BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Megan Wingfield, a 32-year-old first-time candidate running as a Democrat in Kentucky’s Second congressional district, is conducting her campaign on a sharply limited budget. Recently, she found herself apologizing at a gas station while counting a modest $23 to partially fill the tank of her 2013 Jeep, needed to reach an evening event. Such moments highlight the financial challenges she faces competing against a well-funded incumbent.

Wingfield’s campaign operations are conducted from a small corner in the one-bedroom apartment she shares with two dogs and a cat. There, a ring light for social media videos and a laptop balanced on a raccoon trap serve as makeshift campaign tools. To stretch her resources, she has resorted to pawning personal belongings such as power tools.

“We’ve had to be resourceful,” Wingfield said, describing her efforts to maintain visibility and outreach with minimal funds. “When you talk about a shoestring budget—that pretty much hits the nail on the head.”

Her experience contrasts sharply with the broader midterm election landscape, which is seeing record spending. Industry trackers estimate that candidates and their supporting groups are collectively spending nearly $12 billion this cycle, making it the most expensive in U.S. history. While many candidates leverage extensive financial backing, others like Wingfield are relying on grassroots organizing and creativity to stay afloat.

The financial disparities underscore the sometimes stark divide between established incumbents and newcomers trying to break through. Despite limited funds, Wingfield remains committed to competing, signaling the persistent challenges faced by first-time candidates in heavily contested districts.

Her story exemplifies the breadth of campaign experiences unfolding nationwide, from massive war chests to modest, self-funded operations. As election day approaches, candidates across the country continue to navigate these differing realities in pursuit of congressional seats.