Affiliation Rules for State and Local Political Party Committees
Summary
The Federal Election Commission published guidance explaining affiliation rules between state and local political party committees. State and local party committees within the same state are presumed affiliated, meaning all contributions received and made by local committees count against the state committee's limits. The combined entities may receive up to $10,000 per calendar year from any single individual or non-multicandidate committee contributor, and may contribute no more than $5,000 per election to a candidate if the state party has qualified as a multicandidate committee.
“That is, all contributions received and made by local party committees count against the state committee's limits.”
What changed
The FEC published an informational update describing the affiliation presumption between state and local political party committees within the same state. When affiliated, all contributions to local committees aggregate toward the state committee's limits. The update clarifies two key thresholds: a $10,000 annual combined limit per individual or non-multicandidate committee contributor, and a $5,000 combined limit per candidate per election for multicandidate committees.
Political party committees and their treasurers should assess whether their state and local entities are properly registered as affiliated entities under FEC rules. Misunderstanding affiliation status could result in exceeding contribution limits, which are enforced by the FEC. Committees should maintain clear records distinguishing affiliated versus independent party entities to ensure compliance with aggregate thresholds.
Archived snapshot
Apr 20, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
A state party committee and the registered local party committees within that state are presumed to be affiliated. That is, all contributions received and made by local party committees count against the state committee’s limits. This means that the state committee and local committees together may receive a maximum of $10,000 per calendar year from any one individual or non-multicandidate committee contributor. Similarly, the state committee and local committees together may not contribute more than $5,000 to a candidate per election, assuming the state party committee has qualified as a multicandidate committee. Visit the Commission’s Affiliation between party committees page for more information.
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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.
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