The following is an excerpt from a Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Lomax, Monticello, Mar. 12, 1799.

"Dear Sir.....The spirit of 1776 is not dead. It has only been slumbering. The body of the American people is substantially republican. But their virtuous feelings have been played on by some fact with more fiction; they have been the dupes of artful manoeuvres, & made for a moment to be willing instruments in forging chains for themselves. But time & truth have dissipated the delusion, & opened their eyes. "

On July 4, 1776, fifty-six brave Americans signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. In the "Spirit of '76" the Congressional Candidates and Presidential Candidate listed on this website, from all political parties, have declared their independence from the chains and shackles of special interest money, political action committees, big private donors and lobbyists.

The Candidates listed on this website, from all political parties, believe that American people are tired of the influence big money has on federal elected officials. They believe that the need for raising huge amounts of money to run for office has been created by the consultants, advertising companies, marketing companies and the TV media outlets that ultimately receive most of the money that candidates raise. Many candidates argue that they need to raise funds from special interest groups, political action committees and big donors outside the district because they need significant amounts of money to pay for TV and Radio ads, voter poling, signs, campaign staff members, etc., even though this makes them more beholden to donors outside the district than to the residents within the district. In the "Spirit of '76" the candidates listed on this website are:

1. Limiting the amount received from individual citizens to $76.00,

2. Soliciting donations only in the local district and via the internet, and

3. Refusing to accept contributions from special interest groups, political action committees, big private donors and lobbyists.

These candidates know that by refusing to accept big money donations, they will be at a financial disadvantage during the campaign. That is why their campaigns will be taken directly to you, the American people. Your contributions will determine if typical American citizens like these brave candidates can raise enough money to run for office without accepting money from special interest groups, political action committees or lobbyists. NOTE: Please contribute $5, $10, $25, $50, $75, $76 or whatever you can to these grassroots campaigns now. These candidates guarantee if you make a contribution to one or more of their campaigns they will spend each dollar wisely.