ELEC gives out another $1.8 million, most of it to Ciattarelli

After the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) distributed nearly $1.8 million in additional funds today, Gov. Phil Murphy has reached 90% of his total limit on matching funds. Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, meanwhile, has only reached 71% of his limit.

But Ciattarelli has now outraised Murphy in each of the last three weeks.

The money distributed today went disproportionately towards Ciattarelli; he received just over $1.1 million, while Murphy received only $640,000. In total, Murphy has received $9.5 million to Ciattarelli’s $7.4 million. 

Though Ciattarelli has more matching funds left available to him, a report from ELEC yesterday shows that he may run into more money issues than Murphy. Since the June primary election, Ciattarelli has outspent Murphy $8.9 million to $5.7 million, but he now only has $1.2 million in cash on hand, versus Murphy’s $7.3 million.

ELEC’s public financing system gives candidates $2 for every $1 raised, but limits them to a total spending cap of $15.6 million, minus a $156,000 deductible. Independent entities, which have spent a combined $13 million since June, are unconstrained by the same limitations.