offers her a job. O’Donnell will probably get a job a Fox News or create her own PAC. Basically, losing candidates take jobs outside of government. If they had a job before the election (or before they got into office), they can go back to that. If the official had been in office, they usually have made connections over the years to people who will find their knowledge of the office useful – most often, as lobbyists (there are some rules about this, but they can be worked around). ---
**Author:** ![luvrbcs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@luvrbcs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvrbcs)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/5 "2010-11-10T13:35:00Z")
Along those same thoughts, what happens to the left over campaign money? Does the canidate keep it? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/6 "2010-11-10T14:23:09Z")
> [@luvrbcs](#): > > Along those same thoughts, what happens to the left over campaign money? Does the canidate keep it? No. They have to donate it to another candidate’s campaign fund, a political party, or a charity. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/7 "2010-11-10T15:34:19Z")
An election is essentially a drawn-out job application process. One might as well ask, “what happens to job applicants who get rejected?” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/8 "2010-11-10T15:37:43Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No. They have to donate it to another candidate’s campaign fund, a political party, or a charity. They are also allowed to keep the campaign account open and save the money for a future run. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/9 "2010-11-10T15:40:52Z")
If they’re long-term pols, they write books, go on the lecture circuit, become lobbyists, etc. Prime example: Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/10 "2010-11-10T16:09:20Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No. They have to donate it to another candidate’s campaign fund, a political party, or a charity. Can they keep it in some sort of account in case they want to run in a later election. ETA: nm already answered ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/11 "2010-11-10T16:36:40Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Can they keep it in some sort of account in case they want to run in a later election. > > ETA: nm already answered As friedo posted, they’re allowed to keep it for future campaigns. But they can’t use it on personal expenses. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/12 "2010-11-10T16:37:17Z")
I have a friend (well, more of an acquaintance) in this position. He was for quite a few years a member of our city council. In the last local election he decided not to run for another term but instead to run for mayor. He lost. So he went back to his earlier occupation: A business owner. He runs a software consulting business. He also is a member of several local social, cultural, and philanthropic organizations. His years in office have given him some great connections, so he’s a good person to know. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby\_Slippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/94ad74/32.png) [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/13 "2010-11-10T17:16:40Z")
> [@luvrbcs](#): > > Along those same thoughts, what happens to the left over campaign money? Does the canidate keep it? Losing campaigns are more likely to have leftover campaign DEBT. Even some winning campaigns end up in debt, but at least the winners have an easier time raising the necessary additional funds. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/14 "2010-11-10T17:59:03Z")
> [@luvrbcs](#): > > Along those same thoughts, what happens to the left over campaign money? Does the canidate keep it? As others noted, the money can’t be kept for personal use, if there is any left at all. In reality, a politician who has a ‘war chest’, left over campaign money, trades it for personal gain. Give it to other politicians for their campaigns, and they’ll provide a paid job in exchange. The money can also be used to give jobs to friends and family, such as preperation for a future campaign that never happens. All along the way, campaign donations can be used for personal use that has any relation to the campaign. And technical violations are rarely prosecuted. It’s the fox guarding the henhouse thing. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/15 "2010-11-10T20:18:23Z")
Especially prominent defeated politicians of the President’s own party might be offered an ambassadorship, a Cabinet or sub-Cabinet post, or appointment to one of the many Federal commissions and boards. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/16 "2010-11-10T21:05:00Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > As others noted, the money can’t be kept for personal use, if there is any left at all. In reality, a politician who has a ‘war chest’, left over campaign money, trades it for personal gain. Give it to other politicians for their campaigns, and they’ll provide a paid job in exchange. The money can also be used to give jobs to friends and family, such as preperation for a future campaign that never happens. All along the way, campaign donations can be used for personal use that has any relation to the campaign. And technical violations are rarely prosecuted. It’s the fox guarding the henhouse thing. Let’s not forget your obligation to hire your kids, parents, uncles and neighbors as “campaign consultants.” All of those “necessary expenses” have to be paid out of campaign funds, too. (This is said kind of sort of tongue-in-cheek. There are rules to try to prevent this kind of abuse.) Anyway, it hasn’t been mentioned that many losing candidates have old political positions waiting for them. For example, McCain went back to being a senator and Palin went back to being governor. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/17 "2010-11-10T21:58:53Z")
When I worked in public relations, there were a bunch of former legislators working in “government affairs.” Others had jobs as campaign consultants. Then there are lobbyists, of course. The rest of them go back to whatever they were doing before. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/18 "2010-11-11T18:21:16Z")
> [@Meatros](#): > > I’m not asking about the politicians who run only once Myself, I was actually wondering about the guys who run only once, and in “lost cause” hopeles races against popular incumbents. Like the lawyer who challenged my congressman (who has been in office for decades, and won with about 70% of the vote). Question is what this lawyer tells the PTB at his law practice. Does he tell them “hey this is just a lark to get my name recognition up there and I’ll still be around after the election”? Or does he say “I’m going to probably need to wind down my affairs at this office, since I expect to be going to Washington in a few months”? I would have to think that people who run these races convince themselves at some level that they have a realistic chance of winning. And this should complicate their non-political arrangements. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/19 "2010-11-11T19:58:21Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I would have to think that people who run these races convince themselves at some level that they have a realistic chance of winning. And this should complicate their non-political arrangements. I can’t speak to higher office, but I was asked by a friend of mine (in the local political party’s power structure) to run for a local office as an irritant to a long-standing incumbent. No one made any bones about me winning. Most of the time people are aware of it long before the election. (I said no. I would have had to move.) ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163/20 "2010-11-11T20:22:36Z")
Sometimes the candidate running for office X is already holding office Y, which they will resign from if they win X. Particularly true of US Senators and Governors whose terms may be staggered with regard to the term for the office they are seeking. For instance, John McCain is still a senator from Arizona. Had he lost, Obama would have remained a senator from Illionois. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politicians-who-dont-get-elected/560163.md?page=2)