County political party committees continue to enjoy a healthy fundraising cycle with all 120 legislative seats at stake in the November 7 election, according to quarterly reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).

Combined fundraising for those committees during the first nine months of 2023 totaled just over $8 million.

Compared to eight previous state election years, the total is 29 percent higher.

Table 1
Fund-raising by County Party Committees
Through September 30, 2023
PERIOD RAISED SPENT CASH
2023 (State Election Year) $8,060,981 $5,974,474 $5,277,593
Average for Eight State Election Years $6,248,182 $5,175,977 $3,264,877
2023 Versus Average 29% 15% 62%

Spending is 15 percent above the state election average, while cash reserves are 62 percent more. Fund-raising this year is lower than the 2021 total when inflation is taken into account.

Table 2
County Party Committee Fund-raising
During Eight State Election Years
YEAR RAISED SPENT CASH
2009 $7,398,692 $6,375,763 $2,952,853
2011 $4,798,299 $3,694,423 $2,134,219
2013 $5,319,655 $4,447,403 $2,456,395
2015 $4,843,498 $4,176,856 $2,123,801
2017 $6,661,677 $5,527,347 $3,266,399
2019 $4,890,874 $5,073,468 $2,958,486
2021 $8,011,7801 $6,138,085 $4,949,267
2023 $8,060,981 $5,974,474 $5,277,593
1 Inflation adjusted total = $9,156,295

A key consideration is that the 2021 total was inflated by an influx of national money into the state during the gubernatorial election.

The loss of that windfall largely is being offset by the fact that contribution limits for all party committees in New Jersey were raised when Governor Phil Murphy signed a new campaign finance law (P.L. 2023, Chapter 30) on April 3, 2023.

The law doubled the maximum annual contribution to county party committees from $37,500 to $75,000.

In addition, the law created new “housekeeping” accounts. A donor can give $75,000 to regular campaign accounts and $37,500 to the new accounts for a total of $112,000 each year.

Housekeeping accounts are earmarked solely for administrative expenses, including mortgages, rent,
taxes, compliance costs, legal bills and collective bargaining outlays. Only the two state parties and the 42 county parties can create such accounts. National parties also have housekeeping accounts under federal law.

Another boost to coffers is the fact that fundraising generally shoots up during state election years. This
year’s total is not only higher than the average for state election years. It also is 63 percent above the average2 for seven federal election years since 2010.

Democratic county party committees this election year are fighting to hold on to majorities on both legislative houses that they have held since 2002.

They have raised and spent more funds and are sitting on larger cash reserves than Republican county
party committees.

Table 3
Third Quarter Snapshot of Campaign
Finance Activity by County Parties
PARTY RAISED SPENT CASH ON HAND NET WORTH
Democrats $5,309,123 $3,725,488 $4,156,779 $4,025,154
Republicans $2,751,857 $2,248,986 $1,120,813 $1,580,411
Combined $8,060,981 $5,974,474 $5,277,593 $5,605,565
2 $4,593,845

Eleven Democratic county party committees- Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson,
Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, Somerset and Union- reported cash-on-hand totals above $100,000.

Table 3
Campaign Finance Activity of
Democratic County Party Committees
January 1 through September 30, 2023
COUNTY RAISED SPENT CASH-ON-HAND NET WORTH*
Atlantic $ 134,917 $ 83,216 $ 73,225 $ 73,225
Bergen $ 881,250 $ 350,181 $ 607,378 $ 607,378
Burlington $ 318,708 $ 49,405 $ 296,222 $ 289,847
Camden $ 358,764 $ 436,777 $ 199,051 $ 199,051
Cape May $ 21,476 $ 15,192 $ 13,636 $ 13,636
Cumberland $ 29,677 $ 50,332 $ 38,159 $ 38,159
Essex $ 279,005 $ 371,746 $ 265,349 $ 265,349
Gloucester $ 533,547 $ 231,489 $ 311,198 $ 285,507
Hudson $ 301,361 $ 218,409 $ 109,134 $ 359
Hunterdon $ 32,589 $ 28,043 $ 24,140 $ 24,140
Mercer $ 95,260 $ 106,964 $ 351,253 $ 351,253
Middlesex $ 786,000 $ 685,393 $ 211,385 $ 211,385
Monmouth $ 235,933 $ 180,310 $ 84,764 $ 84,764
Morris $ 135,969 $ 136,625 $ 26,218 $ 26,217
Ocean $ 43,700 $ 38,516 $ 26,146 $ 42,313
Passaic $ 654,842 $ 320,448 $ 647,105 $ 647,105
Salem** $ 500 $ 4,031 $ 76,683 $ 75,628
Somerset $ 94,213 $ 72,530 $ 292,196 $ 292,196
Sussex $ 70,937 $ 54,037 $ 29,082 $ 29,082
Union $ 297,690 $ 289,747 $ 472,711 $ 472,711
Warren** $ 2,784 $ 2,099 $ 1,747 ($ 4,148)
Democrats-Total $5,309,123 $3,725,488 $4,156,779 $4,025,154
*Net worth is cash-on-hand adjusted for debts owed to or by the committee.
** Second quarter totals.

Three Republican county party committees- Cape May, Cumberland and Monmouth- reported cash-on hand totals above $100,000.

Table 4
Campaign Finance Activity of
Republican County Party Committees
January 1 through September 30, 2023
COUNTY RAISED SPENT CASH-ON-HAND NET WORTH*
Atlantic $ 137,435 $ 147,062 $ 28,297 $ 28,297
Bergen $ 118,187 $ 100,549 $ 18,776 $ 8,776
Burlington $ 123,620 $ 101,511 $ 44,754 $ 554,169
Camden $ 36,883 $ 28,293 $ 7,781 $ 7,776
Cape May $ 201,000 $ 109,046 $ 283,073 $ 283,073
Cumberland $ 143,698 $ 37,948 $ 109,020 $ 109,020
Essex $ 125,000 $ 92,154 $ 60,526 $ 60,526
Gloucester $ 92,238 $ 74,660 $ 20,766 $ 15,766
Hudson NA NA NA NA
Hunterdon $ 66,825 $ 69,264 $ 21,699 $ 21,699
Mercer $ 20,800 $ 12,223 $ 11,140 $ 11,139
Middlesex $ 88,217 $ 65,242 $ 35,724 $ 35,595
Monmouth $ 450,101 $ 327,485 $ 176,025 $ 174,811
Morris $ 154,579 $ 150,496 $ 9,149 ($ 4,551)
Ocean $ 342,167 $ 388,249 $ 15,234 $ 15,234
Passaic $ 278,412 $ 213,300 $ 68,311 $ 66,542
Salem $ 67,803 $ 50,669 $ 46,672 $ 46,672
Somerset $ 104,882 $ 110,617 $ 6,441 $ 6,441
Sussex $ 31,155 $ 55,570 $ 47,824 $ 47,824
Union $ 49,100 $ 33,465 $ 53,651 $ 53,651
Warren $ 119,757 $ 81,182 $ 55,950 $ 37,950
Republicans-Total $2,751,857 $2,248,986 $1,120,813 $1,580,411
*Net worth is cash-on-hand adjusted for debts owed to or by the committee.
NA=Not available.

The numbers in this analysis are based on reports filed by noon November 1, 2023. They have yet to be
verified by ELEC staff, and should be considered preliminary.

Individual reports can be reviewed on ELEC’s website (www.elec.nj.gov).