New Jersey county parties are reaping the benefits of the Election’s Transparency Act, according to a report released today by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).
The law, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed in April, has been controversial, facing criticism from Republicans and progressive organizations. Despite the controversy, however, county parties have significantly boosted their fundraising abilities.
The law raised the limit that an individual donor can give a county party committee from $37,500 to $75,000.
Donors are certainly flexing their new spending powers. One of the state’s most active and powerful unions, the New Jersey State Laborers PAC, has already donated $85,000 to the Bergen County Democratic Committee, as well as $75,000 to the Democratic Committees in Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Hudson Democratic organizations.
Reports show that an additional $65,600 went to the Essex Victory 2023 Committee and $49,600 to the campaign committee of East Orange Mayor Ted Green. Green, a close ally of Democratic State Chairman and Essex County Democratic Chairman LeRoy Jones, is unopposed.
“After county parties file their next quarterly reports in mid-October, we may well see more evidence of the law’s impact on their fund-raising,” said Jeff Brindle, the ELEC executive director.
Additionally, the law created “housekeeping” accounts – only for the two major state parties and 42 county party organizations– that allow donors to contribute an additional $37,500 for administrative expenses. With the housekeeping accounts, the total maximum a donor can give is actually $112,500.
In addition to increasing these limits, the law also ended the tight limits placed on employees of firms with public contracts – previously, such workers were only allowed to give $300, and now they can donate up to $112,500.
Based on these changes, it is no wonder county parties are succeeding in fundraising. Combined fundraising totals for the first six months of 2023 reached about $4 million, approximately 28% above a decades-long average.
“It is encouraging to see county party spending in New Jersey elections doing better from a fundraising standpoint,” said Brindle.
The Laborers’ money went to counties with few hotly contested local races but are heavily invested in helping Democrats retain their majorities in the New Jersey Legislature.
While the New Jersey State Laborers PAC is investing heavily in Middlesex, Essex, Bergen, and Hudson, they have not donated to any South Jersey county organizations with a block of three contested legislative districts; in South Jersey, most of the money flows through super PACS allied with Democrats in that region.
Engineers are also realizing new political power. Because many engineers work as public contractors, they were restricted from donating more than $300. Before the law, engineers gave $11,850; following the new law, engineers have given $47,700.
While both parties are experiencing increased fundraising totals, the Democrats still have a clear edge. Through the first six months of this year, Democrats have a 2-to-1 advantage over Republicans in raising and spending money.
As election season more forcefully heats up, the impact of these new campaign finance regulations will continue to reverberate – especially as independent groups and PACs begin to focus on more competitive races.
ELEC will release another fundraising report for state and county political parties in October – the last one before this year’s elections.