How Lawmakers Leaving Office Can Use Leftover Campaign Funds

Legislators who have resigned or are retiring after 2018 have transferred $210,000 to other committees since June 1, including the contributions mentioned below. The vast majority of the funds transferred to other committees, $146,000, went to elected officials running for office in 2018. The other $64,000 was transferred to political party committees and PACs.

When spending down their accounts, former politicians and elected officials often transfer money to candidates who share their vision, supporting party organizations, or other political groups. While some people choose to keep their accounts open indefinitely, others transfer money out of their account in preparation of closing it down.

Already, there have been some large transfers by outgoing legislators.The largest transfer was from former State Rep. Elaine Nekritz to gubernatorial candidate and State Sen. Daniel Biss for $80,000. Nekritz, who recently left office, was able to transfer more than the $55,400 limit because contribution limits for the gubernatorial race have been lifted.

Other large transfers were made by former Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, who resigned in July, and State Rep. Emily McAsey, who resigned in June. McAsey made contributions totaling $55,000 to several General Assembly members running in 2018. Radogno transferred $37,000 to the Senate Republican Campaign Committee shortly after leaving the General Assembly.

For example, in Colorado, candidate committees are prohibited from transferring campaign funds to other candidate committees. In Arizona, laws are slightly less restrictive, generally allowing elected officials to transfer funds to other candidate committees if they are closing their committee and not running for re-election. However, Arizona politicians can only transfer within the personal contribution limit of $5,100.

On the other end of the spectrum, some states do not limit transfers between candidates at all. Candidates in Oregon are allowed to transfer unlimited funds to other candidates in the state, as long as the transfer is disclosed.

Between these extremes, many states allow some transfers of campaign funds while a candidate is still running or in office, but with limits. California, New York, and Illinois are all in this category. While Illinois law allows larger transfers, California and New York both restrict political candidates to contribution limits for individuals when making transfers. These limits range from $4,400 to $44,000 depending on the office and type of election.

The ability of candidates to keep campaign committees open indefinitely represents a unique feature of Illinois campaign finance law when compared to other large states, like California. In Illinois, former elected officials can hold onto tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions they have collected over the years and continue to exert influence over politics for years after they leave public office. In contrast, California politicians are required to close their committees 60 days after losing an election or leaving office.

California’s requirement to close old campaign committees ensures political contributions are always attributable to a specific race. Furthermore, when candidates form a new committee, this notifies the public of the funds they have remaining and where those funds could be going. Making these disclosures is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in the campaign finance process, which provides important information for voters, journalists, and the general public.