The so-called Big Six ended the first three quarters of the year with the best fund-raising totals since 2012 when comparing other recent years without statewide, non-federal elections, according to new reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).

The two major parties and four legislative leadership committees have raised a combined $3.8 million so far this year. That figure is less than 34 percent of the $5.8 million raised last year, when both the governor’s seat and both legislative houses were in contention.

It is typical for fund-raising to taper off between elections. Even so, the amount raised so far this year is 75 percent more than the $2.2 million raised at this point in 2016, and 57 percent more than the $2.4 million collected in 2014. Those years also lacked statewide, non-federal elections.

Table 1 Campaign Finance Activity by “Big Six” January 1 through September 30, 2018

BOTH PARTIES RAISED SPENT CASH-ON-HAND NET WORTH STATEWIDE ELECTION (NON-FEDERAL)

2007 $9,322,604 $6,713,165 $7,368,421 $7,095,891 Senate and Assembly

2008 $4,457,887 $3,508,376 $1,519,083 $1,134,427

2009 $6,309,496 $5,098,191 $3,073,241 $2,746,784 Governor and Assembly

2010 $3,160,458 $2,859,927 $1,664,237 $1,457,787

2011 $6,913,921 $5,025,694 $3,428,259 $3,123,885 Senate and Assembly

2012 $4,083,910 $3,971,806 $1,331,432 $1,192,473

2013 $7,203,008 $5,917,331 $2,970,203 $2,884,025 Governor and Both Houses

2014 $2,444,799 $1,887,661 $1,388,946 $ 765,268

2015 $3,896,539 $3,579,018 $1,984,629 $1,346,849 Assembly only

2016 $2,195,300 $1,985,370 $1,188,706 $1,039,918

2017 $5,835,574 $5,354,876 $2,317,953 $2,233,450 Governor and Both Houses

2018 $3,846,796 $3,293,435 $1,298,934 $1,214,430

While the two state parties are participating in this year’s congressional elections, they use both federal and state accounts to raise funds and pay for expenses. This analysis includes only the campaign finance activity reported for their state accounts.

Jeff Brindle, ELEC’s Executive Director, said it is a good sign that the Big Six committees are doing better compared to recent off-election years. But their fundraising still is down drastically since the early 2000s. Party coffers have declined steadily since tight restrictions on contributions by public contractors took effect around 2005, and court rulings prompted special interest groups to spend more money independently instead of funneling it through parties. Bi-partisan legislation pending in the Legislature recommended by ELEC could strengthen the state’s political parties by allowing them to accept larger contributions, freeing them from pay-to-play restrictions and mandating that independent spenders fully disclose their campaign finance activities just like parties and candidates.

“As parties weaken, independent groups that are far less accountable and transparent are taking over the electoral process in New Jersey and nationally,” Brindle said. “ELEC’s legislative fixes may not be the perfect cure but they will help reverse this trend.”

With the inauguration of Democrat Phil Murphy in January after eight years of rule by Republican Governor Chris Christie, Democratic fund-raising has out-paced Republicans this year. Democrats, who also control both legislative houses, have raised and spent nearly five times more money through September 30, 2018, and reported more than twice as much cash in the bank.

Table 2 Fundraising by “Big Six” Committees January 1 through September 30, 2018

ACTIVITY FIRST THREE QUARTERS 2018 REPUBLICANS RAISED SPENT CASH-ON-HAND NET WORTH

REPUBLICANS

New Jersey Republican State Committee $ 280,285 $ 292,259 $ 90,816 $ 90,816

Senate Republican Majority $ 242,084 $ 145,897 $ 163,372 $ 163,372

Assembly Republican Victory $ 150,800 $ 133,701 $ 107,418 $ 107,418

SUB TOTAL- REPUBLICANS $ 673,169 $ 571,857 $ 361,606 $ 361,606

DEMOCRATS

New Jersey Democratic State Committee $2,260,211 $2,076,697 $ 569,710 $ 535,646

Senate Democratic Majority $ 241,488 $ 159,373 $ 154,336 $ 134,335

Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee $ 671,928 $ 485,508 $ 213,282 $ 182,843 S

UB-TOTAL- DEMOCRATS $3,173,627 $2,721,578 $ 937,328 $ 852,824

TOTAL- BOTH PARTIES $3,846,796 $3,293,435 $1,298,934 $1,214,430

A side-by-side look at comparable numbers four years ago shows Democratic fundraising, spending and cash-on-hand all are up. All Republican totals are down during that same period.

Table 3 Fundraising by “Big Six” Committees through September 30- 2018 versus 2014

REPUBLICANS RAISED SPENT CASH-ON-HAND NET WORTH

2014 $ 1,565,717 $ 1,040,757 $ 1,034,270 $ 473,571

2018 $ 673,169 $ 571,857 $ 361,606 $ 361,606

Difference-Dollars $ (892,548) $ (468,900) $ (672,664) $ (111,965)

Difference-% -57% -45% -65% -24%

DEMOCRATS 2014 $ 879,082 $ 846,904 $ 354,676 $ 291,697

2018 $3,173,627 $2,721,578 $ 937,328 $ 852,824

Difference-Dollars $2,294,545 $1,874,674 $ 582,652 $ 561,127

Difference-% 261% 221% 164% 192%

BOTH PARTIES 2014 $2,444,799 $1,887,661 $1,388,946 $ 765,268 2018 $3,846,796 $3,293,435 $1,298,934 $1,214,430

Difference-Dollars $1,401,997 $1,405,774 $ (90,012) $ 449,162

Difference-% 57% 74% -6% 59%

State Parties and Legislative Leadership Committees are required to report their financial activity to the Commission on a quarterly basis. The reports are available on ELEC’s website at www.elec.state.nj.us. ELEC also can be accessed on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NJElectionLaw) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/elecnj).