I agree that money isn't everything in a run, but it's in the same way that money doesn't buy happiness: you have to have a baseline amount to contribute to get your name out--or not be suffering in the case of happiness.

So for me there are really 3 routes:

1. Congress. My district is deep red because of gerrymandering. My congressman is a second generation congressman and their resting warchest is about $3M. I'm fairly certain if he wins this time it will be at least his 3rd term maybe his 4th.

2. State representative. This position is held by one of my personal friends and I've worked for her campaign. She does a good job. Her district is now also super gerrymandered and is solidly blue.

3. State senate. Gerrymandered red, but the candidate worked for our ex governor / university president and is politically clouty. I don't really know how to break in here but it's more feasible than, say, being an actual senator.

The problem is, by local DNC guidance--and they are mostly shit heels and massively underprepared in my area--they want you to bring money, a campaign manager, and odds and ends parts of a team before you get their support. I don't WANT to kick in 20k, and have 12 friends who will give at least $1000.

More than I don't want that though, I don't want to go to people's houses, knock on the door, ask them what they think about issue XXX, and then say thanks and walk away after giving them a flyer after they tell me something pants on head idiotic. People are by and large ignorant, stupid, or both, and it's very difficult for me not wear that on my face. I have enough friends, I don't want to go to neighborhood chili cookoffs and kiss babies, and I don't want to go to weekly mixers. I want to read legislation and politic. The whole business of elections is a drag. It's not that I'm autistic or something and I don't understand people or hate public speaking (I quite enjoy that) or that I CANT navigate social situations, it's that I have a young family and I don't want to dick with earning social credits.

I decided instead to join my HOA board to try to do some good, and that has cured me of wanting to do anything like city council; the juice isn't worth the squeeze.