Contribution Limits

Registered Voter Counts & Political Party and Caucus Campaign Committees' Contribution Amounts

Terms

Cycle = the period starting January 1 after the last general election for the office and ending December 31 after the next general election for the office.

Year = a calendar year.

Per election means each election when the candidate is on the ballot or appears as a write in candidate.

Per registered voter means the number of active registered voters in the jurisdiction as of the previous year's general election.

Non-Exempt Account is the account from which direct contributions to candidates must be made

Exempt Account expenditures are limited to authorized uses set out in RCW 42.17A.405(15) and WACs 390-17-030 and 390-17-060, Bookkeeping requirements are explained at WAC 390-17-065.

Candidates Should Know . . .

A candidate may contribute unlimited personal funds to his or her own campaign, unless the candidate registered a mini reporting campaign. Loan repayments are limited.
Contributions from the candidate's spouse and family members are subject to limits.
Any contributions received for an election in which the candidate is not on the ballot or a write-in candidate must be returned.
Contributions for the primary election must be given on or before primary election day, unless the candidate lost the election and has debt to retire. Find more information about accepting primary contributions after the election.
Active campaign funds may not be contributed to other candidates or political committees. After the election, remaining surplus funds may be transferred to a bona fide party or caucus campaign committee. These surplus funds transfers are reported as campaign expenditures.
There are no limits on contributions to local office candidates not listed here.

The PDC's Candidate Instructions explain how to process contributions received.