On December 19, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report on public financing programs in selected states and localities.

The report, required by the 2023 federal appropriations bill, attempts to describe several key characteristics of public campaign financing programs in selected states and localities, such as grant funding, matching funds plans, voucher programs, and qualification and participation requirements.

The GAO also interviewed officials from nine programs to obtain perspectives on candidate participation and reasons for and for not participating in the programs.

Additionally, the report looks at the various legal frameworks of the programs and how observations of campaign financing programs in other states and localities influenced aspects of the respondents’ own program structures.

According to the report, which is relying on a 2024 Brennan Center for Justice report, 14 states and 26 localities offer programs through which candidates running for state or local offices can use public funds to finance their campaigns.