The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) today disbursed more than $750,000 in matching funds to five gubernatorial candidates, the majority going to Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and former conservative radio host Bill Spadea.
ELEC disbursed $333,901 to Baraka, bringing him to $2,866,785 total, or 52% of the $5.5 million cap. Spadea received $246,029, bringing him to $2,224,911 total, or 40% of the cap.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) maxed out her total with the latest disbursement—she was only eligible to receive $2,701 more. She joins 2021 GOP nominee Jack Ciattarelli and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) as candidates who have hit the full $5,500,000 cap on public matching funds.
ELEC disbursed $134,260 to State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), who has now received $3,087,821 in total, and $39,210 to former State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford), who’s gotten $4,230,377 in total.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, a Democrat, did not receive any funds in this round of disbursements.
ELEC has now disbursed $33,707,855 in matching funds this primary season. Under New Jersey’s gubernatorial public financing program, the state matches $2 for every $1 raised over $185,000, with a maximum match of $5.5 million and a spending cap of $8.7 million in the gubernatorial primary.
Three candidates on the ballot, Democrat Sean Spiller and Republicans Mario Kranjac and Justin Barbera, did not raise the $580,000 threshold to qualify for matching funds or a place on future debate stages.
