Public Campaign Financing in Florida: A Program Sours


 

Publication Date: January 2008

Publisher: Center for Governmental Studies

Author(s): Jessica Levinson

Research Area: Politics

Keywords: Contribution limits; Political party spending; Special interests

Type: Report

Coverage: Florida

Abstract:

Florida enacted its public campaign financing program in 1986, with the passage of the Florida Election Campaign Financing Act ("the Act"). Under the Act, participating candidates for governor and lieutenant governor (running together as a team), and state cabinet posts may receive public funding for their campaigns. The legislature designed the program to insulate candidates from the influence of special interest money and to increase the number of qualified candidates financially able to run for office.

This report examines public campaign financing for gubernatorial and cabinet office elections in Florida. The goal of this study is to gauge whether public campaign financing laws are working and whether improvements are necessary.