Effective Jan. 1, 2021, the contribution limit for North Carolina political campaigns will increase by $200, from $5,400 to $5,600. No individual or political committee may contribute more than $5,600 to a candidate committee or political committee in any election.
Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 163-278.13(b), at the beginning of each odd-numbered calendar year, the State Board of Elections is required to calculate and publish the contribution limit based on changes to the consumer price index. This change is based on the 2.8% increase in the index from July 2018 to July 2020.
A notice of the increase will be published in the Jan. 4, 2021 issue of the North Carolina Register.
There are a few exceptions to the contribution limit:
- A candidate or candidate’s spouse may contribute unlimited amounts to that candidate’s committee.
- Any national, state, district or county executive committee of any political party recognized under N.C.G.S. § 163-96 is exempt from contribution limits.
If there is a primary and a general election, the political committee may receive $5,600 from a contributor between the beginning of the election cycle and the day of the primary, and another $5,600 from the same contributor beginning the day after the primary through the end of the election year.
