The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) distributed its fifth round of gubernatorial matching funds today, giving a collective $4.5 million to four Democratic candidates running for governor.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) received $2,275,004, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop received $1,214,724, former State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) received $502,834, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) received $466,106.
Gottheimer has received $4,186,526 in total, 76% of the way to reaching the overall $5.5 million cap on matching funds for the Democratic primary. The other three Democrats have all received around $3.7 million, representing approximately two-thirds of the cap.
Two Republicans have also received matching funds thus far, though neither got any today: former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-Somerville) has received $5,188,666, putting him closer to the cap than any other candidate, and State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) has received $2,661,301.
Other candidates – among them radio host Bill Spadea, a Republican, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, both Democrats – have not yet received any matching funds.
Under New Jersey’s public financing plan, candidates are eligible to receive $2 for every $1 raised once they reach a fundraising threshold of $580,000. Candidates who raise less than $580,000 by March 24 will be ineligible to participate in two debates sanctioned by ELEC.
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. Whichever two candidates make it to the general election will be subject to higher caps: $12.5 million in matching funds and $18.5 million in expenditures.
