Skip to content

Menu

LexBlog, Inc. logo
NetworkSub-MenuBrowse by SubjectBrowse by PublisherJoin the NetworkGet StartedSubscribeSupportContact
Search
Close

Inflation Hits the FEC:  Contribution Limits for 2023-2024 Raised in the Largest Periodic Increase Ever

By Derek Lawlor, Zachary G. Parks & Alex Langton on February 2, 2023
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn

The Federal Election Commission has announced contribution limits for 2023-2024.  The new “per election” limits are effective for the 2023-2024 election cycle (November 9, 2022 – November 5, 2024), and the calendar year limits are effective January 1, 2023. The new limits represent the largest election cycle increase since the limits started being indexed for inflation in the 2003-2004 election cycle.

The FEC increased the amount an individual can contribute to a candidate to $3,300 per election, up from $2,900.  Because the primary and general count as separate elections, individuals may give $6,600 per candidate per cycle.

The limit on contributions from individuals to national party committees also increased from $36,500 to $41,300 per year.  This increase also affects the limit on contributions to additional specialized accounts of the party committees, which were first allowed through legislation passed in 2014.  Each of these accounts can receive contributions that are triple the amount that can be given to the main party account, or $123,900 per account per year.  These accounts can be used to pay for expenses related to presidential nominating conventions, headquarters buildings of the party, and election recounts, contests, and other legal proceedings.

The following chart shows more details on the limits for individuals in 2023 and 2024:

An individual may contribute to …
Federal Candidates$3,300per election
National party committees — main account$41,300per year
National party committees — convention account (RNC and DNC only)$123,900per year
National party committees — party building account$123,900per year
National party committees — legal fund account$123,900per year
State or local party committees’ federal accounts$10,000per year
Federal PACs$5,000per year
Photo of Derek Lawlor Derek Lawlor

Derek Lawlor is of counsel in the firm’s Election and Political Law Practice Group. Derek advises corporations, nonprofit organizations, and trade associations on compliance with federal and state lobbying, campaign finance, and government ethics laws.

Clients regularly rely on Derek to assist with…

Derek Lawlor is of counsel in the firm’s Election and Political Law Practice Group. Derek advises corporations, nonprofit organizations, and trade associations on compliance with federal and state lobbying, campaign finance, and government ethics laws.

Clients regularly rely on Derek to assist with their complex questions related to activities and projects that implicate all of these laws. Derek advises federal and state candidates and super PACs on campaign finance and disclosure issues. Derek also represents clients in government investigations and inquiries conducted by the Federal Election Commission, Office of Congressional Ethics, and Congressional Committees and Commissions.

Derek’s representation of clients covers the full range of important political law issues that they face, including:

Advising clients on their registration and reporting obligations under the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act, as well as state and local lobbying laws, including helping client organizations evaluate the core questions that arise in this space:

Has the organization or any of its employees triggered lobbying registration requirements?
What lobbying income, expenditures, issues, or contacts need to be disclosed on lobbying reports?
Does procurement or sales activity directed at governmental entities trigger lobbying registration in a particular jurisdiction?
What are the best practices for designing a lobbying compliance program?

Assisting corporations and trade associations with the establishment and operation of connected PACs, which frequently entails evaluating the following questions:

What steps does the organization need to take to start up and register a connected PAC?
What are the ongoing reporting requirements under the Federal Election Campaign Act (“FECA”) or state campaign finance laws?
Which employees can the organization solicit and what are the rules on conducting a solicitation campaign?
What are the limits on making contributions to federal, state, or local candidates, party committees, or other political committees?
What are the best practices for designing a PAC compliance program?

Evaluating whether a client’s proposed activities might trigger registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”), and if so, advising on registration and ongoing reporting obligations;
Advising federal and state candidates, super PACs, and other political committees on compliance with FECA, FEC regulations and reporting requirements, state campaign finance laws, rules on disclaimers placed on communications, and other political law compliance topics;
Counseling individuals who are entering government service, including Senate-confirmed positions, on the various financial disclosure requirements, conflicts of interest considerations, and other ethics law issues they may face;
Helping clients establish politically active or policy-focused nonprofit organizations, and proving ongoing support related to tax and political law issues that might arise from their activities; and
Advising corporations, nonprofits, and individuals on their proposed donations to candidates, political committees, and other politically active outside groups.

