Campaign finance requirements in Iowa
 in Iowa |
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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 Iowa, compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in Iowa with those from other states, and details the candidate reporting requirements in Iowa.
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 15 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 rules governing federal election campaigns and contributions have evolved over the past generation as result of a number of Supreme Court decisions. 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, were 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 require their own level of regulation and reporting. The amount of regulation required differs by state, as do the 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 Iowa as of July 2025. The uppermost row of the table indicates the contributor, while the leftmost column indicates the recipient.[8]
| Individuals | Single candidates committees | PACs | Political party | Super PACs | Corporations | Unions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide candidate (e.g., governor) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | $0 | Unlimited | ||
| Senate candidate | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | $0 | Unlimited | ||
| House candidate | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | $0 | Unlimited | ||
| PAC | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | $0 | Unlimited | ||
| Party committees | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | $0 | Unlimited | ||
| Ballot measures | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | $0 | Unlimited | ||
| Source: Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, "Making a Contribution in Iowa," accessed July 18, 2025 | |||||||||
State comparisons in the 2024 elections
Candidate reporting requirements
See statutes: Title II, Chapter 68A of the Iowa Code
Candidates seeking state office in Iowa must file campaign finance reports with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Candidates seeking federal office must file with the Federal Election Commission. Reporting details for federal candidates are not included in this section.
Reporting requirements
All reports noted in this section must be filed electronically with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board here.[10]
Once campaign contributions or expenditures exceed a total of $1,000 in a calendar year, a candidate must designate one committee to monitor campaign funds and file disclosure statements. Within 10 days of organizing such a committee, a Statement of Organization must filed.[11][12]
A candidate must file four main reports covering four reporting periods during an election year. Each report must disclose the amount of cash on hand and the total amount of contributions given to the candidate’s committee during the reporting period, including the name and address of each person who made one or more contributions of money or in-kind donations to the candidate’s committee equaling $25 or more in a calendar year. Disbursements, loans, debts, and any campaign property must also be reported.[13][14]
The statutory reporting deadlines and reporting periods are listed below.[13]
- The report covering financial activity from January 1 to May 14 is due on May 19
- The report covering financial activity from May 15 (or the Wednesday preceding the primary election) to July 14 is due on July 19.
- The report covering financial activity from July 15 to October 14 is due on October 19.
- The report covering financial activity from October 15 (or the Wednesday preceding the general election) to December 31 is due on January 19 of the following year.
A candidate may also have to file supplemental reports in addition to the four main reports. These are due if contributions exceeding a certain amount are received after a main report has been filed but before a primary, special or general election is held. These reports must cover financial activity starting the day after the last day covered in the most recent report through the Tuesday prior to the election.[13]
- $10,000 for candidates seeking the office of governor
- $5,000 for candidates seeking other state executive offices, such as secretary of state or treasurer
- $1,000 for candidates seeking state legislative office
During non-election years, a candidate must file a report covering the entire year's financial activity. This report is due on January 19 of the following year.[13]
Permitted uses of campaign funds
Campaign funds are only to be used for campaign purposes, educational expenses, or other expenses associated with the duties of office and constituency services. Funds cannot be used for personal expenses or personal benefit. The following list describes permitted uses of campaign funds:[15]
- advertising and general expenses associated with a campaign (includes media ads, print materials, signs, giveaway items, postage, phones, computers, and office supplies)
- travel and lodging expenses for campaign or officeholder purposes (includes political events, national conventions, conferences, and training sessions; meals only allowed if directly campaign-related)
- office space, utilities, and equipment for campaign operations (includes rent, storage, parking, maintenance, computers, printers, and phones)
- staff salaries and professional services (includes compensation for campaign workers, consultants, attorneys, accountants; excludes candidate, spouse, and dependent children)
