Contribution Limits
STATE OF MONTANA CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS - SUMMARY
This guide is just a summary - for complete requirements, see 13-35-227, MCA and 13-37, MCA, and 44.11.226 and 227, ARM.
Montana's campaign contribution limits apply per election - under MCA 13-37-216(5) “… election means the general election or primary election that involves two or more candidates for the same nomination. If there is not a contested primary, there is only one election to which the contribution limits apply. If there is a contested primary, then there are two elections to which the contribution limits apply.”
2024-2025 CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS:
From an INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR (Human Being)
Candidates for Governor/Lt. Governor: $1,120 per election
Candidates for Other Statewide Office*: $790 per election
Candidates for Other Public Office**: $450 per election
Candidate to own campaign: No Limit
From INDEPENDENT POLITICAL COMMITTEES (PACs)
Candidates for Governor/Lt. Governor: $1,120 per election
Candidates for Other Statewide Office*: $790 per election
Candidates for Other Public Office**: $450 per election
From POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES (Aggregate limits from ALL political party committees)
Please Note: Political Party Committees may not contribute to candidates for judicial offices (i.e. Supreme Court Justice, District Judge, Justice of the Peace). A political party committee may endorse a candidate for judicial office and make independent expenditure relating to such an election. See Sanders County Republican Party v. Bullock, 698 F3d 741 (9th Cir, 2012). See also personnel services exception ARM 44.11.225 (3).
Candidates for Governor/Lt. Governor: $112,200 per election
Candidates for Other Statewide Office*: $84,150 per election
Candidates for Public Service Commission: $16,850 per election
Candidate for State Senate: $3,350 per election
Candidates for Other Public Office**: $2,250 per election
CORPORATIONS OR UNIONS
May NOT contribute directly or indirectly to a candidate, § MCA 13-35-227.
* Other Statewide Office
Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Supreme Court Justice, Clerk of the Supreme Court
** Other Public Office
State District (Public Service Commissioner, State Senate, State House of Representatives, District Judge)
County (All County Elected Officials)
City (All City Elected Officials)
School (All School Districts)
Trustees