Public campaign finance has been a success so far, report finds

New York state had its first election last year with public campaign finance, and a new report from the Brennan Center for Justice concluded that the inaugural cycle with the new system demonstrated proof that it is working as intended.

For the first time last year, candidates for state Senate and Assembly were able to receive public funds to match individual donations of $250 or less to their campaigns at rates ranging from 12:1 to 8:1 for legislative candidates. The purpose of the new program was to increase the reliance of small donors – the state has historically had among the highest contribution limits in the entire country – and make it easier for first-time or lower-income candidates to run.

In total, 328 candidates signed up to participate in the program, with 192 of them qualifying for matching funds. In the state Senate, at least one candidate in 37 districts qualified for the program out of the 63 total. In the Assembly, 70 out of 150 districts had at least one candidate who qualified for matching funds. In all, slightly over 70% of all candidates last year signed up to receive public campaign funds, though not all of them qualified for matching funds.

According to the Brennan Center report, candidates’ reliance on small donations skyrocketed last year compared to the 2022 and 2020 cycles. In 2024, small-dollar donations ($250 and under) – and the public matching funds that came from those donations – represented nearly 50% of candidates’ total campaign funding. In 2022, those small donations represented just 11% of campaign funding, and in 2020, they represented just 13% of total campaign funding. The increase in small contributions from within the district rose even more sharply. Those in-district small dollar contributions made up as low as 5% of total campaign funds in past cycles but accounted for 45% of campaign funds in 2024, according to the report.



https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/02/public-campaign-finance-has-been-success-so-far-report-finds/402810/?oref=csny-category-lander-river