New Campaign Contribution Limits Become Effective in Illinois and New Mexico

Recently, new campaign contribution limits went into effect in Illinois and New Mexico.  A brief description of these new rules follows below. 

Illinois.  Also in 2009, Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois signed into law a bill imposing contribution limits on Illinois candidate committees, political party committees and political action committees.  These changes became effective on January 1, 2011, and the new limits include the following:

• A candidate committee may receive $5,000 from an individual; $10,000 from a corporation, labor organization or association; and $50,000 from a political action committee per election (with the primary and general elections each having a separate limit).
• A political party committee may receive $10,000 from an individual; $20,000 from a corporation, labor organization or association; and $50,000 from a political action committee per year.
• A political action committee may receive $10,000 from an individual; $20,000 from a corporation, labor organization or association; and $50,000 from a political action committee per year.

Per the new law, these dollar limits will be adjusted for inflation every two years.

New Mexico.   In 2009, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed into law a bill imposing contribution limits on New Mexico political and candidate committees.  These changes became effective on November 3, 2010, and individuals and entities are now limited to contributing the following amounts:

• $5,000 to a candidate for statewide office per election;
• $2,300 to a candidate for non-statewide office per election; and
• $5,000 to a political committee per election.

The primary and general elections each have a separate limit.  Per the new law, these dollar limits will be adjusted for inflation after each general election.