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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →A traditional political action committee (PAC) can contribute limited amounts directly to federal candidates; a Super PAC cannot. Instead, a Super PAC may raise unlimited contributions from legally permitted sources to pay for independent political activity. The figures below apply to federal elections in the 2025–2026 cycle—not automatically to state or local races.
What is the difference between a PAC and a Super PAC?
“PAC” is used broadly, but in this comparison it means a traditional committee that may contribute to other federal political committees. A Super PAC is an independent-expenditure-only committee: it may raise and spend money for independent political activity, but it cannot contribute to candidates.
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| Issue | Traditional PAC | Super PAC |
|---|---|---|
| Direct contributions to federal candidates | May contribute, subject to applicable limits and source restrictions. | Cannot contribute to candidates. |
| Independent spending | May make independent expenditures as well as candidate contributions. | May finance independent expenditures and other independent political activity. |
| Money it may raise | Receipts are subject to applicable contribution limits and source restrictions. | May accept unlimited contributions from permitted sources; some sources are prohibited. |
| Corporate and labor contributions | Rules depend on the committee and source; Super PAC rules should not be assumed to apply. | May accept contributions from corporations and labor organizations, subject to source prohibitions. |
| Federal candidate contribution limits, 2025–2026 | $5,000 per election for a multicandidate PAC; $3,500 per election for a non-multicandidate PAC. | No candidate contributions are permitted, regardless of how much the committee raises. |
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) explains the categories in its guide to types of nonconnected PACs. Its 2025–2026 limits for PAC contributions give the candidate-contribution figures shown above.
What counts as a contribution versus independent spending?
A contribution is money given to a candidate’s committee. A PAC that makes candidate contributions must follow the relevant amount limits and source restrictions. An independent expenditure is spending made independently to advocate the election or defeat of a candidate; it is not a contribution to that candidate’s campaign.
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That distinction explains why a Super PAC can raise unlimited amounts from allowed sources yet still be barred from donating directly to a candidate. “Unlimited” refers to the amount it can receive for independent activity, not permission to give that money to campaigns.
How much can a traditional PAC give a federal candidate?
For the 2025–2026 federal election cycle, the FEC lists a limit of $5,000 per election for a multicandidate PAC and $3,500 per election for a non-multicandidate PAC contributing to a candidate committee. These are PAC-to-candidate limits, not donor-to-PAC limits. The FEC’s PAC contribution-limit guidance provides the cycle-specific figures.
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Separately, the FEC lists a $5,000 per year limit for an individual contributing to a PAC (SSF or nonconnected) in 2025–2026. That is a donor-to-PAC limit and should not be confused with the amount a PAC may give a candidate. See the FEC’s limits on contributions received by nonconnected PACs.
Where do Super PACs get their money?
For federal elections, Super PACs may accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor organizations, and other political committees. The FEC also identifies prohibited sources: foreign nationals, federal contractors, national banks, and federally chartered corporations. Unlimited fundraising therefore does not mean that every donor or source is allowed. The FEC lists the rules in its guidance on contributions to Super PACs and Hybrid PACs.
How does a Hybrid PAC fit in?
A Hybrid PAC keeps its funds in two separate accounts with different rules:
- Contribution account: Subject to statutory amount limits and source prohibitions; it may make contributions to federal candidates.
- Non-contribution account: May accept unlimited contributions from permitted sources to finance independent expenditures and other qualifying independent activity.
The separation matters: unlimited funds in the non-contribution account do not remove the limits on the contribution account. The FEC describes Hybrid PACs in its PAC-type guidance and its rules on receipts.
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What election rules do these figures cover?
The dollar amounts here concern federal elections in the 2025–2026 cycle. They should not be applied automatically to state or local elections, where rules can differ. Contribution limits may also change in later federal cycles, so check the FEC’s current guidance for the relevant election and jurisdiction. This is a general explanation of federal rules, not a case-specific legal determination.
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