FEC Releases Increased Contribution Limits for the 2025-2026 Election Cycle
By: Matthew Petersen, Michael Bayes, Timothy E. Kronquist, and Andrew D. Watkins
Today, the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) released increased contribution limits for the 2025-2026 election cycle. The increased limits apply to contributions from individuals and non-multicandidate PACs to federal candidates and national party committees, as well as to certain specialized accounts established by national party committees.
The new contribution limits are:
Individual and Non-multicandidate PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates
The limit on contributions made by individuals and non-multicandidate PACs to federal candidates increased to $3,500 per election, an increase of $200 per election from last cycle. The previous limit was $3,300 per election. The new candidate limit applies to the two-year cycle leading up to the 2026 general election.
Couples making joint contributions may now contribute up to $7,000 per election to a federal candidate, or a combined $14,000 for the primary and general elections.
Individual and Non-multicandidate PAC Contributions to National Party Committees
The limit on contributions made by individuals and by non-multicandidate PACs to national party committees increased to $44,300 per year, up $3,000 since last cycle. The previous limit was $41,300 per year. The new limit applies to contributions made during the 2025 and 2026 calendar years.
Contributions to Special National Party Committee Accounts
The limit on contributions made to certain accounts established by national party committees related to presidential nominating conventions, election recounts and other legal proceedings, and headquarters buildings was also increased. The new limits on contributions to each of these accounts by individuals and by non-multicandidate PACs is $132,900 per calendar year. These limits apply to contributions made during the 2025 and 2026 calendar years.
Contributions from Individuals
Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold Increased
In addition, the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold for 2025 was set at $23,300, up from $22,700 last year. As a general matter, a federal campaign committee, Leadership PAC, or party committee is required to file disclosure reports detailing “bundled contributions” received from, or credited to, a federal lobbyist, registrant, or lobbyist/registrant PAC if those bundled contributions exceed the $23,300 threshold during a reporting period. Reportable bundled contributions are disclosed on FEC Form 3L.
What This Means
The increased contribution limits will have an immediate impact on all federal candidate committees and national party committees. All affected committees should review their fundraising and donor materials, as well as their joint fundraising agreements and notices, to ensure these materials reflect the increased limits.
