Allegheny County passes campaign finance law limiting size of individual donations

A law enacted last week will bring campaign finance limits to Allegheny County starting in 2025.

Candidates seeking elected office in Allegheny County government now face no limits on how much money people can donate to their campaigns, allowing corporate interests, wealthy people, labor unions and national groups to pour in a record amount of money directly to candidates.

The new ordinance will limit individual campaign donations to federal campaign-contribution levels, which is at $3,300 per individual and $5,000 for political action committees. Federal limits are adjusted periodically to adjust for inflation.

The ordinance passed by a vote of 13-2, with only Councilmen Jack Betkowski, D-Ross, and Sam DeMarco, R-North Fayette, opposing it. The ordinance was returned without Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s signature and became law on May 31.

Fitzgerald declined to comment.

Councilman Tom Duerr, D-Bethel Park, introduced the ordinance and said in a statement he was proud at the level of support it received. He also praised the passage of a bill to allow candidates to use campaign funds to cover family-care expenses while campaigning.

“If this recent primary election cycle has shown us anything, it is that campaign finance reform is desperately needed in our county election system,” Duerr said, adding that the measures should add transparency and fairness to the election process and open doors for more non-traditional candidates.

My statement on tonight’s passage of ordinances 12607-23 and 12608-23, two of the my bills on Allegheny County campaign finance reform: pic.twitter.com/cZ3TCdcfnx

— Allegheny County Councilman Tom Duerr (@CountyDuerr) May 24, 2023

The primary race for Allegheny County executive drew more than $3.6 million in campaign contributions in 2023, a record level of spending for a countywide contest. Some candidates receiving one-time sums of more than $100,000 from political action committees and labor unions.

The ordinance will require candidates to report their contributions earlier and more often during campaigns. County candidates and their related committees will have to provide campaign finance reports on the sixth tuesday before the primary and the general election, in addition to the pre-existing requirement of the second Friday before the election.

Violations will result in penalties of $1,000 for every $2,000 accepted in violation of the limits.

DeMarco has said in the past he was concerned that limiting direct contributions could increase outside spending in support of candidates from groups such as Super PACs.

Allegheny County’s campaign finance limits will go into effect for the 2025 election cycle.