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Campaign Contribution Limits by State

There is an old saying in Russia about money, "he who has money need have no fear of the law." Alas, this is not true in the United States with regard to campaign fundraising. Most states have some sort of law regulating campaign financing, and in particular the level of donations that a person, corporation, or political action committee (PAC) can provide to an active campaign.

Naturally, these laws differ by state. Luckily for you, our team has found a chart for all state limits and we are reposting it here for your political fundraising pleasure.

Individual Contributions State Party Contributions PAC Contributions Corporate Contributions Union Contributions
Alabama

§ 17-22A-1 et seq. 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited $500/candidate/electiona,d,j Unlimited
Alaska

§ 15.13.065 to .080 		$500/candidate/year Aggregate amounts candidates may accept from non-residents: $20,000/year/gub candidate $5,000/year/senate candidate $3,000/year/house candidate $100,000/year/gub candidate $15,000/year/senate candidate $10,000/year/house candidate $1,000/office/year Contributions from out-of-state PACs prohibited Prohibited Prohibited
Arizona,b,p

§ 16-901 et seq. 		Limits for the 2009-2010 election cycle:
$840/statewide candidates $410/legislative candidates

An individual may not contribute an aggregate amount in excess of $5,850 per calendar year to candidates and committees that give to candidates. Amounts are per election cycle. 		Limits for the 2009-2010 election cycle:

Aggregate contributions accepted from all political parties and organizations cannot exceed:

$83,448 - statewide candidates $8,352 – legis. candidates 		Limits for the 2009-2010 election cycle:
“Super” PACsc: $4,176/statewide candidate $1,664/legislative candidate

Regular PACs:
$840/statewide candidate $410/legislative candidate

Aggregate contributions accepted from PACs cannot exceed:
$83,448 - statewide candidates
$13,464 – legis. candidates

Amounts are per election cycle 		Prohibitedd Prohibitedd
Arkansas

§ 7-6-201 et seq. 		$2,000/candidate/electiona $2,500/electiona $2,000/candidate/electiona Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Californiap

Gov. Code
§ 85300 et seq. 		For elections held on or after January 1, 2009: $25,900/gubernatorial cand. $6,500/statewide candidate $3,900/legislative candidate
Amounts are per electiona 		Unlimited For elections held on or after January 1, 2009:

“Small Contributor” Cmtesg: $25,900/gubernatorial cand. $12,900/statewide candidate $7,800/legislative candidate

Regular PACs: Same as individual limits Amounts are per electiona 		Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Coloradop

Constitution Art. XXVIII 		Limits effective 2007 - 2010: $525/gub candidate
$525/other statewide cand $200/legis candidate

Amounts per electiona 		Limits effective 2007 - 2010: $530,000/gub candidate $106,000/other statewide cand
$19,080/senate candidate $13,780/house candidate

Note: Political parties are prohibited from contributing to any candidate more than 20% of the voluntary expenditure limits, which are adjusted every 4 years. Amounts are per applicable election cycle. 		Limits effective 2007 - 2010: “Small Donor” Committees:i $5,300/gub& statewide cand $2,125/legis. cand.

Regular PACs: Same as individual limits 		Prohibitedd Prohibitedd
Connecticutb

§ 9-611 et seq. 		$3,500/gub candidate $1,000/senate candidate $250/house candidate

$15,000 aggregate/individual to all candidates and committees

All amounts are per electiona 		$50,000/gub candidate $10,000/senate candidate $5,000/house candidate

All amounts are per electiona 		$5,000/gubernatorial candidate $1,500/state senate candidate $750/state house candidate

Aggregate limits on contributions by PACs to candidates:
$100,000/election by a PAC established by a business entity $50,000/election by a PAC established by an organization

All amounts are per electiona 		Prohibitedd §9-613 Same as individual limitsd
Delaware

§ 15-8010 to 8013 		$1,200/statewide candidate $600/other candidate

All amounts per election cycle 		$75,000/gub candidate $5,000/senate candidate $3,000/house candidate

All amounts per election cycle 		Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Florida

§ 106.08 		$500/candidate/electiona Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Georgiap

§ 21-5-41 to 43 		Limits effective as of 2/24/09: Statewide candidates: $6,100/primary election $3,600/primary run-off $6,100/general election $3,600/general run-off

Legislative candidates:
$2,400/primary election $1,200/primary run-off $2,400/general election $1,20/general run-off 		Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Hawaii

§ 11-200 to 207 		$6,000/statewide candidate $4,000/senate candidate $2,000/house candidate

Contributions from a candidate's immediate family are limited to $50,000 in an election cycle, including loans.

