§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 U.S. Representative, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, the candidate who is not the big spender gets special higher limits. The candidate’s individual contribution limit is tripled. The normal contribution cap that would otherwise apply does not block gifts made under the higher limit, and national or state party spending on the candidate is not limited. The extra room to accept money is based on the “opposition personal funds amount,” which is the amount the opponent spent from personal money minus what the candidate spent. The rule that counts campaign money also adds a “gross receipts advantage,” meaning the extra amount from comparing 50 percent of each campaign’s receipts (not including the candidate’s personal funds), measured on June 30 and December 31 before a general election. Candidates must tell people when they plan to use personal funds and must report big personal spending quickly. If a person becomes a candidate and plans to spend over $350,000 of personal money, they must file a statement within 15 days. If they actually spend or obligate more than $350,000, they must notify within 24 hours. After that, each time they add more personal spending that raises the total by $10,000, they must notify within 24 hours. Notices must name the candidate, the office, each spending date and amount, and the running total, and go to the Federal Election Commission, each opponent, and the opponents’ national parties. A candidate may not take increased-limit contributions until they get the notice of the opposition personal funds amount, and they cannot accept more under the higher limit if doing so would push total increased-limit money past 100 percent of that amount. If an opponent stops being a candidate, no more money tied to that opponent can be accepted. Any increased-limit contributions not spent on the election must be returned to donors within 50 days of the election, and the next regular post‑election report must list the sources and use of such excess funds. Enforcement follows the law’s reporting rules.