ELEC gives $2.6 million in new round of matching funds

Election officials disbursed more than $2.6 million to gubernatorial campaigns in the latest round of public matching funds, officials announced Tuesday.

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission released $1,594,673 to Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) and $1,032,489 to Republican former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli.

Ciattarelli has now received $6,783,519 in total matching funds, about 54% of the cap, while Sherrill has received $7,030,073, about 56% of the cap.

General election candidates may receive up to $12.5 million in public funds in a $2-for-$1 match system. Participation in the program comes with an $18.5 million spending cap, though super PACs and independent expenditures can continue spending to support their favored candidate.

Sherrill and Ciattarelli were the only candidates to qualify. A third-party candidate would have had to raise $580,000 by Sept. 2 to qualify.

ELEC distributed over $37.5 million in matching funds in the primary election, a record-setting sum.

Mail-in voting for the governor’s race starts later this month.