In Florida, campaign contribution limits are set by state law and depend on the office a candidate is seeking. You can give up to $3,000 per election to a candidate for statewide office or Supreme Court retention, and up to $1,000 per election to a candidate for legislative, countywide, multicounty, or judicial office. Because the primary and general elections count as separate elections, a single donor can give the maximum twice over the course of one race. Chapter 106 of the Florida Statutes controls all of this, and local governments cannot set their own caps, so the same rules apply whether the candidate is running in Miami-Dade or the Panhandle.1Florida Department of State. Campaign Finance Information
How Much You Can Give by Office
The $3,000 cap covers races for Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture, plus retention elections for the Florida Supreme Court. A Governor and Lieutenant Governor running on the same ticket are treated as one candidate, so the $3,000 covers both together.2Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 106.08 – Campaign Contributions
The $1,000 cap applies to state House and Senate races, county commission seats, circuit and county court judges, and district court of appeal retention elections.
Retention races work differently on the doubling question. There is no primary in a retention election, only a yes-or-no vote at the general, so the limit applies just once. A donor’s total ceiling is $3,000 for a Supreme Court justice’s retention or $1,000 for a lower-court retention.2Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 106.08 – Campaign Contributions
One boundary worth noting: these limits do not restrict what a candidate spends on their own campaign. Self-contributions and personal loans from the candidate are uncapped.2Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 106.08 – Campaign Contributions
Party Committees Play by Different Numbers
Political party executive committees are not bound by the per-person caps that apply to individual donors, and their giving does not reduce what you personally can contribute. Party committees operate under their own aggregate ceilings.
For a candidate running for a non-statewide office, a county executive committee can give up to $50,000 in total, and a national or state executive committee (together with its subordinate and affiliated committees) can also give up to $50,000. Statewide candidates get a single combined ceiling of $250,000 from all national, state, and county party committees put together.2Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 106.08 – Campaign Contributions
In-Kind Contributions Count Too
A contribution does not have to be a check. Donated goods, free professional services, or anything else of value given to help a campaign all count as in-kind contributions, and their fair market value counts against the same limit that applies to cash.
Valuation is based on what the item or service would cost on the open market. If a graphic designer volunteers ten hours of work that would normally bill at $150 an hour, that is a $1,500 in-kind contribution. For a legislative race with a $1,000 cap per election, the candidate would have to refuse or scale back the donation. The contributor is responsible for telling the campaign what the donation is worth so the treasurer can log it correctly.
What You Cannot Do
Some things are prohibited no matter how small the dollar amount.
Giving in Someone Else’s Name
Section 106.08 bans straw donations. If you write the check but put someone else’s name on it, or reimburse a friend, employee, or family member for a donation they made on your behalf, that is a violation. The purpose is to keep donors from routing money through others to get around the caps.2Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 106.08 – Campaign Contributions
The $50 Cap on Cash and Cashier’s Checks
Cash and cashier’s checks face a much tighter restriction than personal checks, credit cards, or electronic transfers. No person can give more than $50 in aggregate via cash or cashier’s check to the same candidate or committee in a single election. The point is a paper trail. If you want to give the full statutory maximum, you have to use a payment method that leaves a verifiable record.3Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 106.09 – Cash Contributions and Contribution by Cashier’s Checks
When a Violation Becomes a Felony
Knowingly and willfully violating the contribution restrictions in amounts exceeding $5,000 is a third-degree felony in Florida. That is criminal exposure on top of whatever civil penalty the Florida Elections Commission may impose.
Federal Rules That Also Apply
Two federal restrictions overlay Florida’s system and catch some donors off guard, because they apply even to state and local races.
Foreign Nationals
Federal law bars anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident from contributing to any election at any level. A foreign national living in Florida cannot donate to a city council race, a state legislative campaign, or a gubernatorial bid. Green card holders can contribute on the same terms as citizens.4Federal Election Commission. Foreign Nationals
Federal Government Contractors
A person or entity with an active federal government contract cannot make contributions to any candidate for public office during the period running from the start of contract negotiations through completion of performance. The statute uses the broad term “public office,” which reaches Florida state and local races, not just federal ones.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 52 US Code 30119 – Contributions by Government Contractors
Your Donation Will Be Public
Contributions to Florida candidates are reported and disclosed. Candidates for statewide and legislative office file their reports with the Florida Division of Elections; candidates for county and local office file with their local Supervisor of Elections.1Florida Department of State. Campaign Finance Information
Reports run quarterly early on, then monthly, weekly, and in some cases daily as election day approaches. Every contribution has to appear. For any individual contribution over $100, the report includes the donor’s full name, address, and occupation. Smaller donations are still reported but with less detail. These filings are public records, so anyone can look up who funded a candidate. If you give more than $100, expect your name and occupation to be searchable.