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 January
| Rank | Committee | City | Amount | Median Contribution Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uber Innovation Political Action Committee | Sacramento | $25,010,212 | $9,602 |
| 2 | Californians for Fair Pay and Employer Accountability, sponsored by farmers, small businesses, independent restaurants and nonprofit organizations | Sacramento | $10,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| 3 | California Democratic Party | Sacramento | $1,824,450 | $22,750 |
| 4 | California Apartment Association Issues Committee | Sacramento | $1,531,800 | $478,000 |
| 5 | ActBlue California | Somerville | $1,259,231 | $250 |
| 6 | Charter Public Schools Political Action Committee, sponsored by California Charter Schools Association Advocates | Sacramento | $751,751 | $740,900 |
| 7 | Opportunity - A coalition of teachers, health care givers, faculty members, school employees, and public and private employee organizations, PAC | Sacramento | $725,000 | $150,000 |
| 8 | D. R. I. V. E. - Dem, Representative, Ind Voter Education | Washington | $708,300 | $708,300 |
| 9 | California Republican Party - State | Sacramento | $564,747 | $12,500 |
| 10 | San Diego County Democratic Party | San Diego | $475,758 | $100 |
| 11 | Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Issues, PAC | Oakland | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| 12 | Families & Teachers United, sponsored by California Charter Schools Association Advocates | Sacramento | $327,172 | $19,000 |
| 13 | California Alliance, a coalition of consumer attorneys, conservationists and food and commercial workers | Los Angeles | $325,000 | $162,500 |
| 14 | Josh Newman for Senate 2024 | Fullerton | $304,944 | $933 |
| 15 | California Business Properties Association Issues, PAC | Sacramento | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| 16 | Million More Voters, Sponsored by the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO | Sacramento | $251,287 | $207 |
| 17 | Soria for Assembly 2024 | Sacramento | $140,496 | $2,500 |
| 18 | Toni Atkins for Lieutenant Governor 2026 | San Diego | $125,800 | $9,100 |
| 19 | Rob Bonta for CA Attorney General 2026 | Alameda | $124,300 | $5,000 |
| 20 | International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Political Action Together Legislative & Educational Committee | Hanover | $122,127 | $122,127 |
| 21 | Women in Power | Sacramento | $114,900 | $17,450 |
| 22 | Fund Her, PAC | Sacramento | $105,500 | $150 |
| 23 | National Union of Healthcare Workers Candidate Committee for Quality Patient Care and Union Democracy | Emeryville | $102,265 | $51,132 |
| 24 | International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21 Issues, PAC | San Francisco | $100,673 | $100,673 |
| 25 | Fiona Ma for Lieutenant Governor 2026 | Sacramento | $90,628 | $9,100 |
| 26 | Standing Committee on Political Education of the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO | Sacramento | $86,059 | $192 |
| 27 | California Republican Leadership Fund | Laguna Niguel | $67,500 | $33,750 |
| 27 | Sacramento County Republican Party - Non Federal | Sacramento | $67,500 | $33,750 |
| 29 | HDR Employee Owners Pac, Inc. | Omaha | $62,034 | $62,034 |
| 30 | Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Political Committee | Livermore | $60,245 | $11 |
| 31 | Building a Healthy Future for CA Facilitated by Agricultural Council of CA | Sacramento | $56,938 | $56,938 |
| 32 | Limon for Senate 2024 | Santa Barbara | $51,400 | $1,750 |
| 33 | Josh Becker for Senate 2024 | Sacramento | $51,150 | $625 |
| 34 | Revive & Thrive California: A Ballot Measure Committee Controlled by Assemblyman James Gallagher | Sacramento | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| 35 | Matt Haney for Assembly 2024 | Oakland | $47,600 | $3,500 |
| 36 | Eli Lilly and Company Political Action Committee | Indianapolis | $47,356 | $47,356 |
| 37 | Santa Barbara County Republican Party | Carpinteria | $46,000 | $7,500 |
| 38 | Fresno County Democratic Central Committee | Lakeport | $45,500 | $45,500 |
| 39 | Lena Gonzalez for Senate 2024 | Sacramento | $42,300 | $1,000 |
| 40 | Angelo Farooq for State Senate 2024 | Encino | $41,700 | $5,500 |
| 41 | Re-Elect Scott Wiener for State Senate 2024 | Oakland | $41,421 | $200 |
| 42 | Mendocino County Democratic Party | Ukiah | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| 42 | Del Norte County Democratic Central Committee | Sacramento | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| 42 | SLO County Democratic Party | Sacramento | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| 45 | Sharon Quirk-Silva for Assembly 2024 | Sacramento | $39,500 | $100 |
| 46 | Consumer Attorneys of California Political Action Committee | Sacramento | $39,051 | $800 |
| 47 | Dave Cortese for Senate 2024 | San Jose | $37,700 | $1,000 |
| 48 | Stern for Senate 2024 | Sacramento | $36,500 | $300 |
| 49 | Friends of Solache for Assembly 2024 | Long Beach | $35,700 | $100 |
| 50 | Teamsters Local 396, PAC | Covina | $32,733 | $32,733 |
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
Standing Committee on Political Education of the California Labor Federation Afl-Cio• California Republican Party - State• Building A Healthy Future for CA Facilitated by Agricultural Council of CA• Uber Innovation Political Action Committee• California Business Properties Association Issues, PAC• Charter Public Schools Political Action Committee, sponsored by California Charter Schools Association Advocates• Million More Voters, Sponsored By The California Labor Federation, Afl-Cio• Revive & Thrive California: A Ballot Measure Committee Controlled by Assemblyman James Gallagher• Californians for Fair Pay and Employer Accountability, Sponsored by Farmers, Small Businesses, Independent Restaurants and Nonprofit Organizations• California Apartment Association Issues Committee• California Democratic Party• Fund Her PAC• Families & Teachers United, sponsored by California Charter Schools Association Advocates
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