Reinvent Albany Joins Letter Requesting FY26-27 Funding for State Public Campaign Finance Program
December 15, 2025
The Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York State
Executive Chamber
State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Hochul,
Subject: FY 2026–2027 Funding Request for the Public Campaign Finance Program
The Fair Elections for New York coalition thanks you for your continued commitment to funding New York State’s Public Campaign Finance Program (PCFP). Last year, the program completed its first full election cycle—a historic milestone that demonstrated the program’s ability to expand political participation from donors and candidates alike, broadening who can donate to candidates or run for office regardless of their access to wealth. The program’s benefits will continue to grow ahead of the first statewide elections to be held under the system in 2026. Our coalition of organizations strongly supports the New York State Public Campaign Finance Board’s budget request of $116.5 million to fund the PCFP, and we urge you to include it in your executive budget for FY 2026–2027.
In the program’s debut last year, large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans opted in to the program, with more than 190 candidates across 37 Senate districts and 70 Assembly districts–covering rural, urban, and suburban communities–receiving public matching funds. The number of New Yorkers making small donations significantly increased, too, with an estimated 50,800 New Yorkers making small-dollar in-district donations – about twice as many as in 2020 or 2022.
With less than three months remaining before the program opt-in deadline, demand and participation has already exceeded 2024’s remarkable numbers. To date, 14 statewide candidates and 180 legislative candidates have enrolled in the PCFP, an unprecedented level of early engagement that reflects the program’s credibility, success, and its promise.
To meet the demand for this important democracy-strengthening reform, we urge you to ensure that the PCFP continues to receive the full funding that the Public Campaign Finance Board has requested: $116.5 million, including $100 million for matching funds and $16.5 million for administration, staffing, and technology. This funding is essential to maintaining a secure, modern, and user-friendly program that candidates from every corner of the state can access with confidence and ease. Adequate administrative funding will allow the Board and staff to enhance compliance tools, improve software systems, and ensure efficient processing as participation scales up for a statewide cycle.
Fully funding the matching funds is equally critical. A clear guarantee that public funds will be available in 2026 strengthens candidates’ confidence in the program, encourages more small-donor engagement, and helps ensure that statewide and legislative campaigns are powered by everyday New Yorkers, not wealthy special interests. It’s no wonder that a large majority of likely voters across New York (62 percent) strongly support a continued investment in the program so it can run as intended.
At a time when national politics continues to be distorted by the influence of big money, New York has chosen a different path, one that empowers small donors, protects the integrity of our elections, and restores trust in government. Maintaining New York’s national leadership on reform requires consistent investment. We respectfully urge you to include the full $116.5 million request for the Public Campaign Finance Program in your Executive Budget.
We look forward to working with you and the Legislature to strengthen and protect this transformative program.
Sincerely,
Fair Elections for New York Coalition
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