FEC Adjusts Political Contribution Limits for 2021-2022 Election Cycle
Date: February 8, 2021
By:
James A. Kahl
The amount that individuals and non-multicandidate PACs can give to federal candidates has been increased by $100 to $2900 per election to each federal candidate. Since primary and general election contests are viewed as separate “elections,” an individual or a non-multicandidate PAC may now contribute a total of $5800 to a federal candidate.
In addition, individuals and non-multicandidate PACs can now give up to $36,500 per year to each national party committee (up from $35,500). They can also give up to $109,500 per year (up from $106,500) to each of the national party committee accounts for presidential nominating conventions, election recount and legal proceedings, and national party headquarters buildings. The $5,000 per year limit on contributions by individuals and non-multicandidate PACs to other PACs is not affected.
Contribution limits for larger PACs are not readjusted each election cycle. As a result, “multicandidate” PACs – those with 51 or more contributors that have contributed to 5 or more federal candidates – can still contribute $5,000 per candidate per election, $15,000 per year to a national party committee, $5,000 per year to other PACs, and $45,000 per year to each of the national party special accounts.
The FEC also adjusted the reporting threshold for candidates, leadership PACs and political parties that receive lobbyist bundled contributions. Now, they must report contributions aggregated by a lobbyist if they exceed $19,300 during an applicable reporting period.
The 2021-2022 contribution chart is available here.
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