The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission disbursed more than $1.6 million to gubernatorial nominees in the latest round of public matching funds, according to a Monday release.
ELEC gave Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) $1,020,052 and Republican former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli $639,240 in this round of matching funds.
ELEC has so far distributed $9,731,556 to Sherrill, about 78% of the cap, and $8,778,512 to Ciattarelli, about 70% 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 started earlier this month — more than 29,000 New Jerseyans have cast their ballots, according to VoteHub.
