Report: Southern New Jersey District Races Among the Most Expensive During 2013 Elections

Candidates in the First and Second Legislative Districts were among the top three spenders in the entire state during the 2013 elections, The Press of Atlantic City reports.

Candidates and outside interest groups spent $4.6 million in the District 1 race, which placed it second on the list, according to the report.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew won his re-election bid, while Republican Sam Fiocchi and Democrat Nelson Albano won the two Assembly seats.

The First District is comprised of Avalon, Cape May, Cape May Point, Commercial, Corbin City, Dennis, Downe, Estell Manor, Fairfield (Cumberland), Greenwich (Cumberland), Hopewell (Cumberland), Lawrence (Cumberland), Lower, Maurice River, Middle, Millville, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Shiloh, Stone Harbor, Stow Creek, Upper, Vineland, West Cape May, West Wildwood, Weymouth, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Woodbine.

District 2 was third on the list. According to the report, candidates and third party interest groups pumped $4 million into the race that saw State Sen. Jim Whelan fend off Atlantic County Sheriff Frank X. Balles and an Assembly race that remained in dispute for weeks following the initial results.

The Second Legislative District is comprised of Absecon, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Buena, Buena Vista, Egg Harbor City, Egg Harbor Township, Folsom, Hamilton, Linwood, Longport, Margate City, Mullica, Northfield, Pleasantville, Somers Point and Ventnor City.

No. 1 on the list was the District 38 race, where $5.8 million was spent, according to the report. District 38 covers Bergen and Passaic counties.