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Check here and try to enter a number higher than $5600.

I know this question might be oddly specific, but i have no idea why it would be such an odd number, and not just $5000.

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The FEC raised contribution limits for the 2020 election cycle to $2,800 for each election period. The primary and general election each counts separately, so for both of those elections the maximum individual contribution someone can give to a single candidate adds up to $5,600. See also this announcement from OpenSecrets.org.

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    @FlyingThunder Governing authority is FEC according to Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (as amended in 1974, which is when the FEC was created). It was amended again in 2002 to set 2001 as a base year (replacing 1974) for which to determine inflation-adjusted increases to the limits, with those increases occurring in odd numbered years. (See Page 23 of previous link)
    – user5155
    Commented Feb 19, 2019 at 15:55
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    @FlyingThunder The concept of any part of American politics giving a rat's ass for the financial situation of the voters is... utterly laughable.
    – Tin Wizard
    Commented Feb 19, 2019 at 20:38
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    @FlyingThunder In general, if a number is odd, it started as a round number and keeps getting inflation adjusted, for which the consumer price index is the US standard. Examples: tax brackets, people's salaries, retirement benefits, etc. I don't think this is specific to the US.
    – user71659
    Commented Feb 19, 2019 at 23:43
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    So you can contribute to someone's general election campaign before you know whether they'll win the primary and have a general election campaign?
    – Peter Taylor
    Commented Feb 20, 2019 at 8:55
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    @PeterTaylor This comment says that money donated to the general election campaign has to be returned if that campaign doesn't happen.
    – David Richerby
    Commented Feb 20, 2019 at 11:55
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Because that's the legal limit. You can give $2,800 per election, so $5,600 would be a combined primary/general limit.

https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/contribution-limits/

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    what happens to the second $2800 if the candidate isn't selected?
    – JCRM
    Commented Feb 20, 2019 at 10:01
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    @JCRM investopedia.com/articles/markets/042716/… - "According to the FEC rules, official candidate committees must return any money contributed towards the general election if they do not win the primaries."
    – Ramon Snir
    Commented Feb 20, 2019 at 11:12
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    @RamonSnir Is it if they do not win the primaries, or if they do not enter the general election? Could they keep the money if they choose to run as an independent? (This is an unusual enough scenario that I'm not sure I trust the phrasing at these links to be accurate for it)
    – Random832
    Commented Feb 20, 2019 at 15:07
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    If they run as an independent, then they're in the general election, they can keep the money, what's the issue?
    – Draco18s no longer trusts SE
    Commented Feb 20, 2019 at 16:50
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    @Draco18s: The issue is that the text Ramon quoted from Investopedia says differently.
    – Ben Voigt
    Commented Feb 21, 2019 at 4:30

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