Your web browser is not supported You're using Internet Explorer, some features might not work. Please switch to another browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for a better experience.


An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Federal Election Commission | United States of America Calendar
           Glossary
          Search
              Search


Menu
      Home
      Campaign finance data
        All data
            Raising
            Spending
            Loans and debts
            Filings and reports
            Candidates
            Committees
            Bulk data
            Campaign finance statistics
        Find elections. Search by state or ZIP code
          Look up contributions from specific individuals
      Help for candidates and committees
        All compliance resources
            Guides
            Forms
            Dates and deadlines
            Trainings
        Learn about electronic filing
          Find and contact your committee's analyst
      Legal resources
        All legal resources
            Advisory opinions
            Enforcement
            Statutes
            Legislation
            Regulations
            Court cases
            Policy and other guidance
        Search across all legal resources
          Search guidance documents
      About
        All about the FEC
            News and announcements
            Commission meetings
            Mission and history
            Leadership and structure
            Reports about the FEC
            Careers
            Working with the FEC
            Contact
        Introduction to campaign finance and elections


- Home
- ›
        Help for candidates and committees
- ›
        Understanding public funding of presidential elections
- ›
      Complying with primary spending limits

Complying with primary spending limits To be eligible for matching funds, presidential candidates must agree to limit their spending to specified amounts. Publicly-funded primary candidates are subject to both state-by-state limits and to an overall, national ceiling.
 Read next
      Establishing eligibility to receive presidential primary matching fund payments
            
             Audits and repayment
 Spending limits
          
            Limits on expenditures from personal funds
          
            Attribution of expenditures to limit
          
            Exemptions from spending limits
          
          
            Legal citations
 Spending limits

  
  
    As part of this agreement, presidential candidates pledge to:Limit campaign spending for all primary elections combined to $10 million plus the difference in the price index (over 1974);Limit campaign spending in each state to $200,000 plus the difference in the price index, or to a specified amount based on the number of voting age individuals in the state (plus the difference in the price index), whichever is greater;Limit spending from personal funds to $50,000; andFacilitate an audit of their campaigns and make any necessary repayments.
      
      Access the presidential spending limits for 2024
      
      The Commission calculates the amounts of the expenditures attributable to the overall expenditure limit or to a particular state by using the full amounts originally charged for goods and services rendered to the committee. This does not include the amounts for which such obligations were settled and paid, unless the lower amount paid reflects a reasonable settlement of a bona fide dispute with the creditor.In addition to expenditures made by a candidate or the candidate's authorized committee(s) using their campaign funds, the Commission will attribute to the candidate's overall expenditure limitation and to the expenditure limitations of particular states the total amount of all:Coordinated expenditures;Coordinated communications that are in-kind contributions received or accepted by the candidate, the candidate's authorized committee(s), or agents;Coordinated party expenditures, including party coordinated communications that are in-kind contributions received or accepted by the candidate, the candidate's authorized committee(s), or agents, and that exceed the coordinated party expenditure limitation for the presidential general election; andOther in-kind contributions received or accepted by the candidate or the candidate's authorized committees or agents.
      
      Learn more about coordinated party expenditures
 Limits on expenditures from personal funds

  
  
    No candidate who has accepted matching funds shall knowingly make expenditures from the candidate's personal funds, or funds of his or her immediate family in connection with the candidate's campaign for nomination for election to the office of President, which exceed $50,000, in the aggregate. This does not prohibit any member of the candidate's immediate family from contributing personal funds to the candidate, subject to the contribution limits. The regulations will not limit the candidate's liability for, nor the candidate's ability to pay, any repayments required when under an audit and examination. If the candidate or the candidate's committee knowingly incurs expenditures in excess of the limitations of the presidential expenditure limits, the Commission may seek civil penalties in addition to any repayment determinations made on the basis of such excessive expenditures.
 Attribution of expenditures to limit

  
  
