Political committees in California received over $1.5 billion in donations in 2022.
Political donations in the state are capped at $5,500 per election cycle for candidates running for the state legislature, such as Senators and Representatives. For gubernatorial candidates, the contribution limit is $36,400 per election cycle.
Donations made to political groups or candidates must be disclosed under state law for greater transparency in elections. While Congress created the Federal Election Commission to oversee federal elections in 1974, each state is left to regulate its local elections.
Top California Committees Ranked by Total Contributions in November
| Rank | Committee | City | Amount | Median Contribution Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Apartment Association Issues Committee | Sacramento | $5,794,262 | $7,000 |
| 2 | Rob Bonta for CA Attorney General 2026 | Alameda | $177,500 | $9,100 |
| 3 | Fiona Ma for Lieutenant Governor 2026 | Sacramento | $175,900 | $9,100 |
| 4 | Our Children, Our Future CA | Pasadena | $137,635 | $137,635 |
| 5 | Dave Cortese for Senate 2024 | San Jose | $129,400 | $5,000 |
| 6 | California Works: Senator Toni Atkins Ballot Measure Committee | San Diego | $125,000 | $62,500 |
| 7 | California Hospitals Committee on Issues | Sacramento | $111,618 | $2,279 |
| 8 | Friends of Solache for Assembly 2024 | Long Beach | $109,400 | $8,200 |
| 9 | Save Local Restaurants, a Coalition of California Small Business Owners, Restaurateurs, Franchisees, Employees, Consumers and Community-Based Organizations | San Rafael | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| 10 | Toni Atkins for Lieutenant Governor 2026 | San Diego | $67,600 | $9,100 |
| 11 | California Young Democrats, PAC | Long Beach | $50,000 | $10,000 |
| 11 | Committee to Innovate for California's Future, Evan Low Ballot Measure Committee | Sacramento | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| 13 | Efren Martinez for Assembly 2024 | Norwalk | $49,220 | $220 |
| 14 | Soria for Assembly 2024 | Sacramento | $46,838 | $4,750 |
| 15 | Re-Elect Scott Wiener for State Senate 2024 | Oakland | $44,000 | $5,500 |
| 16 | Dawn Addis for Assembly 2024 | Sacramento | $28,400 | $1,000 |
| 17 | Assemblyman Heath Flora for Safer Communities, a controlled Ballot Measure Committee | Hilmar | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| 18 | Gail Pellerin for Assembly 2024 | Sacramento | $16,400 | $3,000 |
| 19 | Josh Becker for Senate 2024 | Sacramento | $16,000 | $3,750 |
| 20 | Josh Newman for Senate 2024 | Fullerton | $15,150 | $525 |
| 21 | California's Best | Norwalk | $15,000 | $5,000 |
| 22 | Bill Dodd for Lieutenant Governor 2026 | Sacramento | $13,100 | $1,250 |
| 23 | Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh for Senate 2024 | Hilmar | $11,000 | $5,500 |
| 23 | Juan Carrillo for Assembly 2024 | Encinitas | $11,000 | $5,500 |
| 25 | Angelo Farooq for State Senate 2024 | Encino | $10,900 | $10,900 |
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