Former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac did not raise the $580,000 needed to qualify for public matching funds and a pair of debates ahead of the primary.
The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission said eight candidates reached the $580,000 threshold in a release Friday afternoon.
Michael Byrne, Kranjac’s campaign manager, said that Kranjac is “not a huge fan” of the public financing system and is waging his campaign from outside it instead.
“Mario is fundraising and self-funding outside of the matching funds limitations,” Byrne said. “He’s not a huge fan of taxpayer money going to consultants on the paid media buys that are the required use of the matching funds.”
Longshot GOP candidate Justin Barbera also did not reach the fundraising threshold. New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, a Democrat, said earlier this week that he didn’t meet the requirement. Kranjac, Barbera, and Spiller earned the signatures needed to reach the ballot (pending potential challenges), but cannot participate in the ELEC-sanctioned debates, whose dates and formats have yet to be announced.
The five Democrats to qualify include: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), and former Senate President Steve Sweeney. The three Republicans to qualify are State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, and former radio host Bill Spadea.
ELEC has so far delivered $25,821,242 in matching funds this primary cycle, according to the commission. ELEC disbursed its most recent round of public funds on Friday.
Under New Jersey’s public financing plan, candidates are eligible to receive $2 for every $1 raised. Candidates in the primary may qualify for up to $5.5 million in matching funds and agree to an $8.7 million cap on primary campaign expenditures. Gubernatorial contenders must raise $3.2 million to hit the $8.7 million number.
This story was updated at 5:17 p.m. with comment from Kranjac’s campaign.
