Fair Elections for New York

New York’s campaign finance system is broken. While most of New York’s elected officials go to Albany for the right reasons, too often big money interests drown out the voices of everyday New Yorkers. It’s time to change the way politics works in Albany.

The Fair Elections for New York campaign is calling on state legislators to pass a comprehensive reform package, including public financing of elections. These reforms will put the process back in the hands of voters, and are proven to increase small donor participation in campaigns. We have an historic opportunity to give New Yorkers the campaign finance system they deserve and want.


I support an aggressive form of campaign finance, I support a public finance system... import the New York City public finance system to New York State.

Governor Andrew Cuomo
March 8, 2013

The campaign for Fair Elections for New York is focused on four key goals, enumerated by Governor Cuomo in his State of the State Address:

1.Public Financing of Elections – establishing a voluntary system to empower small donors by matching their contributions with public money, similar to NYC’s successful system.

2.Lower Contribution Limits – bringing New York State’s sky-high contribution limits down to reasonable levels.

3.Ending Pay-to-Play – saving public dollars by preventing contributions and bundling by contractors and lobbyists from influencing decisions about state business.

4.Stronger Enforcement and Transparency – ensuring that our laws are enforced in a fair, effective and timely manner, and that public matching funds are appropriately disbursed.

It’s time Albany finally returns to government of, by, and for the people – not government bought and paid for by the special interests. As long as politicians are accountable to the corporations and lobbyists who finance their campaigns, they’re never going to be accountable to the people who elected them.

Ordinary New Yorkers should have their voices heard. We should replace corporate-funded elections with Fair Elections. We need to put elections back in the hands of ordinary New Yorkers. Politicians should work for us, not their special interest sponsors.

New York City Limits

Contribution Limits
Mayor, Public Advocate and Comptroller - $4,950
Borough President - $3,850
City Council - $2,750

These limits are for the primary and general elections combined. Both monetary and "in-kind" contributions of goods / services are subject to these limits. All candidates are prohibited from accepting contributions from corporations, LLCs, and partnerships.

Doing Business Contribution Limits
Mayor, Public Advocate and Comptroller - $400
Borough President - $320
City Council - $250

These "doing business" contribution limits are for the primary and general elections combined.

Candidates must meet a two-part threshold, abide by the Program's requirements, and face opposition on the ballot to qualify for public financing.

Maximum Public Funds*†
Mayor - $3,534,300
Public Advocate and Comptroller - $2,209,900
Borough President - $795,300
City Council - $92,400

* Per election, in election year.
† Candidates who face minimal opposition will receive a reduced public funds payment.

The Program matches each dollar a NYC resident gives, up to $175, with six dollars in public funds, for a maximum of $1,050 in public funds per contributor.

You can declare you are self-funding and not be under the funding limits. There is also the PAC money to contend with.

What do you think about this public funding system?










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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