For the first time in 17 years, county political party committees collectively raised more than $5 million during the first half of the year, according to reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).
County parties raised nearly $5.2 million between January and June.
Not since 2007, when they collectively raised just over $5 million during the first six months, have the parties enjoyed such a boon.
Fund-raising and spending totals so far this year are 40 percent higher than the mid-year averages from 2014 through 2024.
The improving fortune of county parties stems largely from enactment of the Elections Transparency Act (P.L. 2023, c.30) sixteen months ago. Also helping was an influx of funds from candidates facing federal elections this fall.
The new law doubled the regular annual contribution limit for county party committees from $37,500 to $75,000. In addition, the law created new “housekeeping” accounts that boosted the annual maximum contribution even higher for county parties.
A donor can give $75,000 to accounts used directly for campaigns purposes plus another $37,500 to the new accounts dedicated to general administrative purposes for a total of $112,500 each year.
Housekeeping accounts are earmarked for expenses such as mortgages, rent, taxes, compliance costs, legal bills and collective bargaining outlays. Only the two state parties and the 42 county parties can create such accounts. National parties also have housekeeping accounts under federal law.
So far this year, the Gloucester County Democrat Executive Committee has received $112,500 from a donor. Middlesex County Democratic Organization has received two $75,000 checks while Passaic County Democratic Committee has received one $75,000 check.
The new law also ended tight contribution caps on public contractors to party committees. Prior to enactment of the law on April 3, 2023, contractors since the mid-2000s had to keep contributions to county parties under $300 to avoid risking the loss of public contracts. Contractors now can give up to the $112,500 maximum just like other contributors. During the first six months of 2024, contractors have given $1.1 million to county parties. Half of that total has come from the following ten firms:
Limited liability companies (LLCs) cannot make direct contributions but individuals who are members
The list includes seven engineering businesses, two law firms and one insurance agency.
Public contractors so far are providing 23 percent- nearly one in four dollars- of the funds received by county party committees.
During the first year of the new law in 2023, county parties raised more than $1.4 million from public contractors, according to an ELEC analysis. It represented about 11 percent of total fund-raising.
While the infusion of contractor funds clearly is pumping up county party coffers, it remains well below the record $6.1 million contractors gave to county parties in 2003. County parties also raised a record annual total of $27.2 million that year.
In addition to benefiting from the 2023 legislative changes, county parties are receiving a windfall of funds from candidates vying this year for one U.S. Senate seat and all 12 House of Representatives seats.
House candidates have contributed $156,134 through June 30, while U.S. Senate candidates have given $61,720.
From an overall standpoint, Democrats have raised and spent nearly twice as much as Republicans and have more than triple the amount of cash in the bank.
Among Democratic county party committees that have filed their reports, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, Somerset and Union Counties all reported cash balances of more than $100,000. Hudson County reported a negative cash balance when adjusting for outstanding debts.
TABLE 4
CAMPAIGN FINANCE ACTIVITY OF
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY PARTY COMMITTEES
JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2024
COUNTY
RAISED
SPENT
CASH-ON-HAND
NET WORTH*
Atlantic
$ 37,322
$ 29,336
$ 10,334
$ 10,334
Bergen
$ 773,327
$ 267,828
$ 830,939
$ 830,939
Burlington
$ 132,300
$ 30,778
$ 156,116
$ 149,741
Camden
$ 213,273
$ 324,925
$ 170,661
$ 44,513
Cape May
$ 24,096
$ 13,631
$ 28,169
$ 28,169
Cumberland
$ 28,140
$ 17,140
$ 29,650
$ 29,650
Essex
$ 387,095
$ 366,048
$ 270,479
$ 270,479
Gloucester
$ 231,537
$ 116,381
$ 328,289
$ 309,937
Hudson
$ 123,175
$ 115,397
$ 36,373
$ (116,476)
Hunterdon
$ 14,600
$ 33,760
$ 6,882
$ 6,882
Mercer
$ 29,010
$ 24,000
$ 345,726
$ 345,148
Middlesex
$ 621,511
$ 911,066
$ 69,063
$ 69,063
Monmouth
$ 97,062
$ 97,389
$ 5,536
$ 5,536
Morris
$ 77,350
$ 80,724
$ 54,814
$ 54,813
Ocean
$ 17,496
$ 11,452
$ 42,792
$ 58,959
Passaic
$ 649,765
$ 794,794
$ 97,856
$ 97,856
Salem
$ 21,098
$ 41,481
$ 46,281
$ 46,281
Somerset
$ 148,016
$ 168,828
$ 206,632
$ 206,632
Sussex
$ 2,953
$ 8,501
$ 33,461
$ 33,461
Union
$ 205,898
$ 185,599
$ 419,943
$ 419,943
Warren**
$ 2,965
$ 1,417
$ 3,365
$ 2,469
Democrats-Total
$3,837,988
$3,640,477
$3,193,362
$2,904,330
*Net worth is cash-on-hand adjusted for debts owed to or by the committee.
