Candidates
Under the City’s campaign laws, a candidate is an individual who seeks an elected City or LAUSD office and has filed the necessary paperwork to raise or spend campaign funds. The City’s elected offices are Mayor, City Attorney, Controller, and 15 City Council districts. LAUSD’s elected offices are seven Board of Education districts.
REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must create and maintain records that indicate compliance with the campaign finance laws and must provide those records to the Ethics Commission upon request. A person who supplies goods or services to a candidate must also maintain records of the candidate’s expenditures. Records must be maintained for at least four years.
Candidates and their treasurers are required to complete a training conducted by the Ethics Commission in each election cycle that the candidate seeks a City or LAUSD office.
Candidates must file a variety of disclosure statements before, during, and after their candidacies. Detailed filing requirements are provided under “What Do I File?”. Information disclosed by candidates may be accessed through the Public Data Portal.
Before
Before soliciting or accepting a campaign contribution, a candidate must file the following forms with the Ethics Commission:
Other disclosure forms must also be filed with the Ethics Commission and the Secretary of State to initiate candidacy.
During
Candidates are required to periodically disclose their campaign activity, including their contributions, specific information about their contributors, their expenditures, and their campaign communications. The state’s disclosure statement (Form 460) is filed electronically with the Ethics Commission for most candidates and must be filed at least twice per year (more frequently in an election cycle). Other disclosures may be triggered by specific activity, such as CA Form 497 (24-hour Contribution Report), and the requirement to notify a contributor of $5,000 or more that the contributor may have its own disclosure obligations. Information disclosed by candidates, as well as copies of campaign communications, may be searched and viewed through the Public Data Portal.
After
Candidates continue to have reporting obligations after an election, regardless of whether they win or not, until their campaign committees are terminated.
City candidates who win an election become officeholders.
LAUSD candidates who win an election are governed by the California Political Reform Act of 1974. Information is available from the Fair Political Practices Commission and from the LAUSD Ethics Office. The Ethics Commission retains jurisdiction over their LAUSD campaign committees and activities until all fundraising and audits have been completed.
LIMITATIONS
Election Limits
A candidate may not solicit or accept contributions from other persons that exceed the limits established by law. To reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index, City contribution limits are adjusted annually.
To protect the contribution limits, contributions from two or more persons must be aggregated and treated as a contribution from a single person. Additional information about contributions is provided in the Publications page, in the Candidate Guides section and in the Election Limits sections.
Contributions that exceed a limit may be cured under the Excess Contribution Policy.
Fundraising Windows
A contribution is anything of value (monetary or non-monetary) that is given to a candidate or campaign committee. Contributions may only be solicited and accepted within the following windows immediately prior to the primary election:
Citywide Candidates: 24 months
City Council Candidates: 18 months
LAUSD Candidates: 18 monthsFor details about an election's fundraising window, click here.
Prohibited Contributions
Some contributions are prohibited. For example, except in very limited circumstances, a City candidate may not solicit a contribution of any amount from a City employee, officer, or board member. In addition, a City candidate may not solicit or accept a contribution of any amount from the following:
- A lobbyist or lobbying firm that is registered to lobby the City office that the candidate seeks or holds.
- Any person in a City-owned building.
- A foreign national.
An LAUSD candidate may not solicit or accept a contribution of any amount from the following:
- Any person in a government building.
- A foreign national.
Improper contributions may be cured under the Excess Contribution Policy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Appearing on a Ballot
Information about how candidates qualify to appear on a ballot is available from the City Clerk’s Office.
Legal Defense Committees
Candidates may establish legal defense committees to defray legal costs incurred in defending the candidate in a court case or an administrative proceeding arising directly out of the conduct of a City election, the electoral process, or the performance of City duties. Candidates may not solicit or accept contributions that exceed $1,500 per person per fiscal year, and they must report all contributions, expenditures, and other activity.
