system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What happens to surplus political funds if a campaign ends prematurely?
gpt
Assuming you're taking about the U.S.:

There are a number of options. These apply to both candidates for office who drop out before the election, lose the election, or retire, and still have funds left over.

1. The campaign can save the money in case the candidate chooses to run again.
2. The campaign can donate the money to PACs and SuperPACs
3. The campaign can donate the money to national, state, and local party committees
4. The campaign donate directly to other candidates election campaigns
5. The campaign can donate to funds to charities
6. The campaign can return the funds to the donors

The one thing that's *not* allowed is for the candidate to keep the money for personal use.

Edit: Since people keep bringing it up, candidates can't *directly* transfer money from a campaign account to a personal bank account, but if they want that money, obviously there are some loopholes and unethical yet legal (or at least not illegal) ways to get it.