County political party committees are raising funds at a healthy clip even during an “off-year” when federal elections are the main focus this fall, according to quarterly reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).
Combined fundraising for those committees during the first nine months of 2024 totaled $8.4 million. That figure is 66 percent higher than the average for eight federal election years since 2010.
County party committees continue to benefit from the enactment last year of the most sweeping overhaul of campaign finance laws since 2004. The new law (P.L. 2023, Chapter 30) was signed April 3, 2023, by Governor Phil Murphy.
The law doubled the maximum annual contribution to county party committees from $37,500 to $75,000.
In addition, the law permitted the 42 county parties and two state parties to create new “housekeeping” accounts earmarked solely for administrative expenses. A donor can give $75,000 to regular campaign accounts plus $37,500 to the administrative accounts for a total of $112,500 each year.
So far, county parties have received an extra $212,500 from contributors who would have been limited to $37,500 prior to the 2023 legislation.
The new law also ended tight contribution caps on public contractors to party committees. Before the new law, contractors faced the risk of losing public contractors if they made contributions of more than $300. Contractors now can give up to the $112,500 maximum just like other contributors. To date, contractors, mainly engineering and law firms, have given $1,795,119 to county parties.
Along with benefits from the 2023 legislative changes, House candidates have contributed $243,918 through September 30, while U.S. Senate candidates have given $91,820.
The $2.3 million boost represents more than 27 percent of the $8.4 million in county fund-raising through September 30, 2024.
$335,738 total reduced by $30,000 to avoid double-counting. The $30,000 is included in the $212,500 windfall.
Eleven Democratic county party committees- Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, Somerset and Union- reported cash-on-hand totals above $100,000.
Table 4
Campaign Finance Activity of Democratic County Party Committees
January 1 through September 30, 2024
COUNTY RAISED SPENT CASH-ON-HAND NET WORTH*
Atlantic
$ 84,241
$ 60,363
$ 26,226
$ 26,226
Bergen
$ 843,927
$ 383,265
$ 786,102
$ 786,102
Burlington
$ 257,425
$ 75,391
$ 236,628
$ 230,253
Camden
$ 380,157
$ 465,831
$ 196,638
$ 74,559
Cape May
$ 38,719
$ 23,283
$ 33,140
$ 33,140
Cumberland
$ 35,466
$ 29,351
$ 24,764
$ 24,764
Essex
$ 514,942
$ 535,396
$ 228,977
$ 228,977
Gloucester
$ 531,802
$ 266,130
$ 478,805
$ 459,969
Hudson
$ 272,519
$ 194,000
$ 107,114
($ 45,735)
Hunterdon**
$ 14,600
$ 33,760
$ 6,882
$ 6,882
Mercer
$ 38,362
$ 36,056
$ 343,021
$ 342,444
Middlesex
$ 872,198
$1,112,331
$ 118,485
$ 118,485
Monmouth
$ 182,157
$ 160,502
$ 27,518
$ 27,518
Morris
$ 136,770
$ 155,824
$ 39,135
$ 39,134
Ocean
$ 26,442
$ 29,155
$ 34,036
$ 50,203
Passaic
$ 889,590
$ 889,118
$ 243,356
$ 243,356
Salem**
$ 21,098
$ 41,481
$ 46,281
$ 46,281
Somerset
$ 259,602
$ 248,772
$ 238,274
$ 238,274
Sussex
$ 76,293
$ 53,464
$ 61,839
$ 61,839
Union
$ 378,892
$ 267,821
$ 510,715
$ 510,715
Warren***
$ 2,965
$ 1,417
$ 3,365
$ 2,469
Democrats-Total
$5,858,166
$5,062,713
$3,791,302
$3,505,855
*Net worth is cash-on-hand adjusted for debts owed to or by the committee.
** Second quarter totals. ***First quarter totals.
Four Republican county party committees- Cape May, Cumberland, Monmouth, and Ocean- reported cash-on-hand totals above $100,000.
Table 5
Campaign Finance Activity of Republican County Party Committees
January 1 through September 30, 2024
COUNTY RAISED SPENT CASH-ON-HAND NET WORTH*
Atlantic
$ 117,146
$ 146,029
$ 46,750
$ 46,750
Bergen
$ 151,250
$ 103,791
$ 58,587
$ 58,587
Burlington
$ 75,461
$ 63,453
$ 29,018
$ 538,433
Camden
$ 48,942
$ 35,999
$ 21,068
$ 21,037
Cape May
$ 160,375
$ 163,665
$ 364,446
$ 364,446
Cumberland
$ 139,563
$ 64,458
$ 117,394
$ 110,368
Essex
$ 50,000
$ 34,488
$ 18,321
$ 18,321
Gloucester
$ 18,665
$ 2,867
$ 15,798
$ 15,798
Hudson**
$ 0
$ 725
$ 0
$ 0
Hunterdon
$ 108,884
$ 112,551
$ 6,793
($ 2,207)
Mercer
$ 11,110
$ 7,064
$ 10,305
$ 10,305
Middlesex
$ 67,687
$ 64,310
$ 23,711
$ 23,479
Monmouth
$ 338,173
$ 303,080
$ 143,021
$ 143,021
Morris
$ 116,580
$ 114,925
$ 24,922
$ 19,722
Ocean
$ 523,995
$ 405,646
$ 128,574
$ 128,574
Passaic
$ 180,045
$ 169,060
$ 29,918
$ 3,149
Salem
$ 60,725
$ 39,751
$ 59,483
$ 59,483
Somerset
$ 103,457
$ 82,083
$ 40,502
($ 5,251)
Sussex
$ 63,866
$ 61,915
$ 13,288
$ 13,017
Union
$ 119,801
$ 124,754
$ 51,508
$ 51,508
Warren
$ 100,018
$ 101,978
$ 32,111
$ 32,111
Republicans-Total
$2,555,743
$2,202,591
$1,235,519
$1,650,649
*Net worth is cash-on-hand adjusted for debts owed to or by the committee.
**First quarter totals.
The numbers in this analysis are based on reports filed by noon October 29, 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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In a recent report released by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC), it was revealed that combined county party fundraising efforts have been highly successful in the state. The report, which analyzed campaign finance data from the past year, showed that county party committees that joined forces to raise funds together saw a significant increase in contributions compared to those that operated independently.
One of the key findings of the report was that combined county party fundraising efforts resulted in a higher total amount of contributions raised. This can be attributed to the fact that pooling resources and coordinating fundraising efforts allowed for a more efficient and effective fundraising strategy. By working together, county party committees were able to tap into a larger donor base and attract larger donations, ultimately leading to a higher overall fundraising total.
Additionally, the report found that combined county party fundraising efforts were more successful in attracting donations from a diverse range of sources. This is important because it demonstrates that when county party committees work together, they are able to appeal to a wider range of donors and build stronger relationships within their communities. This not only helps to increase fundraising totals, but also strengthens the overall support base for the party.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in fundraising efforts. By pooling resources and coordinating fundraising activities, county party committees were able to track and report their fundraising activities more effectively. This level of transparency is crucial for maintaining public trust and confidence in the political process, and ensures that campaign finance laws are being followed.
Overall, the success of combined county party fundraising efforts as outlined in the ELEC report demonstrates the benefits of collaboration and coordination in political fundraising. By working together, county party committees are able to maximize their fundraising potential, attract a diverse range of donors, and maintain transparency and accountability in their fundraising activities. This bodes well for the future of political fundraising in New Jersey and sets a positive example for other states to follow.