All amounts are per election cycle 		Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Idaho

§ 67-6610A 		$5,000/statewide candidate $1,000/leg candidate Amounts are per electiona $10,000/statewide candidate $2,000/legislative candidate Amounts are per electiona Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Illinois

10 ILCS 5/9-1 et seq. 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Indiana

§ 3-9-1-1 et seq. 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited $5,000 in the aggregate to statewide candidates $2,000 in the aggregate to senate candidates

$2,000 in the aggregate to house candidates

All amounts are per year 		Same as corporate limits unless made by the union’s PAC, in which case there are no limits.
Iowa

§ 68A.503 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Prohibited Unlimited
Kansas

§ 25-4153 		$2,000/statewide candidate $1,000/senate candidate $500/house candidate Amounts are per electiona For a contested primary election, same as individual limits. Unlimited in uncontested primaries and general elections Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Kentucky

§ 121.150 		$1,000/candidate/electiona Unlimitedk

Except for gubernatorial slates, no candidate can accept party contributions which in the aggregate exceed 50% of total contributions or $10,000 (whichever is greater) in an election cycle. 		Same as individual limits Aggregate Limits: - Except for gubernatorial slates, no candidate can accept PAC contributions which in the aggregate exceed 50% of total contributions or $10,000 (whichever is greater) in an election cycle.

Gubernatorial slates that accept public financing may not accept more than 25% of their contributions from PACs - Other gubernatorial slates may not accept more than 25% or $150,000 (whichever is less) of contributions from PACs 		Prohibited Same as individual limits
Louisiana

§ 18:1481 to 1532 		$5,000/statewide candidate $2,500/legislative candidate

Both amounts are per electiona 		Unlimited Regular PACs: Same as individual limits

“Big” PACsf: Double the amount of individual limits

Candidates subject to following aggregate limits on all PAC contributions accepted for the primary and general elections combined: $80,000/statewide candidate $60,000/legislative candidate 		Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Maineb

Tit. 21-A, § 1001 to 1128 		$500/gub candidate/electiona $250/other candidate/electiona Individuals limited to $25,000 aggregate contributions to all campaign finance entities per calendar year. Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Maryland

Election Law § 13-226 		$4,000/candidate $10,000 aggregate to all candidates

Both amounts are per 4-year election cycle (1/1/-07-12/31/10) 		Transfer limit: $6,000/4-year election cycle

In-Kind Contributions: Limited to an amount equal to $1 for every two registered voters in the state, regardless of political affiliation. Limit is per 4-year election cycle. 		$6,000/candidate/4-year election cycle Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Massachusetts

Ch. 55, § 6, 6A, 7A and 8 		$500/candidate

$12,500/individual aggregate limit on contributions to all candidates

Registered lobbyists may only contribute up to $200/candidate

All amounts are per calendar year. 		$3,000/candidate/year

No limit on in-kind contributions 		Regular PAC: $500/candidate

People's Committee:o $500/candidate

Candidates cannot accept aggregate PAC contributions that exceed the following amounts:
$150,000/gub candidate $18,750/senate candidate $7,500/house candidate

All amounts per calendar year. 		Prohibited Same as PAC limits
Michigan

§ 169.252 		$3,400/statewide candidate $1,000/senate candidate
$500/house candidate

All amounts are per election cycle 		$68,000/statewide candidate
$10,000/senate candidate $5,000/house candidate

All amounts are per election cycle 		Political Committees: Same as individual limits.

