Campaign finance requirements in California
 in California |
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Federal campaign finance laws and regulations |
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| Campaign finance reform |
| History of campaign finance reform |
| State by state comparison of campaign finance reporting requirements |
| Election policy |
| State information |
Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates and campaigns may receive from individuals and organizations, how they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns. In addition to direct campaign contributions, campaign finance laws also apply to third-party organizations and nonprofit organizations that seek to influence elections through independent expenditures or issue advocacy.
This page provides background on campaign finance regulation, lists contribution limits to state candidates and ballot measures in California, compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in California with those from other states, and details the candidate reporting requirements in California.
The information on this page pertains to candidates for state office and state ballot measures. Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign finance law. Candidates for local office are subject to all applicable state laws as well as any separate local campaign finance regulations.[1]
Background
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign election laws. The FEC is responsible for disclosing campaign finance information, enforcing limits and prohibitions on contributions, and overseeing public funding of presidential elections.[2] According to the FEC, an individual becomes a federal candidate and must begin reporting campaign finances once he or she has either raised or spent $5,000 in his or her campaign. Within fifteen days of this benchmark, the candidate must register with the FEC and designate an official campaign committee, which is responsible for the funds and expenditures of the campaign. This committee must have an official treasurer and cannot support any candidate but the one who registered it. Detailed financial reports are then made to the FEC every financial quarter after the individual is registered. Reports are also made before primaries and before the general election.[3]
The Supreme Court of the United States has issued a number of rulings pertaining to federal election campaign finance regulations. In the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited. The court's decision also overturned the ban on for-profit and not-for-profit corporations and unions broadcasting electioneering communications in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before a general election.[4] In the SpeechNOW.org v. Federal Election Commission decision, the first application of the Citizens United decision, the court held that contribution limits on what individuals could give to independent expenditure-only groups, and the amount these organizations could receive, were unconstitutional. Contribution limits on donations directly to candidates, however, remained unchanged.[5][6] In 2014's McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court overturned biennial aggregate campaign contribution limits, and held that individuals may contribute to as many federal candidates as they want, but may only contribute up to the federal limit in each case.[7]
While the FEC governs federal election campaigns and contribution limits, individual states enforce their own regulation and reporting requirements. Regulations vary by state, as do limits on campaign contributions and third-party activities to influence elections. Candidates for local office must follow any applicable state and local campaign finance regulations.
Contribution limits
The table below details contribution limits as they applied to various types of individuals and groups in California as of July 2025. The uppermost row of the table indicates the contributor, while the leftmost column indicates the recipient.[8]
A small contributor committee is defined as follows:[9]
| “ | Any committee that meets all of the following criteria:
(a) The committee has been in existence for at least six months. |
” |
| —California Fair Political Practices Commission | ||
| Individuals | PACs | Small contributor committee | Political party | Super PACs | Corporations | Unions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | $39,200 | $39,200 | $39,200 | Unlimited | $0 | $39,200 | $39,200 | |
| Statewide candidate | $9,800 | $9,800 | $19,600 | Unlimited | $0 | $9,800 | $9,800 | |
| Senate | $5,900 | $5,900 | $11,800 | Unlimited | $0 | $5,900 | $5,900 | |
| Assembly | $5,900 | $5,900 | $11,800 | Unlimited | $0 | $5,900 | $5,900 | |
| Political party account for state candidates | $49,000 per year | $49,000 per year | $49,000 per year | $49,000 per year | $0 | $49,000 per year | $49,000 per year | |
| PAC | $9,800 per year | $9,800 per year | $9,800 per year | $9,800 per year | $0 | $9,800 per year | $9,800 per year | |
| Small contributor committee | $200 per year | $200 per year | $200 per year | $200 per year | $0 | $200 per year | $200 per year | |
| Ballot measures | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| Limits apply per election unless otherwise noted. | ||||||||
| Source: California Fair Political Practices Commission, "State Contribution Limits and Voluntary Expenditure Ceilings," accessed July 8, 2025 | ||||||||
State comparisons in the 2024 elections
Candidate reporting requirements
See statutes: California Government Code, Section 85200-85201
Candidates seeking a federal office must file with the Federal Election Commission. Reporting details for federal candidates are not included in this section. Candidates seeking a state office should file all campaign finance documents with the California Secretary of State Political Reform Division.[12]
Reporting requirements
Before raising or spending any money related to the campaign, including personal funds, the candidate must file a Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501).[12]
