The Federal Election Commission announced updated contribution limits for the 2025-2026 election cycle:
Key Changes:
- Individuals may now donate $3,500 per election to federal candidates—a more than 6% increase from the 2024 election. The primary and general elections are considered separate elections for these purposes. Married couples may contribute up to $7,000 per election.
- Individuals can give more to political parties too. For individual contributions to national party committees, the annual limit has increased from $41,300 to $44,300. Special party accounts for presidential nominating conventions, election recounts and legal proceedings, and national party headquarters buildings may accept additional amounts. For each of these three accounts, the contribution limits have increased from $123,900 to $132,900 per account, per year.
A printable chart published by the FEC with all of the changes may be found here.
The new candidate limits are retroactive to November 6, 2024 and apply through November 3, 2026. All other limits are effective for the two-year period beginning January 1, 2025, and ending December 31, 2026.
Bigger Picture:
Because these contribution limits are adjusted for inflation, this increase is one of the largest in a couple of decades. Nonetheless, the playing field remains uneven, with super PACs able to raise and spend unlimited (though publicly disclosed) amounts. Certain nonprofits, which some refer to as “dark money” groups, have also become a force in federal elections and are not subject to these limits.
