NC candidates raised millions from top donors, $6,800 at a time. See who gave.
Hundreds of campaign donors who gave $6,800, the maximum amount allowed under state law, helped North Carolina candidates and committees raise millions during the first half of this year.
Data analyzed by The News & Observer from campaign finance reports covering the first six months of 2025, which were due to the State Board of Elections late last month, show 599 contributions of $6,800 from individuals and political action committees during that time.
The reports also show that a handful of campaigns collected most of the more than $4 million that was given by donors who “maxed out.”
Only 90 candidates and political committees received contributions for $6,800 during the first six months of this year, and among those, just eight received 10 or more donations. More than 60% of the maximum contributions were made to campaigns for three of the state’s most prominent elected officials: Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, and Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall, both Republicans.
The contributions, made by credit cards, checks and electronic payments, came from at least 459 individuals, 45 of the state’s 100 counties, and 17 other states outside of North Carolina. Much of it arrived while state lawmakers were in session, and all of it came months before voters head to the polls next year, showing that even in the beginning of an off-year, political fundraising has continued apace.
State law allows individuals and political committees to give a maximum of $6,800 before a primary election, and another $6,800 between the day after the primary and the end of the election year.
Top 10 recipients of $6,800 maximum contributions
Stein, Berger and Hall, the heads of the executive and legislative branches, respectively, and the leaders of their parties, raised the highest numbers of maximum contributions.
Overall, Stein raised more than anyone else in state politics during the first six months of this year, bringing in just under $2.5 million in total from small and large donors alike. Nearly half of that haul came from donors who gave the maximum amount, as Stein’s campaign reported receiving 172 maximum contributions that added up to $1,169,600.
Berger’s campaign wasn’t far behind, receiving 142 maximum contributions that added up to $965,600. In total, his campaign reported raising over $1.7 million. The top Senate Republican, who was first elected to the chamber in 2000 and has led his caucus since 2005, faces a primary challenge from longtime Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page in next year’s election.
Hall’s campaign, meanwhile, received 49 contributions of $6,800 that added up to $333,200. His campaign raised a total of just under $750,000 during the reporting period.
Most legislative fundraising, especially by caucus leaders and other high-ranking lawmakers, is focused on raising money to support the caucus as a whole and candidates in particularly competitive and expensive races.
Rounding out the rest of the top 10 recipients were Republican Sen. Michael Lee, the chamber’s majority leader; N.C. Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, a Democrat; Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill, a Republican; the N.C. Health Care Facilities Association PAC; N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat; Republican Rep. Sarah Stevens, who is running for the Supreme Court seat currently held by Earls; and the Carolina Federation PAC, a group that says it spends money to “support progressive grassroots candidate development and campaigns across the state.”
Where did the maximum contributions come from in (and out of) NC?
The highest concentration of $6,800 contributions was in Wake and Mecklenburg counties, which were the source for 98 and 91 maximum donations, respectively. On their own, the state’s two most populous counties accounted for nearly one-third of the total contributions made across the state and the country.
Other counties that saw large shares of maximum contributions included Guilford (55); New Hanover (44); Orange (36); Durham and Forsyth (26 each); Johnston (14); Buncombe (12); and Pitt and Robeson (10 each).
Outside of North Carolina, donors in 17 other states were responsible for 54 maximum contributions, with Florida leading the way with 16, Virginia with seven, Georgia with five and Texas with four.
Search all contributions made for $6,800 and more
In addition to the nearly 600 contributions made for exactly $6,800, campaign reports for the first half of this year also showed 274 transactions that were above the limit for individuals and political committees.
These transactions, which include contributions of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, typically involved contributions or expenditures by state party committees, which can donate and receive unlimited amounts.
Many of these transactions involved candidates sending money to central party accounts and funds that are used to support several different campaigns. Some included candidates loaning their campaigns their own money.
