How Much Money Can Someone Donate to a Local Campaign

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Donating to a local campaign can be a great way to support a cause you care about, but it's essential to know the limits of your contribution.

In the United States, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) sets the limits for individual donations to local campaigns.

The FEC allows individuals to donate up to $2,800 to a candidate per election cycle.

This means if you want to donate to a local mayoral candidate, for example, you can give up to $2,800 to their campaign.

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Campaign Contribution Limits

Campaign contribution limits vary depending on the jurisdiction and the type of candidate. In cities and counties that have not enacted campaign contribution limits, the limit per contributor is $5,900 for city and county candidates. This limit applies to each election, including primary, general, special, and special run-off elections.

The limit is the same for small contributor committees, political parties, and individuals. Business entities are not allowed to make contributions to candidates or their campaign committees in some jurisdictions, but they can make unlimited contributions to general purpose recipient committees or independent expenditure committees.

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Here are some specific contribution limits for different types of candidates:

In some jurisdictions, there are no limits to the amount you can contribute to a ballot measure committee. However, in other jurisdictions, there are limits to the amount you can contribute to a candidate, and these limits apply to each election.

Michigan Campaign Finance Act Committee Contribution Limits

In Michigan, the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCFA) sets contribution limits for publicly elected offices. These limits are based on election cycles, which are time frames provided in the MCFA for accumulating contributions and expenditures.

The MCFA defines election cycles for general and special elections. For a general election, the cycle begins the day after the last general election and ends on the day of the next general election. For a special election, the cycle begins when the special election is called or the office becomes vacant, whichever is earlier.

Contribution limits are adjusted every 4 years, starting from 2019. The secretary of state adjusts the limits by comparing the percentage increase or decrease in the consumer price index. The adjusted limits are announced by December 15 of each year.

Here are the current contribution limits in Michigan, as of January 1, 2023:

  • State Level Office/Supreme Court Candidate Committees: $1,250
  • Local Level Office Candidate Committees: $750
  • Lower Court Judicial Candidate Committees: $750
  • Caucus Committees: $48,875
  • Political Committees, Independent Committees, Independent Expenditure Committees, Political Party Committees, and Ballot Question Committees: unlimited

Key Provisions

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In jurisdictions that have not enacted campaign contribution limits, city and county candidates are subject to certain key provisions and requirements.

The key provisions and requirements for city and county candidates in jurisdictions that have not enacted campaign contribution limits are outlined in AB 571.

City and county candidates in these jurisdictions are required to comply with the key provisions and requirements of AB 571.

These requirements include the need for candidates to disclose their campaign contributions and expenditures, as outlined in the relevant laws and regulations.

Are There Limits to Contributions to Ballot Measure Committees?

In San Diego, there are no limits on the amount you can contribute to a ballot measure committee. This applies to both individuals and organizations.

The City of San Diego does not impose any limitations on contributions to ballot measure committees. This means you can contribute as much as you want to support or oppose a ballot measure.

However, for Council races, there are contribution limits for individual candidates. You can contribute a total of $1,600 per candidate over the two elections.

For Citywide races, the contribution limit per candidate is even higher, at $2,900 over the two elections.

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What You Can Contribute

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You can contribute up to $5,900 per election to a city or county candidate in cities and counties that have not enacted campaign contribution limits.

If you're contributing to a candidate in Michigan, the limits are based on the election cycle of the office. For a general election, the election cycle begins the day after the last general election and ends on the day of the next general election. Contribution limits are adjusted every 4 years, with the secretary of state announcing the adjustments by December 15 of each year.

You can also contribute up to $800 per election to a City Council candidate or $1,450 to a candidate for Mayor or City Attorney in the City of San Diego. However, if you're a business entity, you may not make any contributions to a candidate or their campaign committee in San Diego.

Here's a breakdown of the campaign contribution limits in San Diego:

In some cases, you may be able to contribute more to a local campaign. For example, if you're contributing to a local by-election in 2025, unendorsed candidates may contribute an additional $1,402.40 to their own campaign, and a group of endorsed candidates may contribute an additional $1,402.40 in total to the campaign of the elector organization.

What Is a Contribution?

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A contribution is any payment made for a political purpose. This can include cash, checks, credit card payments, donations of goods, and even forgiveness or reduction of debts.

The definition of a contribution is broad and covers anything of value given for political purposes without receiving something of equal value in return.

You can contribute with a monetary payment, such as cash or a check, or with a non-monetary or "in-kind" payment, like a donation of goods.

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What Can I Contribute?

If you're looking to contribute to a local election candidate or elector organization, the contribution limits are in place to ensure everyone has a fair shot.

The contribution limit for a person, business entity, or committee/PAC to a city and county candidate in cities and counties that have not enacted limits is $5,900 per election.

For City Council candidates in some cities, the limit is $800 per election, while for Mayor or City Attorney candidates, the limit is $1,450 per election.

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If you're an organization, you're not allowed to make any contributions to a candidate or their campaign committee, but individual owners and employees can support the candidate with their own contributions.

