§30117 Modification of certain limits for House candidates in response to personal fund expenditures of opponents

Summary

If an opponent spends more than $350,000 of their own money in a race for the House (including Delegates or Resident Commissioners), the candidate may accept larger contributions and party committees may spend more to help that candidate. Specifically, the usual individual contribution limit is tripled, some normal limits won’t apply to contributions made under the bigger limit, and party spending limits for helping the candidate don’t apply. The candidate cannot use the bigger limits until they get a notification, and total extra contributions accepted under the bigger limits can’t add up to more than 100 percent of the opponent’s excess personal spending. If an opponent stops being a candidate, the extra limits can’t be used for the part of the increase tied to that opponent. Any unused extra contributions must be returned within 50 days after the election. “Expenditure from personal funds” means money the candidate spends personally or loans or contributions the candidate makes using personal money. The “opposition personal funds amount” is how much more an opponent spends from personal funds than the candidate does, plus an adjustment that compares 50 percent of each campaign committee’s gross receipts as measured on June 30 and December 31 before the general election. A candidate who plans to spend over $350,000 must file a declaration within 15 days of becoming a candidate, must notify within 24 hours after passing $350,000 and after each additional $10,000, and must include name, office, dates, amounts, and totals in each notice filed with the Federal Election Commission, each opposing candidate, and each national party. After the election, the campaign must report the source and use of any excess contributions.