The Election Law Enforcement Commission distributed more than $600k in public matching funds to a trio of gubernatorial candidates Tuesday, according to a release.
Among the Democrats, officials disbursed $295,660 to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, putting the mayor at $3,826,913 total, or about 70% of the $5.5 million cap. Officials gave former State Senate President Steve Sweeney $160,652, putting his total at $4,901,749.
One Republican received funds: Officials disbursed $173,399 to former radio personality Bill Spadea, who has how received $2,671,389 in matching funds.
No other candidates received matching funds on Wednesday. Three Democrats, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, and one Republican, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, have already reached the $5.5 million cap.
ELEC has now distributed $36.5 million among the eight qualifying candidates.
Under New Jersey’s public financing program, first enacted during the state’s 1977 elections, candidates for governor are eligible to receive $2 for every $1 they raise, as long as they both meet a minimum threshold of $580,000 raised and don’t go over a spending cap of $ 8,700,000. (More public funds will be made available to the two major-party candidates who make it to the general election, with higher spending caps in place as well.)
Three candidates who will appear on primary ballots — New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, a Democrat, and former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac and contractor Justin Barbera, both Republicans — did not raise enough to qualify for matching funds.
