Report Compares Spiller, Baraka Campaign Spending In 2025 Governor Race

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Money can’t always buy you results on Election Day, a new report says.

The Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey recently released an analysis of campaign funding during the 2025 governor election, focusing on two Democratic candidates: Sean Spiller and Ras Baraka.

View the report online here.

Spiller formerly served as the mayor of Montclair and president of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), the largest teachers union in the state. The NJEA reportedly directed nearly $45 million in member dues to support Spiller’s campaign through two super PACs, although the union has contested that claim.

Baraka is the mayor of Newark, the largest city in New Jersey. His campaign – which leaned heavily on a “progressive” platform – reportedly spent about $8 million.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill eventually won the Democratic Party primary, and went on to capture a victory in the general election.

Baraka finished in second-place for the primary, nailing down 173,951 votes with total campaign expenditures of $7.9 million, Sunlight Policy Center reported – about $45 per vote.

Meanwhile, Spiller finished in fifth-place among Democrats, getting 89,472 votes – about $502 per ballot taking into account “dark money” super PAC spending, the center alleged.

Baraka’s campaign also benefitted from a super PAC, but it made up only a fraction of his overall campaign spending at $656,485, the center said.

The Sunlight Policy Center, a watchdog think tank, has monitored the NJEA for years in addition to Spiller’s campaign. Read their latest report here.

UNION DUES AND POLITICAL CANDIDATES

Federal and state campaign contribution laws prohibit union dues from being used for political campaign contributions. However, unions can support political campaigns through donations from a political action committee (PAC) fund – which is fueled by voluntary contributions from workers.

The NJEA says that its own political action fund – the NJEA PAC – supports “pro-public education” candidates in races for governor and for the state Legislature. These candidates may in turn fight for worker rights as lawmakers, protecting school funding, tenure and workplace rights.

“Face it, every decision—from pensions and privatization, to salaries and benefits—is a decision made by people who hold public office,” the union argues. “The only way to influence these decisions is to elect candidates who support our public schools and you, our public school employees.

“One of the best ways to make sure we elect the right candidates is to give them the financial support they need to win,” the union adds. “In turn, to be effective, NJEA PAC depends on your voluntary contributions.”

• Related: NJ Governor Election Was Among Most Expensive In US History, Officials Say
• Related: NJ Group Linked To Teacher Union Spends Millions To Elect Sean Spiller
• Related: Baraka’s Strong Showing In Primary Gives NJ Progressives Hope: 'Not The End'

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