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FEC to host February 17 & 18 Candidate Committee Webinar (2026)

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Key takeaways

  • The FEC will hold an online Candidate Committee Webinar on Tuesday, February 17 and Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
  • Option 1 (Basics for Beginners on Feb. 17 + two-part Candidate Committee Operations on Feb. 18) costs $50; Option 2 (Operations only on Feb. 18) costs $40.
  • Sessions run Feb. 17 (Basics) 1:00–3:00 p.m. ET; Feb. 18 Part 1 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET and Part 2 2:45–4:15 p.m. ET.
  • Training will take place via Zoom Webinar; registrants receive workshop materials and log-in instructions by email the day before the webinar.
  • Register and pay through the FEC Training Payment page on Pay.gov: https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/385241066.
  • Refunds for ACH payments are not readily available — note the FEC’s refund warning.
  • For registration questions contact conferences@fec.gov or call 1-800-424-9530 (menu option 6).
  • The FEC will provide a participation letter that attendees may use to independently apply for CLE, CPE, or other credits.

Follow Up Questions

What specific topics are covered in the "Candidate Committee Operations" sessions?Expand

According to the FEC’s description, the two-part “Candidate Committee Operations” workshop goes into much more detail on: (1) fundraising and solicitations, (2) proper use of campaign funds, (3) reporting scenarios (how to disclose different types of activity on FEC reports), and (4) disclosure rules. A related 2025 notice adds that staff review the federal campaign finance rules for candidate committees and discuss communications and candidate activities using practical reporting examples.

How do I register and pay through Pay.gov, and what payment methods are accepted?Expand

To register, go to the FEC Training Payment page on Pay.gov, sign in or create a Pay.gov account, complete the “FEC Training Payment” form selecting either Option 1 (Basics & Operations) or Option 2 (Operations only), then enter your payment information and submit. Pay.gov lists the accepted payment methods as a bank account (ACH) or a debit or credit card.

What happens if I paid by ACH and need a refund?Expand

The FEC specifically warns that “refunds of automated clearinghouse (ACH) payments are not readily available,” meaning ACH payments are difficult to refund if you later cancel or cannot attend. If you have already paid by ACH and need a refund, you would need to contact the FEC (conferences@fec.gov or 1‑800‑424‑9530, option 6), but you should not assume a refund will be possible or quick.

Will the webinar be recorded and made available later (for example, on YouTube)?Expand

The FEC’s announcement for the February 17–18, 2026 Candidate Committee Webinar does not state that the program will be recorded or posted later (for example, on YouTube). The FEC runs separate on‑demand instructional videos through its FECConnect On Demand YouTube channel, but there is no public indication that this paid webinar will appear there, so it should be treated as a live‑only event unless the FEC later says otherwise.

Does the FEC directly grant CLE or CPE credits or only provide a participation letter?Expand

For this webinar the FEC does not itself grant CLE or CPE credit. Instead, it will give each attendee a participation letter certifying they attended and the amount of instruction time; attendees then use that letter to apply on their own to state bars, accountancy boards, or other credentialing bodies for CLE/CPE or similar credits.

Who is eligible to attend — only federal candidates and their committees or can others (consultants, state/local campaign staff) join?Expand

The training is designed for federal candidates and their campaign committees, but FEC training events are generally open to the public. The seminars section explicitly notes that FEC seminars are “open to the public,” and registration for this webinar is via a generic FEC Training Payment form on Pay.gov with no eligibility restriction, so consultants, attorneys, accountants, and other campaign staff may register and attend if they work with or are interested in federal candidate committees.

Is there a cap on the number of attendees and when should I register to reserve a spot?Expand

No specific numerical cap is published, but FEC webinar registrations are accepted on a “first‑come, first‑served basis,” and its in‑person seminars note that space is limited. The 2026 notice also stresses that this is the only in‑depth webinar for candidate committees that year and urges people to “register today to reserve your spot,” so you should register as early as you can once you decide to attend.

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