A record $145.1 million was spent by 11 candidates and the independent political committees that supported them in the June primary for governor, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
About 27% of the grand total was spent on behalf of unsuccessful Democratic candidate Sean Spiller, who was president of the New Jersey Education Association, the state's largest teachers union. An independent committee funded by union dues contributed $39.7 million to his run, while his own account provided $415,000, the commission reported.
Ben Dworkin, director of the Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship at Rowan University, attributed the overall high spending in part to the large field of candidates. Also, he said, public matching funds boosted the campaign accounts. Eight candidates received a combined $38 million in such funding, according to the election commission.
Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli and his backers spent $11.3 million, the most for the GOP candidates, according to the election commission.
Mikie Sherrill, the successful Democratic candidate, and committees supporting her spent $15.9 million. She secured her party’s nomination despite being outspent by Spiller and two other Democrats: Representative Josh Gottheimer went through $24 million and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, $20.5 million, the report shows.
Sherrill, 53, from Montclair, has served as a congresswoman in the 11th District since 2019. A former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, she and her husband have four children. She is a strong supporter of abortion rights. She is also campaigning on increasing affordable housing and finding healthcare and prescription drug savings.
She has endorsements from prominent Democrats including Governor Phil Murphy, U.S. Senator Cory Booker and U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, according to her website.
Ciattarelli, 63, from Somerville, is a former medical publishing company owner who served in the state Assembly and on the Somerset County Board of Commissioners.
He and his wife have four children. This is Ciattarelli’s third run for governor; in 2021 he lost the general election to Murphy by three percentage points.
The candidate is an avid supporter of President Donald Trump, who in a Truth Social post wrote that he will "work closely with me and the Trump Administration to advance our America First Agenda."
Ciattarelli is proposing property tax caps and reduced income taxes. He says he will restructure affordable housing policy and create a department of government efficiency like Trump's.
Collectively, the candidates and committees paid $113 million for media, with the largest amount, $29 million, for network television ads.
"Seventy-five percent of people in New Jersey are reached by New York TV networks, with the rest being reached on Philadelphia networks," Dworkin said in a phone interview. Those media markets charge some of the highest advertising rates in the country, he said.