Matching Funds (City Candidates Only)
City voters established a public matching funds program to promote a stage for multiple voices in City elections, to increase the value of small contributions, and to reduce the perceived effect of special interests on political processes. The program helps qualified candidates for City office pay for their campaigns without having to rely on excessive fundraising or expenditures. The program does not apply to LAUSD candidates.
To qualify, a City candidate must meet specific criteria and limit campaign spending. Once qualified, the City gives the candidate public dollars to match private contributions from individuals who reside in the City or, for Council seats, the candidate's district. As detailed in the following table, the maximum public funds available to City candidates varies based on the office sought and the type of election.
Matching Funds FAQ
2023 Election | 2024 ElectionsMatching Funds - Example of an Acceptable Electronic Certification
Matching Funds Spreadsheet Template
For more information, click here.
ELECTION TOTALS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For questions regarding specific scenarios, please contact us prior to taking action.
Can I be a candidate for more than one elected office in a single election?
No, you may only file fundraising paperwork for one elected office per election.
When can a candidate file initial fundraising paperwork to begin fundraising for elected City or LAUSD office?
A candidate for Mayor, City Attorney or City Controller, may file initial fundraising paperwork 24 months prior to the primary election. City Council candidates and LAUSD candidates may file initial fundraising paperwork 18 months prior to the primary election.
Can I transfer campaign contributions from my primary election committee to my general election committee?
No, funds in your primary election committee may only be used to pay for costs associated with your primary campaign. Winning candidates may transfer left over funds into an officeholder committee.
What are the current contribution limits?
The current per-person contribution limits may be viewed here. The City contribution limits are adjusted annually, and the LAUSD contribution limits are adjusted every four years.
How do I file campaign statements and communications?
You must file electronically using the Campaign Electronic Filing System (CEFS). You must file a Form 18 to obtain an identification and password to log in to CEFS.
When do candidates file disclosure statements?
Candidates are required to file disclosure statements by deadlines set in City and state laws. The filing schedules for City and LAUSD elections can be found here.
How can I find out about a candidate’s contributions and expenditures?
You may view a candidate’s disclosure statements and search the information that is reported in the statements through our Public Data Portal.
Candidates must create and maintain records that indicate compliance with the campaign finance laws and must provide those records to the Ethics Commission upon request. A person who supplies goods or services to a candidate must also maintain records of the candidate’s expenditures. Records must be maintained for at least four years.
Candidates and their treasurers are required to complete a training conducted by the Ethics Commission in each election cycle that the candidate seeks a City or LAUSD office.
Candidates must file a variety of disclosure statements before, during, and after their candidacies. Detailed filing requirements are provided under “What Do I File?”. Information disclosed by candidates may be accessed through the Public Data Portal.
Before
Before soliciting or accepting a campaign contribution, a candidate must file the following forms with the Ethics Commission:
Other disclosure forms must also be filed with the Ethics Commission and the Secretary of State to initiate candidacy.
During
Candidates are required to periodically disclose their campaign activity, including their contributions, specific information about their contributors, their expenditures, and their campaign communications. The state’s disclosure statement (Form 460) is filed electronically with the Ethics Commission for most candidates and must be filed at least twice per year (more frequently in an election cycle). Other disclosures may be triggered by specific activity, such as CA Form 497 (24-hour Contribution Report), and the requirement to notify a contributor of $5,000 or more that the contributor may have its own disclosure obligations. Information disclosed by candidates, as well as copies of campaign communications, may be searched and viewed through the Public Data Portal.
After
Candidates continue to have reporting obligations after an election, regardless of whether they win or not, until their campaign committees are terminated.
City candidates who win an election become officeholders.
LAUSD candidates who win an election are governed by the California Political Reform Act of 1974. Information is available from the Fair Political Practices Commission and from the LAUSD Ethics Office. The Ethics Commission retains jurisdiction over their LAUSD campaign committees and activities until all fundraising and audits have been completed.
