The Election Law Enforcement Commission disbursed nearly $590,000 in matching funds to a quartet of candidates Thursday, and time is running out for several to reach the cap.
ELEC disbursed $256,470 to former state Senate President Steve Sweeney, putting him at $5.16 million, or about 94% of the cap. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka received $209,006, giving him $4,035,919 in total matching funds and putting him at 73% of the cap.
Two Republicans received smaller payouts Thursday. Former radio host Bill Spadea received $91,862, and state Sen. Jon Bramnick received $32,316 in the latest round of disbursements. The two are now at 50% and 58% of the cap, respectively. 
Four candidates — Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli — have already received the max $5.5 million in matching funds.
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 $8.7 million. (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.)
With less than two weeks before Election Day, Bramnick and Spadea appear unlikely to hit the full match. With Ciattarelli seen as the clear frontrunner, a monetary disadvantage won’t do the pair any favors. The same could be the case for Baraka.
ELEC matching funds are disbursed with specific earmarks, so it’s possible more aggressive disbursements are coming in the final days, though that time is running out.
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.