If $2,000 or more is raised or spent for the campaign, a Statement of Organization (Form 410) and Recipient Committee Campaign Statements (Form 460) must be filed. The candidate must also open a separate bank account for campaign funds.[12]
The Statement of Organization (Form 410) designates a committee that will be in charge of the candidate’s campaign finances. The form must be filed within 10 days of raising or spending $2,000. A committee that qualifies during the last 16 days before the election must file the Statement of Organization within 24 hours of qualifying. It must be filed by fax, guaranteed overnight delivery, personal delivery, online, or by email using a verified digital signature.[12]
Recipient Committee Campaign Statements (Form 460) are filed throughout the election year. Semi-annual statements are due January 31 and July 31. The statement due January 31 covers financial activity from July 1 through December 31 of the prior, and the statement due July 31 covers financial activity from January 1 through June 30. These statements are due after a committee has been organized.[12]
Pre-election statements are filed before the election in which the candidate is listed on the ballot. There are two of these covering financial activity prior to both the primary and general elections. A candidate who does not appear on the ballot because he or she is running unopposed is not required to file pre-election statements.[12]
If less than $2,000 is raised or spent on the campaign in a calendar year, not including personal funds used to pay filing fees, an Officeholder/Candidate Campaign Statement—Short Form (Form 470) must be filed once per year as long as funds for the campaign remain under $2,000.[12]
Election Cycle Reports must be filed electronically if a candidate's committee receives a contribution of $1,000 or more from a single contributor during the 90-day election cycle. These reports are due within 24 hours of receiving such a contribution.[12]
$5,000 Reports must be filed electronically if a candidate's committee receives a contribution of $5,000 or more from a single contributor, including a small contributor committee, at any time other than during an election cycle. These reports must be filed within 10 days of receiving such a contribution.[12]
Campaign finance legislation
The table below displays bills related to campaign finance introduced during or carried over to California's current legislative session.[13]
Election and campaign ballot measures
Ballotpedia has tracked 86 statewide ballot measures relating to elections and campaigns.
- California Proposition 198, Open Blanket Primary Election Initiative (March 1996)
- California Proposition 226, Ban on Political Contributions from Payroll Deductions Initiative (June 1998)
- California Proposition 3, Closed Presidential Primaries Measure (1998)
- California Proposition 208, Campaign Contribution and Spending Limits Initiative (1996)
- California Proposition 219, Uniform Application of Ballot Measures Amendment (June 1998)
- California Proposition 23, None of the Above Option on Ballots Initiative (March 2000)
- California Proposition 34, State Elective Office Campaign Contribution Limits Measure (2000)
- California Proposition 62, Top-Two Primaries Initiative (2004)
- California Proposition 15, Biennial Lobbyist Fee and Public Campaign Funding Measure (June 2010)
- California Proposition 14, Top-Two Primaries Amendment (June 2010)
- California Proposition 131, Term Limits and Campaign Finance Limits Initiative (1990)
- California Proposition 136, Changes to Vote Requirements for New or Increased Taxes Initiative (1990)
- California Proposition 137, Voter Approval for Certain Rules Governing Initiatives Amendment (1990)
- California Proposition 77, Transfer Legislative and Congressional Redistricting to Panel of Retired Judges Initiative (2005)
- California Proposition 60, Political Parties to Participate in Primaries and General Elections Amendment (2004)
- California Proposition 20, Transfer Congressional Redistricting to Commission Initiative (2010)
- California Proposition 41, County Voting Equipment Bond Measure (March 2002)
- California Proposition 89, Public Campaign Finance Program, Campaign Finance Limits, and Increased Corporate Tax Initiative (2006)
- California Proposition 4, Primary Partisanship Referendum (1916)
- California Proposition 2, Ballot Regulations Referendum (October 1915)
- California Proposition 6, Naturalized Citizens Voting Eligibility Amendment (June 1972)
- California Proposition 23, Election Decisions Amendment (1914)
- California Proposition 18, Voter Qualifications Amendment (1924)
- California Proposition 6, Publication of Bond Propositions Amendment (1958)
- California Proposition 2, Terms of Assembly Members Amendment (1960)
- California Proposition 8, Voting Prohibition for Those Serving a Sentence Amendment (1960)
- California Proposition 21, Incumbents for Superior Courts Amendment (1962)
- California Proposition 8, Elections of Superior Court Judges Amendment (1964)
- California Proposition 15, Exemption From Voter Education Requirement Amendment (1966)
- California Proposition 23, Election Results Amendment (1926)
- California Proposition 25, Voter Eligibility Amendment (1930)
- California Proposition 22, Municipal Charter Amendments Amendment (1930)
- California Proposition 4, Election Returns for Governor and Lieutenant Governor Amendment (1940)
- California Proposition 7, County Board of Education Amendment (1946)
- California Proposition 8, Superior Court Vacancies Amendment (1948)
- California Proposition 13, Requirement to be a Political Party Candidate Initiative (1952)
- California Proposition 7, Political Party Affiliation on the Ballot Measure (1952)
- California Proposition 43, Constitutional Right to Have One's Vote Counted Amendment (March 2002)
- California Proposition 49, Prohibition of Political Party Endorsements for Nonpartisan Candidates Amendment (June 1986)
- California Proposition 20, County Charter Officials Amendment (1932)