Independent Committeesh: $34,000/statewide candidate $10,000/senate candidate $5,000/house candidate All amounts are per election cycle 		Prohibitedd Prohibitedd
Minnesota

§ 10A.27 		Election year limits:
$2,000/gub candidate
$500/legislative candidate

Non-election year limits:
$500/gub candidate
$100/legislative candidate

Aggregate contributions from PACs, lobbyists, political funds and individuals who contribute or loan more than ½ the yearly contribution limit cannot exceed 20% of spending limits. For 2007, those amounts are: $95,800/gub candidate
$2,400/senate candidate $1,200/house candidate

All amounts are per calendar year. 		Party committees may contribute up to 10 times the limits imposed on individuals Same as individual limits Prohibited Same as individual limits
Mississippi

§ 23-15-801 et seq. §79-13-15 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited $1,000/candidate/calendar year Unlimited
Missouri

§ 130.031 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Montanap

§ 13-37-216 		$630/gubernatorial slate
$310/other statewide candidate $160/legislative candidate

Limits will be adjusted in 1/10 Amounts are per electiona 		$22,500/gubernatorial slate $8,150/other statewide cand.
$1,300/senate candidate $800/house candidate

Limits will be adjusted in 1/10
All amounts are per electiona 		Same as individual limits. Candidates limited to total contributions from all PACs: $2,450 senate candidates $1,500 house candidates

Limits will be adjusted in 1/10 Amounts are per electiona 		Prohibitedd Same as individual limits
Nebraskap

§ 32-1608 		Unlimited Candidates limited to maximum amount of aggregate contributions that can be accepted in an election period from PACs, corporations, labor unions, associations, other candidate committees, political parties, and other organizations. Once the limit is reached, candidates may accept only individual contributions.

Limit for 2010: $46,000/legislative candidate (No statewide races in 2010) 		Same as party contribution limits Candidates may not accept funds totaling more than 40% of the voluntary spending limit for their office. Same as party contribution limits
Nevada

§ 294A.100 and Const. Art. 2 §10 		$5,000/candidate/electiona Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
New Hampshire

§ 664:4 		To candidates not agreeing to abide by spending limits: $1,000/electiona

To candidates agreeing to abide by spending limits: $5,000/electiona 		To candidates not agreeing to abide by spending limits: $1,000/electiona

Unlimited to candidates who agree to expenditure limits 		Same as party limits Same as individual limitsn Prohibited
New Jerseyp

§ 19:44A-11.3 		$3,400/gubernatorial cand $2,600/legislative candidate

Both amounts are per electiona 		No limit on contributions by state & county committees

National party committee: $8,200/electiona 		$8,200/candidate/electiona Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
New Mexico

§ 1-19-25 to 36 		Unlimited (Effective 11/3/10): $2,300/non-SW cand/electiona $5,000/SW cand/electiona Unlimited ( Effective 11/3/10): $5,000/electiona Unlimited (Effective 11/3/10): $5,000/electiona Unlimited ( Effective 11/3/10): Same as individual limits Unlimited (Effective 11/3/10): Same as individual limits
New Yorkp

Election Law, § 14-114 		For 2008:
Gub. Cand.
Primary – Product of number of enrolled voters in candidate’s party in state x $.005, but not less than $6,000 or more than $18,100
General:
$37,800

Legis. Cand.
Primary:
$6,000/senate candidate $3,800/house candidate
General
$9,500/senate candidate $3,800/house candidate

Max. contribs. by individual limited to $150,000 in the aggregate. Separate limits apply for contribs. from all family members in the aggregate. Limit is based on the formula of total # of enrolled voters in candidate’s party in the state x $0.025. For legislative candidates, this amount may not exceed $100,000. “Family” is defined as a child, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, and the spouses of those persons. All amounts per calendar year 		Prohibited in primary election.

