With state legislative elections three weeks away, Democratic candidates have twice as much campaign cash as Republicans
TRENTON — With state legislative elections three weeks away, Democratic candidates have twice as much campaign cash as Republicans, according to an analysis released today by the Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Democrats have $8.6 million to Republicans’ $4.7 million. But those numbers do not factor in political parties’ fundraising, which will play a role in the upcoming elections.
Democrats hold a majority in both the Assembly and Senate and are expected to retain control after November’s elections, when all 120 seats are up. But Republicans are hoping to narrow those majorities by turning over seats from Democrat to Republican in a few key districts.
The most campaign spending has been in Bergen County-dominated District 38, where the lead race is state Sen. Robert Gordon (D-Bergen) against John Driscoll, the Republican Bergen County freeholder chairman. A total of $1.86 million has been spent there between the two Senate and four Assembly candidates.
The next most spending has been in Central Jersey’s District 14, where state Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer) faces Republican Richard Kanka. $1.41 million has been spent there.
Candidates in District 2, where state Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) is running against Assemblyman Vince Polistina (R-Atlantic), have spent $1.27 million.
Overall, fundraising is down slightly from four years ago. In 2007 – the last time all 120 seats were up – candidates at this point had raised $27.88 million compared to a total of $26.02 million now.
Election Law Enforcement Commission Executive Director Jeff Brindle attributed the decline to contribution limits for public contractors and the slouching economy. The rise of issue advocacy groups who are formed as non-profits under the tax code and do not have to publicly disclose their donors may also have siphoned money away, he said.
“It is impossible to determine the impact of these so-called 501 (c) groups because they are not required to disclose their contributors,’’ he said.. “ELEC, as a bi-partisan Commission, has called on the Legislature to mandate disclosure by these groups if they participate in New Jersey elections.”
The candidates’ campaign coffers don’t tell the full story, however. Buoyed by Gov. Chris Christie’s popularity in national Republican circles, the Republican State Committee has outraised Democrats in recent cycles and can pour resources into competitive legislative districts. Earlier this month, Christie completed a tour of several states that included fundraisers for the New Jersey GOP. Their numbers have not yet been released.
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• Early N.J. legislative redistricting plans by Republicans, Democrats widely diverge