Derek was a Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School from 2015-2025.

Prior to receiving his law degree, Derek worked in the Office of General Counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives.

Read more about Derek LawlorEmail
Show more Show less
Photo of Zachary G. Parks Zachary G. Parks

Zachary Parks advises corporations, trade associations, campaigns, and high-net worth individuals on their most important and challenging political law problems.

Chambers USA describes Zachary as “highly regarded by his clients in the political law arena,” noting that clients praised him as their “go-to…

Zachary Parks advises corporations, trade associations, campaigns, and high-net worth individuals on their most important and challenging political law problems.

Chambers USA describes Zachary as “highly regarded by his clients in the political law arena,” noting that clients praised him as their “go-to outside attorney for election law, campaign finance, pay-to-play and PAC issues.” Zachary is also a leading lawyer in the emerging corporate political disclosure field, regularly advising corporations on these issues.

Zachary’s expertise includes the Federal Election Campaign Act, the Lobbying Disclosure Act, the Ethics in Government Act, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s pay-to-play rules. He has also helped clients comply with the election and political laws of all 50 states. Zachary also frequently leads political law due diligence for investment firms and corporations during mergers and acquisitions.

He routinely advises corporations and corporate executives on instituting political law compliance programs and conducts compliance training for senior corporate executives and lobbyists. He also has extensive experience conducting corporate internal investigations concerning campaign finance and lobbying law compliance and has defended his political law clients in investigations by the Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, Congressional committees, and in litigation.

Zachary is also the founder and chair of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society’s Political and Election Law Section.

Zachary also has extensive complex litigation experience, having litigated major environmental claims, class actions, and multi-district proceedings for financial institutions, corporations, and public entities.

From 2005 to 2006, Zachary was a law clerk for Judge Thomas B. Griffith on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Read more about Zachary G. ParksEmail
Show more Show less
Photo of Alex Langton Alex Langton

Alex Langton is an associate in Covington’s Election and Political Law Practice Group in the firm’s Washington, DC office. Her practice focuses on representing corporations, nonprofit organizations, public officials, and individuals in high-stakes matters involving legal, political, and reputational risk. She routinely counsels…

Alex Langton is an associate in Covington’s Election and Political Law Practice Group in the firm’s Washington, DC office. Her practice focuses on representing corporations, nonprofit organizations, public officials, and individuals in high-stakes matters involving legal, political, and reputational risk. She routinely counsels clients in matters arising from investigations and enforcement actions by the Department of Justice, the Federal Election Commission, congressional committees, and state regulatory authorities, as well as related internal investigations.

Alex advises clients on compliance with federal and state campaign finance, ethics, and lobbying laws, including sensitive matters arising from government transitions, political appointments, and engagements involving current or former public officials.

Alex has particular expertise in the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and is deeply involved in all aspects of FARA compliance and enforcement. She regularly interacts with the Department of Justice’s FARA Unit and advises clients on the design, implementation, and maintenance of sophisticated FARA compliance programs, including internal policies, tailored training programs, and registration and reporting obligations. She also represents clients in high-profile civil and criminal FARA enforcement matters, including internal investigations, retroactive registrations, and disputes with the government. Alex also regularly advises on compliance with federal gift rules and the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), including the complex interplay between the LDA and FARA.

Alex is one of the few experts in the country on state, or “baby FARA,” laws and how they interact with the federal FARA statute.

She has been quoted in national publications regarding FARA, including Politico, Bloomberg, The National Law Journal, and Global News. She has also written and speaks often on FARA issues.

Read more about Alex LangtonEmail
Show more Show less
  • Posted in:
    Government and Public Policy
  • Blog:
    Inside Political Law
  • Organization:
    Covington & Burling LLP
  • Article: View Original Source

Call us at 1-800-913-0988 or email sales@lexblog.com.

Facebook LinkedIn Twitter RSS
The Library at LexBlog
  • About LexBlog
  • The Field We Built
  • Library at LexBlog
  • Our Beliefs
  • Our Team
  • Contact LexBlog
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Get Started
  • Publishing Solutions
  • Compass
  • Submit a Request
  • Support Center
  • System Status
Copyright © 2026, LexBlog, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Law blog design & platform by LexBlog LexBlog Logo