In some cities, business entities can make unlimited contributions to a general purpose recipient committee or primarily formed recipient committee that's making independent expenditures to support the candidate.

Here's a breakdown of the campaign contribution limits for local elections candidates and elector organizations:

Note that these limits are adjusted at the start of each calendar year, and campaign contributions to local elections candidates and elector organizations are not eligible for tax receipts.

Prohibited Contributions

A candidate may not make a contribution over the $5,900 limit to another candidate in jurisdictions subject to the default state contribution limit, with limited exceptions related to recall elections, legal defense funds, and candidate-controlled ballot measure committees.

Personal loans to a campaign are also subject to some rules. Candidates may not personally loan to a candidate's campaign an amount for which the outstanding balance exceeds $100,000.

Officeholder committees are not permitted for city and county candidates subject to the $5,900 default state contribution limit.

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Prohibitions

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Contributions have their limits. A candidate may not make a contribution over the $5,900 limit to another candidate in jurisdictions subject to the default state contribution limit, with limited exceptions related to recall elections, legal defense funds, and candidate-controlled ballot measure committees.

Personal loans to a campaign also have restrictions. Candidates may not personally loan to a campaign an amount for which the outstanding balance exceeds $100,000, and they cannot charge interest on any such loan.

Officeholder committees are not permitted for city and county candidates subject to the $5,900 default state contribution limit. This means that candidates in these jurisdictions cannot use officeholder committees to collect or spend money.

Here are some key prohibitions to keep in mind:

  • A candidate may not make a contribution over the $5,900 limit to another candidate in jurisdictions subject to the default state contribution limit.
  • Candidates may not personally loan to a campaign an amount for which the outstanding balance exceeds $100,000.
  • Officeholder committees are not permitted for city and county candidates subject to the $5,900 default state contribution limit.

Difference Between Contribution and Expenditure

A contribution is given to someone else to spend, and the recipient can use it as they see fit. If a person gives $100 to a candidate, that's a contribution.

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The candidate can then spend that $100 on advertising, flyers, billboards, or anything else they want. Contributions can also be made when someone spends money at the behest of a candidate or their committee.

Independent expenditures, on the other hand, are made without the candidate's knowledge or involvement. If a person spends money on advertising, flyers, etc. to support a candidate, but does so independently, that's an independent expenditure.

City candidates can accept contributions from sole proprietorships, but only up to the $800/$1,450 per person limit. Contributions from all other types of business entities are prohibited.

Types of Campaign Committees

Local campaign committees can be classified into several types, each with its own set of rules and contribution limits.

A political committee is one type of committee that can contribute to various local offices, including the Attorney General, Governor, and School Director, with limits ranging from $225 to $725 per election cycle.

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In some cases, these limits can double if a candidate has accepted voluntary spending limits and their opponent has raised more than 10 percent of the spending limit.

Here's a breakdown of some common types of campaign committees:

In Michigan, there are also different types of committees, including caucus committees, which have a contribution limit of $48,875.00 in a calendar year, and political committees, independent committees, independent expenditure committees, and political party committees, which can receive unlimited contribution amounts from a legal source.

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Political Committee

A political committee is a type of campaign committee that can accept contributions from various sources. In Colorado, these committees have specific contribution limits.

For example, a political committee can contribute up to $725 to the Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer per election cycle. Similarly, they can contribute up to $225 to the State Board of Education, State House of Representatives, and State Senate per election cycle.

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Political committees can also contribute to county candidates, with a limit of $1,425 per election cycle. If a candidate has accepted voluntary spending limits, their contribution limits double if their opponent has not accepted the limits and has raised more than 10 percent of the spending limit.

Here's a breakdown of the contribution limits for political committees:

Note that these limits are specific to Colorado and may vary depending on the context.

Small Donor Committee

A small donor committee is a type of campaign committee that accepts contributions from small donors. It's limited to $7,825 per election cycle for candidates like the Attorney General and Governor and Lt. Governor, who are considered one committee.

Small donor committees can also accept contributions from county candidates, who are limited to $14,400 per election cycle. CU Regent and District Attorney candidates, on the other hand, are limited to $3,100 per election cycle.

Here's a breakdown of the limits for small donor committees:

Note that independent expenditure committees have no contribution limits, and issue committees, including small-scale issue committees, are prohibited.

Key Information

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In jurisdictions that have not enacted campaign contribution limits, city and county candidates are subject to key provisions and requirements under AB 571.

The information below contains the key provisions and requirements city and county candidates in jurisdictions that have not enacted campaign contribution limits are subject to under AB 571.

If you're a candidate in one of these jurisdictions, you'll need to understand these provisions and requirements to navigate the campaign finance landscape effectively.

Percy Cole

Senior Writer

Percy Cole is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for simplifying complex topics, Percy has established himself as a trusted voice in the insurance industry. Their expertise spans a range of article categories, including malpractice insurance and professional liability insurance for students.

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