Unlimited in general election. 		Same as individual limits. Corporations are limited to $5,000 per year in aggregate contributions to NY state candidates and committees. Same as individual limits.
North Carolina

§ 163-278.6 et seq. 		$4,000/candidate/electiona Unlimited Same as individual limits Prohibitedd Prohibitedd
North Dakota

§ 16.1-08.1 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Prohibitedd Prohibitedd
Ohiop

§ 3517.102(B)(1)(a) and 3599.03 		Limits effective 2/25/09: $11,395.56/candidate/electiona $642,709.58/statewide cand. $128,200.05/senate candidate
$63,815.14/house candidate In-kind contributions: unlimited

All amounts are per electiona 		Same as individual limits Prohibitedd Prohibitedd
Oklahoma

21 OS § 187.1 et seq. and Ethics Commission Rules; §257:1-1-1 et seq. and §257:10-1-2 et seq 		$5,000/candidate/campaign

*This limit applies to an entire family, defined as an individual, his spouse, and all children under 18 living in the same household. 		$50,000/gubernatorial candm $25,000/other statewide candm
$1,000/legislative candidate

All amounts per calendar year 		Same as individual limits Prohibitedd Prohibitedd
Oregon

§ 260.160 to 174 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Pennsylvania

25 Pa Stat § 3241 to 3260a 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Prohibitedd Prohibitedd
Rhode Island

§ 17-25-10.1 		$1,000/candidate or $2,000/candidate if candidate qualifies for public funding and agrees to abide by spending limits

Both amounts are per calendar year. Individuals limited to $10,000 in aggregate contributions to candidates, PACs and party committees per year 		$25,000/candidate/year

In-kind contributions unlimited 		$1,000/candidate/calendar year or $2,000/candidate/year if candidate qualifies for public funding and agrees to abide by spending limits

Annual aggregate limit of $25,000 to all recipients 		Prohibited Prohibited
South Carolina

§ 8-13-1314 to 1316 		$3,500/statewide candidate $1,000/legislative candidate

Both amounts are per electiona 		Candidates may not accept more than the following from parties during an election cycle:

$50,000/statewide candidate $5,000/other candidate 		Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
South Dakota

§ 12-27-7 		$4,000/statewide candidate $1,000/legislative candidate

Both amounts are per calendar year 		Unlimited Unlimited Prohibited Prohibitedd
Tennessee

§ 2-10-302 		$2,500/statewide candidate $1,000/legislative candidate Both amounts are per electiona Candidates limited to aggregate amount from all political party committees:

$250,000/statewide candidate
$40,000/senate candidate $20,000/house candidate

All amounts are per electiona 		$7,500/statewide candidate $7,500/senate candidate $5,000/other candidates

No more than 50% of a statewide candidate’s or $75,000 of a legislative candidate’s total contributions may come from PACs All amounts are per electiona 		Prohibited Same as individual limits
Texas

Election Code, § 253 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Prohibitedd Prohibitedd
Utah

§ 20A-11-101 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Vermonte

17 VSA §2805 		$1,000/candidate/electiona,l Contributions from immediate family members are unlimited. Unlimited $3,000/candidate/electiona Same as individual limits Same as individual limits
Virginia

§ 24.2-900 et seq. 		Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Washingtonp

RCW § 42.17.610 et seq.
WAC § 390-05-400 		Adjusted limits effective 12/28/08: $1,600/gub candidate $800/legislative candidate

Both amounts are per electiona During the 21 days before the general election, no contributor may donate more than $50,000 in the aggregate to a statewide candidate or $5,000 in the aggregate to any other candidate. This includes a candidate's personal contributions to his/her campaign. 		Aggregate contributions from a state party central committee to a statewide or legislative candidate may not exceed $.80 x number of registered voters in candidate’s district. This limit applies to the entire election cycle. Same as individual limits A PAC that has not received contributions of $10 or more from 10 or more WA registered voters during the past 180 days is prohibited from making contributions. Prohibited for corporations not doing business in Washington state. Same as individual limits for Washington corporations. Prohibited for unions that have fewer than 10 members who reside in Washington. Same as individual limits for Washington unions.
West Virginia

§ 3-8-8 to 12 		$1,000/candidate/electiona Same as individual limits Same as individual limits Prohibitedd Same as individual limits
Wisconsin

§ 11.01 et seq. 		$10,000/statewide candidate $1,000/senate candidate $500/house candidate

