New Jersey election officials disbursed more than $3 million in public matching funds between the two major gubernatorial candidates on Wednesday.
New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission officials granted Republican Jack Ciattarelli $1,709,776 and Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) $1,421,881, according to a release.
Ciattarelli and Sherrill can each receive up to $12.5 million in matching funds. Ciattarelli has so far received $5,751,030, or 46% of the cap, while Sherrill has received $5,435,400, or 43% of the cap.
Candidates may receive up to $12.5 million in public funds, subject to a $2-for-$1 match, in the general election. That comes with an $18.5 million spending cap, though super PACs and independent expenditures can continue spending to support their favored candidate. Candidates must raise $580,000 to qualify for matching funds.
Sherrill and Ciattarelli are the only candidates to qualify thus far; a third-party candidate would have 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.