- California Proposition 19, City and City and County Charters Amendment (1932)
- California Proposition 7, Voter Eligibility Requirements Amendment (1948)
- California Proposition 4, Voter Eligibility Amendment (1950)
- California Proposition 32, Ban on Political Contributions from Payroll Deductions Initiative (2012)
- California Proposition 6, Boards of Education Amendment (June 1970)
- California Non-Profit Donor Disclosure Initiative (2014)
- California Nonpartisan Ballots Initiative (2016)
- California Senatorial Elections, Proposition 1 (1892)
- California Voter Qualifications, Proposition 3 (1892)
- California Elections by Ballot, Amendment 2 (1896)
- California Election of County Officers, Amendment 5 (1896)
- California Direct Primaries, Amendment 3 (1908)
- California Proposition 17, County and Municipal Vote Requirements Amendment (October 1911)
- California Proposition 47, Prohibition Elections Initiative (1914)
- California Proposition 21, Incurring Indebtedness Propositions Amendment (1926)
- California Proposition 16, Require Supermajority Voter Approval to Expand Utility Services Initiative (June 2010)
- California Proposition 17, Car Insurance Rates Based on Coverage History Initiative (June 2010)
- California Proposition 27, Elimination of Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative (2010)
- California Proposition 44, Chiropractic License Revocation for Insurance Fraud Measure (March 2002)
- California Proposition 212, Campaign Spending and Contribution Limits Initiative (1996)
- California Proposition 6, Municipal Charter Changes Amendment (October 1911)
- California Proposition 4, Judicial Vacancies Term Amendment (October 1915)
- California Proposition 8, Voter Registration Amendment (1936)
- California Proposition 21, Superior Court Vacancies Amendment (1952)
- California Proposition 4, Open Presidential Primaries Amendment (June 1972)
- California Proposition 59, Election of District Attorney Amendment (1986)
- California Proposition 38, Language for Election Materials Initiative (1984)
- California Proposition 7, Changes to Elections Amendment (1972)
- California Proposition 4, City Boards of Education Amendment (June 1978)
- California Proposition 6, Require Elected County Sheriffs Amendment (June 1978)
- California Proposition 4, Elections Regarding Low-Income Housing Amendment (June 1980)
- California Proposition 66, Elected County Assessor Amendment (June 1988)
- California Proposition 9, Fair Political Practices Commission and Election and Campaign Policies Initiative (June 1974)
- California Proposition 20, Candidates Who Engaged in Libelous or Slanderous Behavior Amendment (June 1984)
- California Proposition 73, Funds for Election Campaigns Initiative (June 1988)
- California Proposition 68, Campaign Contributions Initiative (June 1988)
- California Proposition 40, Campaign Finance Initiative (1984)
- California Proposition 1, Primary Elections Referendum (October 1915)
- California Proposition 10, Prohibit Head and Poll Taxes Initiative (1914)
- California Proposition 12, Constitutional Conventions Amendment (1914)
- California Proposition 13, Bond Electors Initiative (1914)
- California Proposition 13, Educational Poll Tax Amendment (1924)
- California Proposition 17, City Charters Amendment (1932)
- California Proposition 18, Drafting County Charter by Board of Supervisors Amendment (1932)
- California Proposition 18, Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds Amendment (2020)
- California Proposition 34, Require Certain Participants in Medi-Cal Rx Program to Spend 98% of Revenues on Patient Care Initiative (2024)
Election administration agencies
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in California can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
California County Elections offices
California Secretary of State, Elections Division
- 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor
- Sacramento, California 95814
- Phone: 916-653-6814
- Toll free: 1-800-345-8683
- Fax: 916-653-3214
- Email: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/contact/email-elections-division
- Website: http://www.sos.ca.gov/
California Fair Political Practices Commission
- 1102 Q Street, Suite 3050
- Sacramento, California 95811
- Phone: 916-322-5660
- Fax: 916-322-0886
- Email: Cpra@fppc.ca.gov
- Website: http://www.fppc.ca.gov/
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
- 1050 First Street, NE
- Washington, DC 20463
- Telephone: (202)-694-1100
- Toll-free: 1-800-424-9530
- Email: info@fec.gov
- Website: http://www.fec.gov/
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Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Campaign finance regulation
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in California
- California
Footnotes
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Campaign Finance Enforcement," accessed May 28, 2025
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "About the FEC," accessed June 27, 2012
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Candidate Registration Brochure," accessed December 7, 2012
- ↑ New York Times, "Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Spending Limit," January 21, 2010
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Speechnow.org v. FEC," April 7, 2014
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Two Federal Court Rulings Could Change Campaign Finance Landscape," March 26, 2010
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Ongoing Litigation," accessed March 18, 2015
- ↑ vox.com, "Superpacs and dark money," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ California Fair Political Practices Commission, "California State Contribution Limits," accessed July 13, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Limits on Contributions to Candidates 2023-2024 Election Cycle," accessed May 8, 2025
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 FPPC Campaign Manual, "Manual 1," accessed July 8, 2025
- ↑ Bills are organized by most recent action. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
