California Fair Political PracticesCommission
California State Contribution Limits
(Effective January 1, 2021 ‐ December 31, 2022)
Candidates seeking a state office and committees that make contributions to state candidates are subject to contribution limits from a single source. Beginning January 1, 2021 a state campaign contribution limit will by default apply to city and county candidates when the city or county does not have laws addressing a contribution limit on such candidates. (Sections 85301 ‐ 85303.) Contributions from affiliated entities are aggregated for purposes of the limits. (Regulation 18215.1.) The chart below shows the current limits per contributor for state offices and city and county candidates when the city or county does not have laws addressing a contribution limit on such candidates. The primary, general, special, and special run‐off elections are considered separate elections. Contribution limits to candidates apply to each election. Contribution limits to officeholder and other committees apply on a calendar year basis. Contact your city or county about contribution limits for local offices, state campaign contribution limit will by default apply to city and county candidates when the city or county does not have laws addressing a contribution limit on such candidates.
Contribution Limits to State and Local* Candidates Per Election Contributor
Sources
Candidate or Officeholder Person (individual, business
entity, committee/PAC)
Small Contributor Committee
(see definition on page 2) Political Party
City and County Candidates subject to Section 85301 (d) $4,900 $4,900 $4,900 Senate and Assembly $4,900 $9,700 No Limit
CalPERS/CalSTRS $4,900 $9,700 No Limit
Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General,
Treasurer, Controller, Supt. of Public Instruction,
Insurance Commissioner, and Board
of Equalization
$8,100 $16,200 No Limit
Governor $32,400 $32,400 No Limit
*State campaign contribution limit will by default apply to city and county candidates when the city or county does not have laws addressing a contribution limit on such candidates
Contributions to Other State Committees Per Calendar Year Contributor Sources
Committee Person (individual, business entity,
committee/PAC)
Committee (Not Political Party) that Contributes to State Candidates (PAC) $8,100 Political Party Account for State Candidates $40,500
Small Contributor Committee $200
Committee Account NOT for State Candidates (Ballot Measure, PAC, Political Party) No Limit* *State committees (including political parties and PACs) may receive contributions in excess of the limits identified above as long as the contributions are NOT used for state candidate contributions. (Regulation 18534.) Contributions to State Officeholder Committees Per Calendar Year Contributor Sources
Committee
Any Source (Person, Small
Contributor Committee or
Political Party)
Aggregate From All Sources
Senate and Assembly $4,000 $67,300
CalPERS/CalSTRS $4,000 $67,300
Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General,
Treasurer, Controller, Supt. of Public Instruction,
Insurance Commissioner, and Board of Equalization
$6,700 $134,600
Governor $26,900 $269,300
California Fair Political Practices Commission
California State Contribution Limits
(Effective January 1, 2021 ‐ December 31, 2022)
The contribution limits are effective for elections held between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022. (Regulation 18545.) These limits do not apply to contributions made to elections in previous years. Such contributions are subject to the limits in place for that year see previous charts.
Legal Defense Funds
Contributions raised for a legal defense fund are not subject to contribution limits or the voluntary expenditure ceiling. However, a candidate or officeholder may raise, in total, no more than is reasonably necessary to cover attorney’sfees and other legal costs related to the proceeding for which the fund is created. (Section 85304; Regulation 18530.4.)
Recall Elections
A state officeholder and city or county officeholder subject to Section 85301 (d) who is the subject of a recall may set up a separate committee to oppose the qualification of the recall measure and, if the recall petition qualifies, the recall election.
Neither contribution limits nor voluntary expenditure ceilings apply to the committee to oppose the recall that is controlled by the officeholder who is the target of the recall attempt. Candidates running to replace an officeholder who is the target of a recall are subject to the contribution limits and the expenditurelimits applicable to the election for that office. (Section 85315; Regulation 18531.5.)
Ballot Measure Committees
Contributions to ballot measure committees controlled by a candidate for elective state office or a candidate for elective city or county office subject to Section 85301 (d) are not limited.
Contributions from State Candidates and Candidates subject to Section 85301 (d)
A state candidate or candidate for elective city or county office subject to Section 85301 (d) may not contribute more than $4,900 to a committee controlled by another state candidate or or candidate for elective city or county office subject to Section 85301 (d) (Thislimit applies on a per election basis and includes, in the aggregate, contributions made from the candidate’s personal funds and from campaign funds. (Section 85305; Regulation18535.) This limit does not apply to a committee controlled by a state candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate for elective city or county office subject to Section 85301 (d) to oppose his or her recall or their contributions made to a legal defense fund established by a candidate for elective state office or candidate for elective city or county office subject to Section 85301(d). It also does not apply to contributions made by a candidate for elective state office or a candidate for elective city or county office subject to Section 85301 (d) to a ballot measure committee controlled by a another state candidate or candidate for elective city or county office subject to Section 85301 (d). Please note there are certain rules applicable to use of funds held by state officeholder committees (See Regulation 18531.62.)
Communications Identifying State Candidates
Any committee that makes a payment or a promise of payment totaling $50,000 or more for a communication that:
1. Clearly identifies a state candidate; but
2. Does not expressly advocate the election or defeat of the candidate; and
3. Is disseminated, broadcast, or otherwise published within 45 days of an election, may not receive a contribution from any single source of more than $40,500 in a calendar year if the communication is made at the behest of the candidate featured in the communication. (Section 85310.)
Officeholder Committees
Officeholder contributions must be cumulated (in full) with any other contributions from the same contributor(s) for any other future elective state office or elective city or county office subject to Section 85301 (d) for which the officeholder maintains a controlled committee during the term of office in which the contribution is received.
Contributions to candidates for future elections and to their officeholder account are cumulated for purposes of contribution limits. (Regulation 18531.62.)
Contributions from State Lobbyists
A state lobbyist may not contribute to a state officeholder’s or candidate’s committee if the lobbyist is registered to lobby the agency of the elected officer or the agency to which
the candidate is seeking election. The lobbyist also may not contribute to a local committee controlled by any such state candidate. (Section 85702; Regulation 18572.) In addition, effective January 1, 2015, lobbyists and lobbying firms may no longer take advantage of the $500 or less home/office fundraiser exception that is available to other individuals and entities. (Section 82015(f).) Local Elections
Many cities and counties have local contribution limits and other election rules. “Local Campaign Ordinances” are listed on the FPPC’s website. Check with your city or county about contribution limits for local elections. A State campaign contribution limit will by default apply to city and county candidates when the city or county does not have laws addressing a contribution limit on such candidates.
Definitions
Person: An individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability company, association, committee, and any other organization or group of persons acting in concert. (Section 82047.) Small Contributor Committee: Any committee that meets all of the following criteria:
(a) The committee has been in existence for at
least six months.
(b) The committee receives contributionsfrom 100
or more persons.
(c) No one person has contributed to the committee
more than $200 per calendar year.
(d) The committee makes contributions to fiveor
more candidates. (Section 85203; Regulation 18503.)
Political Party Committee: The state central committee
or county central committee of an organization that meets the requirements for recognition as a political party under Elections Code Section 5100. (Section 85205.)
www.fppc.ca.gov
FPPC Advice: [email protected] (1.866.275.3772 )
Ed. Pro. • 007-01-2021 • Page 2 of 2