Federal Election Commission Certifies Federal Matching Funds for O’Malley

WASHINGTON — The Federal Election Commission has certified $8,867.46 in federal matching funds to former presidential candidate Martin J. O’Malley for the 2016 primary election. The certified amount was in response to the third regular submission for matching funds made by the O’Malley campaign.

In November, O’Malley became the first 2016 presidential candidate to be declared eligible by the Commission to receive federal matching funds. Based on his previous submissions, the Commission requested United States Treasury payments to the O’Malley campaign totaling $1,080,061.83.

Following the tally vote completed yesterday, the Commission has requested the Treasury to make a payment of $8,867.46 to O’Malley for President. O’Malley, a Democrat, ended his presidential campaign in February.

To become eligible for matching funds, candidates must raise a threshold amount of $100,000 by collecting $5,000 in 20 different states. Although an individual may contribute up to $2,700 to a primary candidate in the current election cycle, only a maximum of $250 per individual is matched with funds from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund.

Other requirements to be declared eligible include agreeing to an overall spending limit, abiding by spending limits in each state, using public funds only for legitimate campaign-related expenses, keeping financial records and permitting an audit of campaign financial activity.

Materials included with O’Malley for President’s submission may be viewed here.

The presidential public funding program is financed through the $3 check-off that appears on individual income tax returns. The program now has two elements: matching payments to participating candidates during the primary campaign and grants available to nominees to pay for the general election campaign. On April 3, 2014, President Barack Obama signed legislation to end the public funding of presidential nomination conventions.

In connection with the 2012 presidential election, the Commission certified nearly $1.4 million in federal matching funds to primary election candidates, and $18.2 million to each of the Republican and Democratic parties for their conventions. The $37.9 million total in public funds certified by the Commission in 2012 was the lowest amount since the inception of the public funding program in 1976.

Additional information about the presidential public funding program is available here. Income tax check-off data showing monthly deposits into the program’s fund is available here.