(AP) A Superior Court judge cleared the way for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to raise unlimited cash to promote his agenda to voters, ruling Friday that the state's political watchdog improperly limited donations for ballot measures.

The ruling overturned a Fair Political Practices Commission regulation that would have restricted Schwarzenegger's efforts to raise $50 million for a package of constitutional amendments he wants to put before voters in the fall.

Schwarzenegger and political allies sued the commission earlier this month to overturn the limits on contributions to ballot measure committees controlled by a candidate. Judge Shelleyanne Chang agreed that the rule conflicted with the constitutional right to participate in the political process.

The judge noted that the rule applied only to ballot measure committees controlled by candidates and not other ballot committees, forcing candidates to either give up their interest in the ballot measure or accept a fund-raising disadvantage to opponents who can accept unlimited donations.

The FPPC was frustrated with the Sacramento County Superior Court decision, but had not decided whether to appeal, said Chairwoman Liane Randolph.

"Unlimited funds raised into ballot measure committees controlled by candidates who are otherwise subject to contribution limits leaves a gap in the system that needs to be addressed," Randolph said in a prepared statement.