This is a summary of the California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative which will be on the November ballot. This document has been linked to our glossary, The Basics of Campaign Finance Reform. If you need a further explanation of any of the items listed below, follow the link to the glossary provided in each section.

Individual Contribution Limits

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative would place a $250 limit on what anyone (including PACs, corporations, and unions) could give to a candidate for a legislative race in any election.

Candidates for Governor and other statewide offices would be limited to receiving $500.

Candidates in local races would be limited to receiving $100 for offices that represent less than 100,000 people and $250 for offices that represent 100,000 people or more.

California currenty has no individual contribution limits for legislative or statewide primary or general elections.

Glossary

Aggregate Contribution Limits

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative would place a $25,000 limit on the total amount that any individual, PAC, corporation, or union could give to all candidates combined.

It would also limit the amount that candidate's could raise from PACs to 25% of their spending limit for that race.

It would also limit the amount that candidate's could raise from political parties to 25% of their spending limit for that race.

California currently has no aggregate contribution limits.

Candidate to Candidate Transfers

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative would ban all candidate to candidate transfers.

California currently has no limits or restrictions on candidate to candidate transfers.

Glossary

Off-Year Fundraising

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative would ban off-year fundraising.

Candidates for legislative and local offices could not begin raising funds until six months prior to the primary election.

Candidates for statewide offices could not begin raising funds until twelve months prior to the primary election.

California currently has no limits on when contributions can be received.

Glossary

Bundling

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative would ban bundling by placing strict limits on who could receive funds in the name of a candidate.

California currently has no limit on the practice of bundling.

Glossary

Spending Limits

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative would impose voluntary spending limits on legislative and statewide elections. These voluntary limits would cap spending at about 80% of the current median spending levels for open seat races.

Candidates would be given the following incentives to accept spending limits:

Variable Contribution Limits

Individual contribution limits would be doubled for those candidates who agree to spending limits. For example, candidates for the Legislature normally could accept up to $250 from individuals. This limit would be raised to $500 if the candidate accepted spending limits.

Disclosure

Candidates who accept spending limits, will be noted in the California Ballot Information Pamphlet. Candidates are also allowed to highlight their acceptance of spending limits in their campaign advertising and literature.

Ballot Pamphet Access

Candidates who accept spending limits would be provided space in the California Ballot Information Pamphlet, which is sent to all registered voters, at no charge.

California currently has no spending limits in any statewide or legislative race. Some cities have implemented voluntary spending limits for local elections.

Glossary

Independent Expenditures

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative would place a $250 limit on contributions to independent expenditure committees.

Glossary

Public Financing

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative provides no public funding of candidates.

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative does provide public funding of voter information about candidates through the California Ballot Information Pamphlet.

Glossary

Soft Money

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative would close the soft money loophole in California by placing a $5,000 limit on contributions to political parties.

Glossary

Disclosure

The California Campaign Finance Reform Initiative would improve a candidate's disclosure of contributions in several ways.

Candidates would be required to obtain disclosure information before they could deposit contributions.

Sponsors of candidate advertising would be clearly identified. Advertisements would be required to list their true source of funding (rather than the "Committee for Good Government," whoever they are).

Candidates who did not agree to accept spending limits would be clearly identified.

Glossary