Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Transfers of federal funds to state campaign accounts
From Ballotpedia
This article does not receive scheduled updates. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. Contact our team to suggest an update.
Last updated: 2018
Federal campaign finance law prohibits candidates for federal office from transferring funds from state campaign accounts to federal accounts. However, federal law does not prohibit transfers from federal campaign accounts to state accounts. Laws governing such transfers vary from state to state.[1]
State policies governing transfers of federal funds to state campaign accounts
| State policies governing transfers of federal funds to state campaign accounts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Can federal funds be contributed or transferred to state campaign accounts? | Notes | Source[2] |
| Alabama | Yes | A candidate campaign committee cannot accept in excess of $1,000 from the campaign committee of a federal candidate. | Section 17-5-15.1 |
| Alaska | No | ||
| Arizona | Yes | "A candidate committee may transfer unlimited contributions to any one or more other candidate committees for that same candidate." State and local exceptions apply, but there appear to be no constraints on federal transfers. | Section 16-913 |
| Arkansas | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Section7-6-203 |
| California | Yes | ||
| Colorado | No | Funds cannot be transferred from a federal campaign account to any candidate committee subject to the Fair Campaign Practices Act. | Campaign Finance Rule 2.2.4 (c)(3) |
| Connecticut | No | "A candidate committee shall not receive contributions from any national committee or from a committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office." | Section 9-616 |
| Delaware | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Title 15, Chapter 80, Subchapter II |
| Florida | No | ||
| Georgia | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Section 21-5-41 |
| Hawaii | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Section 11-357 |
| Idaho | Yes | ||
| Illinois | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | |
| Indiana | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Title 3, Article 9, Chapter 2 |
| Iowa | Yes | Federal committee contributions to state committees are subject to regular restrictions. | Section 68A.201A |
| Kansas | No | ||
| Kentucky | No | "Candidates may not accept a contribution ... which is made from funds in a federal campaign account." | Candidate guide |
| Louisiana | Yes | Contributions are subject to regular limits. | Candidate guide |
| Maine | Yes | ||
| Maryland | Yes | A $6,000 limit applies. | |
| Massachusetts | No | ||
| Michigan | Yes | "A federal candidate committee cannot transfer funds to a Michigan State House, State Senate, local or judicial office whose contribution limit is below $6,800.00 per cycle because the federal contribution limits are higher. A federal candidate committee may transfer funds to a state/local candidate committee if the contribution limit is $6,800.00." | Candidate guide |
| Minnesota | No | Candidate guides | |
| Mississippi | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | |
| Missouri | No | Candidate guide | |
| Montana | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | |
| Nebraska | Yes | ||
| Nevada | Yes | ||
| New Hampshire | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Section 664:4 |
| New Jersey | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Section 19:44A-11.3 |
| New Mexico | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Section 1-19-34.7 |
| New York | Unknown or unclear | According to the Public Information Office of the New York State Board of Elections, "The Counsel's office is drafting an opinion on this issue. It it is not finished." | |
| North Carolina | Yes | Candidate guide | |
| North Dakota | Yes | Section 16.1-08.1-03.7 | |
| Ohio | Yes | Section 3517.107 | |
| Oklahoma | No | "A candidate committee shall not accept a contribution from the authorized committee of a candidate for federal office." | Rule 2.30 |
| Oregon | Yes | ||
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Corporate funds contributed to the federal committee could not be transferred to a state committee, as state law prohibits corporate donations. | |
| Rhode Island | No | ||
| South Carolina | Yes | Contributions are subject to regular limits. | Advisory Opinion 92-13 and Section 8-13-1314 |
| South Dakota | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Contribution limits |
| Tennessee | No | Section 2-10-119 | |
| Texas | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Title 15, Chapter 253 |
| Utah | Yes | ||
| Vermont | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Section 2941 |
| Virginia | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | Section 24.2-947.3:1 |
| Washington | Yes | The campaign must obtain approval from each contributor before transferring the funds. | |
| West Virginia | Unknown or unclear | There does not appear to be an explicit prohibition against these types of contributions in state statutes. | |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Contribution limits are the same as those that apply to PACs. | |
| Wyoming | Yes | ||
See also
State and local candidates for political office must adhere to the campaign finance laws in force in their particular states. Click on a state below to learn more about campaign finance requirements for political candidates in that state.
- Federal Election Commission
- Election policy on Ballotpedia
- Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
Footnotes
