Groups Ask Governor to Clarify Changes to Public Match

July 16, 2025

Governor Kathy Hochul

VIA EMAIL

Re: Clarifying changes to the public campaign finance system in FY 2026 budget

Dear Governor Hochul, 

We write to ask for clarifications of some of the changes to the state’s public campaign finance system made in the FY 2026 budget.

Part OO of the Public Protection and General Government bill (S3005-C/A3005-C) made several amendments to the Election Law, including to the definition of “matchable contribution” and the type of contributions that are not matched (see attached language). Due to the way they were drafted, it is unclear what these significant changes would do.

In particular, we ask for clarifications on the following points:

  1. Going forward, can candidates only have contributions from a single donor matched once per cycle (in the primary or general election), or twice per cycle (in both the primary and general election)?
  2. Going forward, is the maximum a donor can contribute in the aggregate to a candidate each election cycle and still have a portion matched $2,100 ($1,050 in the primary election + $1,050 in the general election)? Or is it $1,050?

Our organizations engage with the Election Law and the state’s Public Campaign Finance Program on a regular basis, and we’re often asked by media, members of the public, or candidates to explain how the program works in detail. We believe it is a matter of transparency and good governance to ensure the public knows the practical impact of these changes, especially to a high-profile law such as this. Given that the budget bill is a product of negotiations with the Executive Chamber and that the Governor’s legal staff reviewed the changes before they were signed into law, we are asking for your guidance. 

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Sincerely,

John Kaehny
Executive Director
Reinvent Albany

Grace Rauh
Executive Director
Citizens Union

Susan Lerner
Executive Director
Common Cause/NY

Erica Smitka
Executive Director
League of Women Voters of New York State

Cc.    
Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins    
Speaker Carl Heastie
Senator Kristen Gonzalez
Assemblymember Latrice Walker

Click here to view the letter as a PDF (includes language from bill).