State-Level Campaign Finance
How campaign finance varies wildly across US states, creating a patchwork of rules where some states are virtual free-for-alls and others impose strict limits.
Fifty Different Systems
While federal campaign finance law gets the most attention, state-level rules govern the vast majority of elected officials in America: governors, state legislators, attorneys general, judges, and local officeholders. And these rules vary enormously. Some states impose strict contribution limits, mandatory disclosure, and public financing. Others have virtually no restrictions at all.
Eleven states have no limits on individual contributions to candidates: Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. In these states, a single donor can give millions directly to a candidate. At the other extreme, states like Montana, Maine, and Connecticut have low contribution limits and robust public financing programs that demonstrably change who runs for office.