FPPC presenter outlines steps for defeated candidates to close or retain campaign committees

A Fair Political Practices Commission presenter outlined steps candidates who lose elections should take to close or maintain their campaign committees in an informational video.

The presenter said candidates who filed a Form 470 (the short form) and did not raise or spend $2,000 or more during the calendar year generally have no further filing obligations. “If you filed a form 470, the short form, and as long as you didn't raise or spend $2,000 or more during the calendar year, that's it,” the presenter said.

For committees that filed Form 460, the presenter said the committee must continue filing Form 460 campaign statements and pay a $50 annual fee to the California Secretary of State until the committee is closed. “If you filed a Form 460 and your committee is still open, then you do have to keep filing a Form 460 and keep paying the $50 annual fee to the Secretary of State until you close your committee,” the presenter said.

To terminate a candidate committee, the presenter said candidates should ensure the committee is not receiving contributions, has no funds, and has no debt or ability to pay debt; then file Forms 410 and 460 marked as termination statements. “Make sure there's no money left in it. Make sure you've filed all the required campaign statements up to that point and that you've disclosed all reportable activity,” the presenter said. The presenter added that, generally, candidate committees must terminate within 24 months of being defeated.

The presenter also addressed leftover campaign funds. Remaining campaign funds become surplus 90 days after the last day of the post‑election reporting period, the presenter said, and recommended that candidates who intend to run again transfer or redesignate funds before they become surplus. Before transferring funds for a future election, the presenter said a candidate should file a new Form 501, referred to in the video as a candidate intention statement, for the specific office.

The video repeatedly directed viewers to the FPPC website for more information and to the FPPC advice line for specific questions. “Visit fppc.ca.gov or contact advice@fppc.ca.gov to learn more,” the presenter said.

Less-critical details: the presenter said local jurisdictions may have their own contribution limits and that candidates with questions about termination requirements or jurisdictional differences should contact the FPPC advice line. The video included a general disclaimer that it “is intended to be a general guide and highlights only selected provisions of the law.”