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Do you want to start a political action committee? Congratulations on taking the exciting first steps! There are a few key things to know.

First, what is a PAC? Such a baby is born when two or more people give or take funds to support a candidate, party or issue. This allows like-minded folks to pool cash for a cause, like when we got together in high school to watch Woodstock '99 on pay-per-view.

Then there's a federal super PAC, which can deal in unlimited money but can't directly support a candidate. It can, however, give money to PACs that do. This is like when Joel and Katie covered Tyler for day one of Woodstock featuring Korn, then Tyler paid them back through Chad who didn't even come to the viewing party until day two with Metallica.

I'm sure you're following. PACs can have all sorts of goals, from supporting public education to legalizing marijuana to building data centers with potential to turn our water a lovely shade of caramel.

No matter your aims, the most important facet will be a strong and confident name. A PAC title should convey dignity and transparency and a hollow, doomy sense of courage, plus a slight flavor of Mad Libs.

For instance, take Leading the Future. That's the pro-AI super PAC funneling millions toward the campaign of Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds. Money from Leading the Future flowed into a PAC that bought some Donalds campaign ads; that one's called American Mission Florida.

Likewise, a developer that proposed building a data center on former citrus groves has spread money to Florida politicians including Attorney General James Uthmeier, whose office claims to hold "bad corporate actors such as OpenAI accountable." Some of that cash flowed through a PAC associated with state Rep. Sam Garrison, the incoming speaker of the Florida House. It's called, mhmm, Honest Leadership.

To help you brainstorm, I've pored over a spreadsheet of nearly 2,000 political committees registered with the Florida Department of State. Try these helpful tips gleaned from my all-too-real research.

Be a friend: Politics is a notoriously friendly field where everyone gets along. That's why Florida has nearly 250 PACs that start with the word "Friends." Similarly, consider words such as Committee and Citizens to show unflagging camaraderie with people you might even hate.

Use optimistic comparative adjectives: Better, Bolder, Healthier, Safer, Stronger. We are not spending all this time and money to make things worse!

Add urgency: Change waits for no man, which is why you should add a time element like Building a Better Tomorrow Today. You can also convey cozy romance novel longevity with a name like Florida Always and Forever Ours. You should be able to picture Fabio on the cover.

No clues, no problems: Some PACs chose a title with clear purpose, such as Ban Assault Weapons Now or Conservatives for Clean Water. Then there are the rest.

I will leave you with a handful of favorite Florida PACs employing workhorse-style monikers devoid of context. These babies get the job done without betraying any hint of what that job is. For the last time, these are real:

Important Work

Do Better

Association For Serious Service

YOLO PAC

Helping You

Hey Florida

A-Ha!

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Stephanie Hayes is a columnist at the Tampa Bay Times in Florida. Follow her at @stephrhayes on Instagram.

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Copyright 2026 Creators Syndicate Inc.