- campaign meals and food-related expenses (includes meals for the candidate during campaign activity, food and supplies for events or volunteers, and ticketed meals for the candidate and one guest)
- contributions to political party committees and ticketed events (as long as they promote a candidacy)
- repayment of campaign loans and refunds to contributors (loans from candidates must be interest-free; refunds allowed for errors or leftover funds)
- polling, surveys, mailings, and newsletters to voters or constituents (for campaign or official communication purposes)
- subscriptions and membership dues (must relate to the campaign or office, such as newspapers or local civic organizations)
- gifts and small tokens for volunteers or constituents (e.g., pencils, bookmarks, holiday cards, or gifts under $250 in recognition of service)
- vehicle expenses related to campaigning (vehicle leases and mileage reimbursements allowed with detailed logs; purchases prohibited)
- charitable contributions (allowed only if neither the candidate nor close family financially benefit)
- expenses related to recounts, legal compliance, and ethics penalties (includes civil fines, hearing costs, and recount activities)
- data sharing with other campaigns
The following list describes uses of campaign funds that are not permitted.[16]
- payment of civil or criminal penalties (unless payment is for civil penalties relating to campaign finance and disclosure requirements)
- satisfaction of personal debts, other than campaign loans
- personal services, including the services of attorneys, accountants, physicians, and other professional persons (unless payment is for personal services directly related to campaign activities)
- clothing or laundry expense of a candidate or members of the candidate’s family
- purchase of or installment payments for a motor vehicle (unless the candidate leases a motor vehicle during the duration of the campaign for campaign purposes)
- mortgage payments, rental payments, furnishings, or renovation or improvement expenses for a permanent residence of a candidate or family member, including a residence in the state capital during a term of office or legislative session
- membership in professional organizations
- membership in service organizations, except those organizations which the candidate joins solely for the purpose of enhancing the candidacy
- meals, groceries, or other food expense, except for tickets to meals that the candidate attends solely for the purpose of enhancing the candidacy or the candidacy of another person (unless payment is for food and drink purchased for campaign-related purposes and for entertainment of campaign volunteers)
- payments clearly in excess of the fair market value of the item or service purchased
- payment to a candidate or the candidate’s immediate family member as a salary, gratuity, or other compensation (reimbursement of expenses is permitted)
Campaign finance legislation
The table below displays bills related to campaign finance introduced during or carried over to Iowa's current legislative session.[17]
Election and campaign ballot measures
Ballotpedia has tracked 9 statewide ballot measures relating to elections and campaigns.
- Iowa Biennial Elections, Amendment 1 (1900)
- Iowa Biennial Elections, Amendment 1 (1904)
- Iowa General Election Dates, Amendment 1 (1882)
- Iowa County Attorney Elections, Amendment 4 (1882)
- Iowa General Election Dates, Amendment 2 (June 1916)
- Iowa Replacement of Governor-Elect, Amendment 1 (1952)
- Iowa Residency Requirements, Amendment 1 (1970)
- Iowa Governor and Lt. Governor Elected as a Team, Amendment 1 (1988)
- Iowa Voter Qualifications, Amendment 1 (2008)
Contact information
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Iowa can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Iowa County Auditor/Commissioner of Elections
Iowa Secretary of State Office
- First Floor, Lucas Building
- 321 E 12th St
- Des Moines, Iowa 50319
- Phone: 515-281-0145
- Toll free: 1-888-767-8683
- Fax: 515-281-4682
- Email: sos@sos.iowa.gov
- Website: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/
Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board
- Jessie Parker Building
- 510 E. 12th St, Suite 1A
- Des Moines, Iowa 50319
- Phone: 515-281-4028
- Fax: 515-281-4073
- Email: ethicsboard@iowa.gov
- Website: https://ethics.iowa.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/
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Iowa campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
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, "Super PACs can spend unlimited amounts on elections, but must disclose their donors," accessed May 21, 2015
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Limits on Contributions to Candidates 2023-2024 Election Cycle," accessed May 8, 2025
- ↑ Iowa Code, "Title II, Chapter 68A, Section 401," accessed July 18, 2025
- ↑ Iowa Code, "Title II, Chapter 68A, Section 202," accessed July 18, 2025
- ↑ Iowa Code, "Title II, Chapter 68A, Section 201," accessed July 18, 2025
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Iowa Code, "Title II, Chapter 68A, Section 402," accessed July 18, 2025
- ↑ Iowa Code, "Title II, Chapter 68A, Section 402A," accessed July 18, 2025
- ↑ Iowa Administrative Code, "Rule 351—4.25(68A,68B)," accessed July 19, 2025
- ↑ Iowa Code, "Title II, Chapter 68A, Section 302," accessed July 18, 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.
