Fundraising and spending for the “Big Six” campaign committees are down this year compared to previous gubernatorial election cycles, according to campaign finance filings.
Each major party operates a trio of major campaign committees: one focused on State Senate elections, one targeted at Assembly elections, and the third focused on statewide elections. The Big Six committees have more cash on hand than at this point in the 2021 gubernatorial election, even while Democrats experienced a major dip in fundraising in the first quarter of 2025.
The Big Six raised a total of $1.31 million and spent $1.09 million in the first quarter of this year, per the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. Those totals are down from $2.28 million raised and $1.34 million spent in the same quarter of 2021.
The drops are largely fueled by a decrease in action on the Democratic side. Democratic committees raised $678,428, a 62% drop from the $1,777,853 raised in Q1 of 2021, according to ELEC.
The GOP committees, by contrast, raised about $630,000, a 26% jump from this point four years ago.
It’ll be an expensive year for Jersey politics. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is term-limited, and both parties are bracing for a feisty primary and general election. And while the State Senate isn’t up for grabs this year, all 80 Assembly seats will be voted on in November.
With these pending races, the parties have built up their coffers. Democratic committees have $2.41 million on hand, a 42% increase from this point in 2021. Republican committees have $1.24 million on hand, more than double their 2021 totals.
“One possible explanation for first quarter fundraising being off is that parties may be laying low until after the June 10, 2025, gubernatorial primary election,” ELEC Deputy Director Joseph Donohue said in a release. “With six Democrats and four Republicans vying for their respective nominations, it would make sense that party leaders would try to avoid competing for donor dollars.”
Donohue said the 2023 change to campaign finance laws could also help parties increase their totals.
“Waiting will not necessarily hurt them since they have a major advantage this year compared to four years ago that can help them play catchup later,” he said. “Under a new law enacted in 2023, state parties can now accept as much as $118,500 per year from donors, while legislative leadership committees can take up to $79,000. During the 2021 gubernatorial election year, the limit was $25,000 for all Big Six committees.”