    Any expenditure for goods or services that are used for the primary election campaign, other than for non-qualified campaign expenses, shall be attributed to the limits set forth in the primary spending limits described on this page.PollingPolling expenses are attributed to the primary limit if the results are received on or before the date of the candidate’s nomination. If results are received from a single poll both before and after the date of the nomination, the costs must be allocated between the primary and general election limits based on the percentage of results received during each period.Overhead and salary costsPrior to the date of the last primary election in a presidential election year, overhead and salary costs incurred in connection with state or national campaign offices shall be attributed to the primary election.With regard to overhead and salary costs incurred on or after June 1 of the presidential election year, but before or on the date of nomination, the committee may attribute 15 percent of the limitation on primary-election expenditures to the general election limit.Campaign materialsCampaign materials purchased and used by the primary election campaign committee are attributed to the primary spending limits, except for those materials transferred to and used by the general election committee (which are attributed to the general spending limit).Media production costsMedia distribution costs, including such costs as air time and advertising space in newspapers, are paid for 100 percent by the primary election campaign funds when the communication is broadcast or distributed before the candidate’s nomination.For media communications that are broadcast or published both before and after the date of the candidate's nomination, 50 percent of the media production costs are attributed to the primary election limits, and 50 percent to the general election limits.Solicitation and fundraising costsThe costs of fundraising, including events and solicitation costs, are attributable to the primary spending limits if the purpose of the fundraising is to raise funds for the primary campaign. If the candidate raises funds for both the primary election and the GELAC fund in a single communication or event, the expenses will be allocated against both the primary and general election spending limits in a matter similar to joint fundraising.Communication costsThe costs of a communication that does not contain a solicitation that is broadcast, published or mailed before the date of the candidate’s nomination are attributable to the primary election limits.Travel costsIf campaign-related travel occurs on or before the date of the candidate’s nomination, the costs for campaign-related transportation, food, and lodging by any individual are attributable to the primary election limit. Travel to and from the national nominating convention is also attributable to the primary election.
      
      Learn more about paying for qualified campaign expenses
 Exemptions from spending limits

  
  
    The campaign finance law exempts the payment of some expenses from the spending limits. Certain fundraising expenses (up to 20 percent of the expenditure limit) and legal and accounting expenses incurred solely to ensure the campaign's compliance with the law do not count against the expenditure limits.Exemption for fundraising expensesCertain fundraising expenses may not exceed 20 percent of the overall expenditure limit. These fundraising expenses include the costs in connection with the solicitation of contributions. The costs in connection with the solicitation of contributions means any costs reasonably related to a fundraising activity including:Costs of printing and postage;Production of and space of air time for advertisements used for fundraising; andCosts of meals, beverages and other costs associated with a fundraising reception or dinner.Exemption for legal and accounting expensesA candidate may exclude from overall expenditure limit an amount equal to 15 percent of the overall spending limit as exempt legal and accounting compliance costs.
 Legal citations Regulations 11 CFR 100.146Legal or accounting services to other political committees 11 CFR 100.152Fundraising costs for presidential candidates 11 CFR 109.20What does "coordinated" mean? 11 CFR 109.21What is a "coordinated communication?" 11 CFR 109.21(b)Treatment as an in-kind contribution and expenditure; reporting 11 CFR 109.32(a)Coordinated party expenditures in presidential elections 11 CFR 109.37What is a "party coordinated communication?" 11 CFR Part 110Contribution and expenditure limitations and prohibitions 11 CFR 110.8Presidential candidate expenditure limitations 11 CFR 9034.4(e)Attribution of expenditures between the primary and the general election spending limits 11 CFR 9035.1Campaign expenditure limitation; compliance and fundraising exemptions 11 CFR 9035.2Limitation on expenditures from personal or family funds 11 CFR Part 9038Repayments


Related topics Icon representing a question
          Get help from the FEC by phone or email
 Help for candidates and committees
 Understanding public funding of presidential elections


This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.


About
          Careers
          Press
          Contact
   Privacy and security policy
          Plain language
          No FEAR Act
          Strategy, budget and performance
 Open government
          Protected Voices
          USA.gov
          Inspector General
          FOIA
 OpenFEC API
          GitHub repository
          Release notes
          FEC.gov status


Federal Election Commission
 The FEC's Twitter page
            The FEC's YouTube page Sign up for FECMail


Hide glossary Glossary Search terms