Freshman Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, employs his wife, Kathy, as his campaign manager, the campaign's sole worker at present. Campaign records show she was paid $21,791 over four months, including a $7,500 bonus last November.

"Kathy has her MBA and had been a full-time teacher for a number of years until last year when she gave up teaching to work full time on our campaign," Gohmert said. He called her "the most important part of my campaign team."

Freshman Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., said he employed his retired cousin Ken as a co-campaign manager last year. Ken Costa, an accountant by training who was retired from the state teachers retirement system, made about $45,000 helping out with accounting and other duties.

"He didn't want to take the money. He was enjoying it," Rep. Costa said. But it was only fair to pay him, Costa said.

Some candidates pay themselves using campaign money.

Starting with the last election, hopefuls who quit their jobs to run for office could make up the lost wages using campaign funds, a move federal election officials said would help political newcomers of poor or moderate means.

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Associated Press Writers Erica Werner, Hillary Roxe, Lolita Baldor, Suzanne Gamboa and Ken Thomas contributed to this report.