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.

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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