Answering Your Major Donor Questions A. Must a candidate file the Form 461 (Major Donor and
Independent Expenditure Committee Campaign Statement) if they make personal contributions to their controlled election campaign committee of $10,000 or more? No. A candidate’s contributions to their own election committee do not trigger the requirement to file the Form 461. But, if a candidate otherwise qualifies as a major donor committee by making personal contributions of $10,000 or more to other candidates or committees, the Form 461 must also include personal contributions made to their own controlled committees. B. Must the spouse of a candidate file the Form 461 if they make personal contributions to their spouse’s campaign of $10,000 or more? If the contributions are made from community funds, neither the spouse nor the candidate will qualify as a major donor. But, if the candidate’s spouse makes contributions from legally separate funds, the spouse will become a major donor and must file the Form 461. C. Must a candidate file the Form 461 if they make personal contributions to their controlled ballot measure committee of $10,000 or more?
Yes.
D. Using personal funds, a candidate made contributions totaling $9,000 to other candidates and committees. They also contributed $3,000 to their own election committee. Since the total amount of all contributions made is $12,000, must the candidate file the Form 461 as a major donor?
No. Contributions to a candidate’s own election committee are not counted toward the $10,000 major donor threshold.
Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov
Chapter 9.43
Campaign Manual 2 August 2023
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