Election Limits
A candidate may not solicit or accept contributions from other persons that exceed the limits established by law. To reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index, City contribution limits are adjusted annually.
To protect the contribution limits, contributions from two or more persons must be aggregated and treated as a contribution from a single person. Additional information about contributions is provided in the Publications page, in the Candidate Guides section and in the Election Limits sections.
Contributions that exceed a limit may be cured under the Excess Contribution Policy.
Fundraising Windows
A contribution is anything of value (monetary or non-monetary) that is given to a candidate or campaign committee. Contributions may only be solicited and accepted within the following windows immediately prior to the primary election:
Citywide Candidates: 24 months
City Council Candidates: 18 months
LAUSD Candidates: 18 monthsFor details about an election's fundraising window, click here.
Prohibited Contributions
Some contributions are prohibited. For example, except in very limited circumstances, a City candidate may not solicit a contribution of any amount from a City employee, officer, or board member. In addition, a City candidate may not solicit or accept a contribution of any amount from the following:
- A lobbyist or lobbying firm that is registered to lobby the City office that the candidate seeks or holds.
- Any person in a City-owned building.
- A foreign national.
An LAUSD candidate may not solicit or accept a contribution of any amount from the following:
- Any person in a government building.
- A foreign national.
Improper contributions may be cured under the Excess Contribution Policy.
Appearing on a Ballot
Information about how candidates qualify to appear on a ballot is available from the City Clerk’s Office.
Legal Defense Committees
Candidates may establish legal defense committees to defray legal costs incurred in defending the candidate in a court case or an administrative proceeding arising directly out of the conduct of a City election, the electoral process, or the performance of City duties. Candidates may not solicit or accept contributions that exceed $1,500 per person per fiscal year, and they must report all contributions, expenditures, and other activity.
Matching Funds (City Candidates Only)
City voters established a public matching funds program to promote a stage for multiple voices in City elections, to increase the value of small contributions, and to reduce the perceived effect of special interests on political processes. The program helps qualified candidates for City office pay for their campaigns without having to rely on excessive fundraising or expenditures. The program does not apply to LAUSD candidates.
To qualify, a City candidate must meet specific criteria and limit campaign spending. Once qualified, the City gives the candidate public dollars to match private contributions from individuals who reside in the City or, for Council seats, the candidate's district. As detailed in the following table, the maximum public funds available to City candidates varies based on the office sought and the type of election.
Matching Funds FAQ
2023 Election | 2024 ElectionsMatching Funds - Example of an Acceptable Electronic Certification
Matching Funds Spreadsheet Template
For more information, click here.
For questions regarding specific scenarios, please contact us prior to taking action.
Can I be a candidate for more than one elected office in a single election?
No, you may only file fundraising paperwork for one elected office per election.
When can a candidate file initial fundraising paperwork to begin fundraising for elected City or LAUSD office?
A candidate for Mayor, City Attorney or City Controller, may file initial fundraising paperwork 24 months prior to the primary election. City Council candidates and LAUSD candidates may file initial fundraising paperwork 18 months prior to the primary election.
Can I transfer campaign contributions from my primary election committee to my general election committee?
No, funds in your primary election committee may only be used to pay for costs associated with your primary campaign. Winning candidates may transfer left over funds into an officeholder committee.
What are the current contribution limits?
The current per-person contribution limits may be viewed here. The City contribution limits are adjusted annually, and the LAUSD contribution limits are adjusted every four years.
How do I file campaign statements and communications?
You must file electronically using the Campaign Electronic Filing System (CEFS). You must file a Form 18 to obtain an identification and password to log in to CEFS.
When do candidates file disclosure statements?
Candidates are required to file disclosure statements by deadlines set in City and state laws. The filing schedules for City and LAUSD elections can be found here.
How can I find out about a candidate’s contributions and expenditures?
You may view a candidate’s disclosure statements and search the information that is reported in the statements through our Public Data Portal.