NJ Governor Election: See Who Is Spending Campaign Cash In 2021

NEW JERSEY — Millions of dollars have been spent on the 2021 gubernatorial election in New Jersey so far. But it doesn’t even come close to the most expensive gubernatorial contest in the state’s history, officials announced Wednesday.

In its latest campaign spending update, the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) said gubernatorial candidates have raised $23.1 million and spent $14.6 million for the general election as of Oct. 4. Nearly all of it can be traced to Democratic incumbent, Gov. Phil Murphy, and his Republican challenger, Jack Ciattarelli (see chart below).

Meanwhile, several independent committees – one of which counts Murphy as its finance chair – have shelled out $13.1 million, for a combined total of $27.7 million in spending.

That amount still doesn’t come close to the most expensive gubernatorial election in New Jersey history, however: the $87.8 million showdown between Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican Doug Forrester in 2005. Mostly financed by their personal fortunes, that amount would come to more than $123 million when adjusted for inflation, ELEC officials said.

• See related article: 4 Takeaways From The First Murphy, Ciattarelli Debate

While candidates have spent more at this point than candidates in 2017 – when Murphy was elected to office – independent committee spending this year is also “considerably higher,” ELEC Executive Director Jeff Brindle said.

“Once again, gubernatorial elections are being held this year only in New Jersey and Virginia,” Brindle said. “So the Garden State is a major draw for these national political groups.”

According to the ELEC, some other campaign spending highlights so far include:

• “Combined with spending during the primary and pre-primary, total spending for the election is $57.9 million to date. That is more than the $52.9 million spent at this point in the campaign in 2017, when Governor Phil Murphy first ran for election.”
• “Among the candidates, Murphy, the incumbent, has raised $13 million and spent $5.7 million. He has $7.3 million in reserve. Former assemblyman and Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli has raised $10.1 million and spent $8.9 million. His cash-on-hand totals $1.2 million. Three third-party contenders report minimal spending.”

INDEPENDENT SPENDING

Among independent groups, Our NJ, a political committee formed by the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), has raised the most to date. It has raised $5.5 million and spent $3.4 million, according to filings with ELEC.

This year, Murphy is DGA’s finance chairman. He's also served as past chairman, officials said.

ELEC officials also noted:

“In 2017, DGA was the only contributor to Our NJ. This year, it has donated $1 million so far to the political committee. It also has donated $300,000 to the Turnout Project, which has initially spent funds on legislative elections. DGA spent a total of $3.2 million in New Jersey during the full 2017 election. The biggest contributor to Our NJ is Garden State Forward, which has given $2.5 million. The group is a federal 527 political organization run by the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teacher union and a key Murphy backer.”

The Republican Governors Association so far has reported $409,777 in spending, ELEC officials said. It spent $2.4 million in 2017 trying to defeat Murphy, and $7.5 million in 2009 when it helped Chris Christie unseat incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine.

A political committee called Committee to Build the Economy spent $6.5 million helping Murphy win the 2017 election. It was funded mostly with money from unions. So far, its major contributor is Garden State Forward, which has given $2.5 million, officials said.

Fix NJ Now, a pro-Ciattarelli political committee, supported him in the primary and is continuing to independently raise and spend funds on his behalf. So far, it has raised $294,836 and spent $71,203, officials said.

PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING

Much of the candidate spending has been financed so far with public dollars under the state’s Gubernatorial Public Financing Program, officials stated.

So far, the two candidates have received $15.1 million for the general election. They are eligible for $21 million. Murphy has received $8.8 million in public money up until now while Ciattarelli has gotten $6.3 million, officials said.

• See related article: Murphy, Ciattarelli Have Gotten $15M In Public Funds For Election
• See related article: 'Big Money' Rules NJ Governor Debates, Third-Party Candidates Say

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