Here are the 10 California political committees that received the largest financial contributions during the week ending Aug. 16, according to the California Secretary of State. Together, they received $336,406 in political contributions, 97.3% of all donations in the state.
California Democratic Party received the highest sum during this period, with a total of $257,906 in donations.
Political committees in California received over $1.5 billion in donations in 2022.
Political donations in the state are capped at $5,500 per election cycle for candidates running for the state legislature, such as Senators and Representatives. For gubernatorial candidates, the contribution limit is $36,400 per election cycle.
Donations made to political groups or candidates must be disclosed under state law for greater transparency in elections. While Congress created the Federal Election Commission to oversee federal elections in 1974, each state is left to regulate its local elections.
| Committee | Amount | Average contribution amount |
|---|---|---|
| California Democratic Party | $257,906 | $25,791 |
| Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee United Democratic Campaign | $18,000 | $3,600 |
| Californians for Justice, a Ballot Measure Committee Controlled by Jesse Gabriel in Support of Proposition 1 | $11,500 | $11,500 |
| Malia Cohen for Controller 2026 | $10,000 | $5,000 |
| Mike McGuire for Insurance Commissioner 2026 | $10,000 | $5,000 |
| Riverside County Republican Central Committee | $7,500 | $3,750 |
| Colonel Tom Umberg for Insurance Commissioner 2026 | $6,500 | $6,500 |
| Menjivar for Senate 2026 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Grove For Board Of Equalization 2026 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Sonoma County Democratic Party | $5,000 | $1,250 |