Above amounts are per election campaign. An individual may not contribute more than $10,000 in a calendar year to any combination of Wisconsin candidates or political committees. 		Aggregate limit on amount candidates may accept from all committees, including party committees, in an election campaign:
$700,830/gub. candidate $22,425/senate candidate $11,213/house candidate 		$43,128/gub candidate $1,000/senate candidate $500/house candidate

Aggregate limit on amount candidates may accept from all committees, excluding party committees, in an election campaign:
$485,190/gub. candidate $15,525/senate candidate $7,763/house candidate

All amounts are per election cycle. 		Prohibited Prohibited
Wyoming

§ 22-25-102 		$1,000/candidate/electiona

No individual may make more than $25,000q in total contributions during a two-year election cycle. 		Unlimited Unlimited Prohibited Prohibited

(a) Primary and general are considered separate elections; stated amount may be contributed in each election.
(b) Candidates participating in “Clean Elections” public financing may not accept contributions after qualifying for public funds. Limits listed are for candidates not participating in public financing program.
(c) In Arizona, a PAC that has received contributions from 500 or more individuals in amounts of $10 or more in a one-year period may qualify as a “Super PAC.” Qualification is valid for two years. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. §16-905(I))
(d) Direct corporate and/or union contributions are prohibited and/or use of treasury funds and/or dues is prohibited. In these states, the law specifically says that nothing prevents the employees or officers of a corporation from making political contributions through a PAC, using funds from an account that is separate and segregated from corporate accounts. Such contributions are subject to the same limitations placed on other PACs.
(e) Full public financing is available to qualifying candidates for governor and lieutenant governor. A candidate who wishes to receive public funding may not solicit or accept any private contributions except qualifying contributions.
(f) In Louisiana, a “Big PAC” is a PAC with over 250 members who contributed over $50 to the PAC during the preceding calendar year and has been certified as meeting that membership requirement.
(g) In California, a “small contributor committee” is a committee which has been in existence for at least six months, receives contributions from 100 or more persons in amounts of not more than $200 per person, and makes contributions to five or more candidates. (Cal. Govt. Code §85203)
(h) In Michigan, an “independent committee” must have filed a statement of organization at least 6 months before the election in which the committee wishes to make contributions; must have supported or opposed 3 or more candidates for nomination or election; and must have received contributions from at least 25 persons.
(i) In Colorado, a “small donor committee” means any political committee that has accepted contributions only from natural persons who each contributed no more than $50 in the aggregate per year.
(j) Any public utility regulated by the Public Service Commission is prohibited from making political contributions (Ala. Code §10-2A-70.1)
(k) The text of the statute on contribution limits (KRS §121A.050(1)) states that party contributions to candidates are limited to $1,000 per election. However, the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance’s web site states that party contributions to candidates are unlimited ( http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/kref/contlmt.htm , see footnote 4).
(l) Vermont’s attempt to limit out-of-state contributions to 25% of a candidate’s total contributions received was declared unconstitutional on August 18, 2004, by the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals (Landell v. Sorrell, 382 F.3d 91 (2004))
(m) While these limits are specified in Oklahoma’s Ethics Rules, statutes have not been changed to reflect this limit. According to the statutes, any contribution in excess of $5,000 would constitute a criminal violation.
(n) Corporations are no longer prohibited from making political contributions under New Hampshire law despite the language of NH RSA 664:4. That ban was declared unconstitutional by a federal district court in 1999. A June 6, 2000 letter from Deputy Attorney General Steven M. Houran indicates that the limits on individual contributions now apply to corporate contributions as well.
(o) In Massachusetts, a"People's Committee" is a PAC that has been in existence for six months, has received contributions from individuals of $140 (adjusted biennially; this amount is for 2006-2007) or less per year, and has contributed to five candidates. It is unclear what advantage there would be to converting to a People's Committee, since the contribution limits are the same.
(p) Contribution limits are adjusted for inflation at the beginning of each campaign cycle.
(q) Effective July 1, 2009, decreases to $12,500 (see SF 94, 2009)

posted 1:21PM 07/22/2009 by eNilsson Blog Team

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