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 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
- ›
      FEC Record: Advisory opinions
- ›
      AO 2014-03: Campaign may run ads supporting nonfederal candidates

FEC Record: Advisory opinionsAO 2014-03: Campaign may run ads supporting nonfederal candidatesMay 2, 2014 A federal candidate may spend unlimited campaign funds on advertisements that promote both his own candidacy and the election of candidates for state and local office.  **Background** Edward Lindsey, a House candidate in the 11th Congressional District of Georgia, plans to spend campaign funds on television and other advertisements that expressly advocate both his own election and the election of certain state and local candidates who will appear on the same ballot. The candidate states that his campaign will not coordinate these expenditures with the state and local candidates and will comply with all applicable federal and state campaign finance laws.   **Analysis** Federal candidates have wide discretion with respect to campaign spending. The Act and Commission regulations permit candidates to use contributions for otherwise authorized expenditures in unlimited amounts in connection with their campaigns for federal office. However, personal use of campaign funds is prohibited. See 2 U.S.C. § 439a(a) and (b); 11 CFR 113.2.  Moreover, there is no limit on the amount of lawful campaign funds that a candidate may spend advocating his own election. *See Buckley v. Valeo*, 424 U.S. 1, 55-58 (1976). Furthermore, because all of the funds at issue would be spent directly by the campaign committee, the Commission assumed that the funds would comply with the amount and source limits of the Act and Commission regulations. Applying those provisions, the Commission concluded that Lindsey for Congress’s proposed use of unlimited campaign funds for ads supporting Mr. Lindsey’s campaign as well as those of state and local candidates is permissible, provided that the portions related to state and local candidates also comply with state law. *Date issued: 4/14/2014; Length: 4 pages.* **Resources:** Advisory Opinion 2014-03 [PDF]
 Author
          Alex  Knott


Read next: FEC cites committee for failure to file April Quarterly financial report (2014)
 Related: Explore campaign finance data »


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
          Accessibility statement
          Strategy, budget and performance
 No FEAR Act
          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
 This information is produced and disseminated at U.S. taxpayer expense.


Hide glossary Glossary Search terms