Are political campaigns non profit mailing

In the United States, political campaigns are not typically considered non-profit organizations for mailing purposes. Here's why:

1. Political campaigns are considered "express advocacy" organizations: Political campaigns are considered "express advocacy" organizations, which means they are allowed to engage in political speech and advocacy activities, including sending mailers and making phone calls to voters. Non-profit organizations, on the other hand, are typically considered "issue advocacy" organizations, which are limited in their ability to engage in political speech and advocacy.
2. Political campaigns are subject to different regulations: Political campaigns are subject to different regulations and disclosure requirements than non-profit organizations. For example, political campaigns are required to disclose their donors and expenditures, while non-profit organizations are not.
3. Political campaigns are not eligible for non-profit mailing rates: Political campaigns are not eligible for non-profit mailing rates, which are lower than commercial rates. This is because political campaigns are considered commercial entities, rather than non-profit organizations.

However, political campaigns can use non-profit organizations as a way to get around some of these regulations. For example, a political campaign might create a non-profit organization, such as a super PAC or a 527 organization, to engage in issue advocacy activities. These organizations are allowed to accept unlimited donations and engage in political speech, but they are subject to different regulations and disclosure requirements than political campaigns.

It's worth noting that the distinction between political campaigns and non-profit organizations can be blurry, and there have been instances where political campaigns have used non-profit organizations to circumvent regulations. In 2010, the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on political advertising, which has led to increased use of non-profit organizations in political campaigns.