Someone to calmly explain democratic issues. What could it cost? $4k?

I guess the problem is no one is willing.

I'd be okay being a "paper candidate". I was thinking to myself (jokingly of course) that I should change my name to Lord Buckethead and wage a write in campaign. However working 60+ hours a day and not being financially independent without work precludes me from doing this. Also I've only been a US citizen for 1 year, so I'm ineligible (need 6 more on the clock) for US Congress.

I live in a NC red zone, same congressional district as McDowell.
Dems have often run in races they have little to no chance of winning; but also sat out a lot of races they were not going to win. As much as I'm disappointed when we don't run a candidate, I do understand why we can't be in every race.

Aside from the money, the cost in human energy and resources is high to run a campaign. After putting heart and soul into several of these contests, I can tell you there's a deflation when we lose. It's demoralizing, and yet we try to summon energy to mount another campaign. It's easy to say we should find someone to run, but it's hard to recruit and support candidates who are willing and able to run against almost insurmountable odds. Once we find one, that person may run every 2 years for a decade or more (I remember several intrepid warriors), or they might be a one and done. Then it takes time and energy to find someone to take up the mantle.

I'm hoping our young Democratic chair can help improve voter turnout in our larger counties with over 1 million residents. This would help with statewide elections. NC went for tfg by very narrow margins in 2020 but we did elect a Democratic Governor! As for local elections, I'm in the mountains in Western NC. We have high voter turnout here, and my county is consistent at 60/40.

McDowell county skews even more red, but it's a smaller county with about 45,000 residents. Perhaps if more Dems and left leaning folks move there the demographics will shift? Their county seat, Marion, hosts a yearly Bigfoot festival, bringing certain kinds of folks from all over! It does boost tourism in the area. I'll leave it at that. But just for fun, here's a link to their festival.
https://marionbigfootfestival.com/