The State Elections Enforcement Commission has decided it will continue to limit the amount of money an individual can contribute to a candidate or committee, but in light of a recent Supreme Court decision it won’t be able to enforce aggregate contribution limits.
“The Commission will not enforce the aggregate contribution limits from individuals to various committees . . . unless it receives further guidance from the legislature or a court of competent jurisdiction.”
The SEEC ruling is in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in McCutcheon v. Federal Elections Commission.
The court’s decision removes the overall cap on contributions, but it does not impact the “base limits” on individual contributions.
Currently, individuals may contribute up to $2,600 per election to a federal candidate, $10,000 per calendar year to a state party committee, $32,400 per calendar year to a national party committee, and $5,000 per calendar year to a PAC.
In Connecticut, it’s $3,500 for a gubernatorial candidate, $2,000 for a constitutional officer, $1,000 for a chief elected municipal officer, probate judge, or state Senator, and $250 for state Representative candidates.
None of those limits will be changed, according to the commission’s ruling. The only limit that will be lifted based on the ruling is Connecticut’s $30,000 aggregate contribution limit for any single election or primary.
SEEC Chairman Anthony Castagna has said that he was confident that Connecticut’s clean election system would withstand the court decision.
