The voluntary Campaign Finance Program helps candidates by providing matching funds to candidates who qualify. Candidates running for city office must comply with the Campaign Finance Act and CFB Rules, abide by a strict spending limit, and meet eligibility criteria to be able to receive public funds.
Local Law 128 expanded the 2018 New York City Charter revisions related to the Program, beginning with the 2021 elections. Effective July 14, 2019, these changes:
- increased the matching rate on contributions from New York City residents
- increased the maximum matchable amount for citywide offices
- lowered the contribution limits
- increased the amount of public funds candidates may receive per election
- made public funds available as early as December of the calendar year preceding the election year
Note: The Campaign Finance Act requires that contribution and expenditure limits be adjusted every four years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The public funds maximums and caps are based on the expenditure limit, so they are also adjusted. These new limits and maximums are reflected below and will be applicable for the entire election cycle.
Program Participants
|
Office |
Contribution Limit |
Matching Rate |
Maximum Matchable Per Contributor |
Maximum Public Funds Per Contributor |
Maximum Public Funds Per Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mayor |
$2,100 |
$8-to-$1 |
$250 |
$2,000 |
$7,050,667 |
|
|
$2,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
Borough President |
$1,600 |
$175 |
$1,400 |
$1,586,667 |
|
|
City Council |
$1,050 |
$175 |
$1,400 |
$184,000 |
Non-Participant Contribution Limits
|
Office |
Non-Participant |
|---|---|
|
Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller |
$3,700 |
|
Borough President |
$2,650 |
|
City Council |
$1,600 |
Candidates must join the Campaign Finance Program and meet the following criteria to be eligible to receive public funds:
- Be in compliance with the Campaign Finance Act and CFB Rules, including abiding by a strict spending limit.
- Certify into the Program using the CFB's online registration system, which is accessed using the CFB Portal.
- Meet a two-part financial threshold.
- Submit a personal financial disclosure statement to the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB).
- Be on the ballot and face an opponent on the ballot.
The first public funds payments are made as early as December 15th in the year before the election. Candidates who receive an early public funds payment may be required to return public funds if they:
- Terminate their candidacies prior to the petitioning period;
- Fail to get on the ballot in the primary and/or general election;
- Fail to gather and submit petitions; or
- Eventually do not face opposition on the ballot.
For more information on public funds, see Chapter 6 of the Campaign Finance Handbook.
Your assigned Candidate Services Liaison will send you alerts and reminders about filings and answer questions you have regarding public funds payments during the election cycle.