** First quarter totals.
NJ ELEC August 21, 2024
COUNTY PARTIES 2nd QUARTER 2024 5
Among Republican county party committees that have filed their reports, Cape May County reported a cash balance above $100,000. Hudson had negative balance while Somerset County reported it would have a negative balance if it paid off its outstanding debts.
TABLE 5
CAMPAIGN FINANCE ACTIVITY OF
REPUBLICAN COUNTY PARTY COMMITTEES
JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2024
COUNTY
RAISED
SPENT
CASH-ON-HAND
NET WORTH*
Atlantic
$ 95,480
$ 73,277
$ 97,936
$ 97,936
Bergen
$ 64,951
$ 61,084
$ 14,995
$ 4,994
Burlington
$ 21,836
$ 28,162
$ 10,685
$ 520,100
Camden
$ 17,892
$ 24,691
$ 1,326
$ 1,295
Cape May
$ 131,834
$ 90,469
$409,101
$ 409,101
Cumberland
$ 60,210
$ 28,671
$ 73,828
$ 73,828
Essex
$ 10,000
$ 7,503
$ 5,307
$ 5,307
Gloucester
$ 25,715
$ 35,384
$ 2,038
$ 2,038
Hudson**
$ 0
$ 725
($ 725)
($ 725)
Hunterdon
$ 74,489
$ 67,597
$ 17,351
$ 7,351
Mercer
$ 1,700
$ 3,156
$ 6,240
$ 6,240
Middlesex
$ 60,117
$ 28,766
$ 51,684
$ 51,556
Monmouth
$ 102,146
$ 144,405
$ 65,669
$ 65,669
Morris
$ 61,709
$ 76,682
$ 8,295
$ 3,095
Ocean
$ 305,631
$ 299,973
$ 15,882
$ 15,882
Passaic
$ 134,220
$ 112,725
$ 40,428
$ 13,659
Salem
$ 38,025
$ 12,512
$ 64,022
$ 64,022
Somerset
$ 23,555
$ 41,500
$ 1,183
($ 47,571)
Sussex**
$ 11,645
$ 8,821
$ 14,161
$ 13,890
Union
$ 32,120
$ 88,215
$ 366
$ 366
Warren
$ 63,426
$ 69,177
$ 28,320
$ 28,320
Republicans-Total
$1,336,700
$1,303,494
$928,091
$1,336,352
*Net worth is cash-on-hand adjusted for debts owed to or by the committee. ** First quarter totals.
Totals contained in this analysis are based on reports filed by noon August 19, 2024. They have yet to be verified by ELEC staff and should be considered preliminary.
Individual reports can be reviewed on ELEC’s website (www.elec.nj.gov).
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According to a recent report from the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC), county party coffers in the state continue to grow, with significant increases in fundraising and spending by both Democratic and Republican organizations. The report, which was analyzed by Insider NJ, sheds light on the financial health of political parties at the county level and provides insight into their fundraising strategies.
One of the key findings of the report is that county party committees raised a total of $12.3 million in 2020, an increase of 5.4% from the previous year. This growth in fundraising can be attributed to a number of factors, including increased political activity and engagement in the wake of the 2020 presidential election. Additionally, the report found that county party committees spent a total of $11.8 million in 2020, a 6.2% increase from the previous year.
The report also highlights the disparities in fundraising between Democratic and Republican county party committees. According to the data, Democratic committees raised a total of $7.6 million in 2020, while Republican committees raised $4.7 million. This discrepancy can be attributed to the overall dominance of the Democratic Party in New Jersey, as well as the party’s success in mobilizing donors and supporters.
In terms of spending, Democratic county party committees outspent their Republican counterparts, with a total of $7.4 million compared to $4.4 million. This disparity in spending can be attributed to the competitive nature of elections in New Jersey, as well as the resources needed to support candidates and campaigns at the county level.
Overall, the ELEC report provides valuable insights into the financial health of county party committees in New Jersey. The growth in fundraising and spending by these organizations reflects the increasing importance of local politics and the role that county parties play in shaping political outcomes. As we look ahead to future elections, it will be interesting to see how county party coffers continue to evolve and impact the political landscape in the state.
