Politics

Using campaign funds for child care now allowed in two-thirds of states

Advocates say the historic shift is boosting representation of women in politics.
State Rep. Megan Jones (R) works at her desk next to her 19-day old son Arthur Clyde in the Iowa House, Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)-

Two-thirds of states now allow parents running for state and local office to use campaign cash to pay for child care, a rapidly progressing policy change driven in part by steady increases of women vying for and winning elections.

An advisory opinion issued last week by the Hawaii State Campaign Spending Commission brought the number of states that consider child care an allowable campaign expense to 33, along with Washington, D.C.

Stay informed
Subscribe to keep reading.

Sign up today to get the latest state new at your fingertips and in your inbox.