A flood of large campaign checks from outside New Jersey helped fatten county party coffers to their
largest totals since the last gubernatorial election in 2017, according to fourth quarter reports filed for 2021 with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).

County party committees raised $14.3 million and spent $13.2 million in 2021, which are close to the
totals for 2017.

“Historically, gubernatorial elections in New Jersey have drawn heavy out-of-state funding, chiefly from
national governors associations, national affiliates of Garden State unions and wealthy individuals,’’ said Jeff Brindle, ELEC’s Executive Director. “County parties are among the beneficiaries.”

“In 2021, Democratic committees benefited most from their national ties. They raised 41 percent of their
funds from out-of-state sources versus 7 percent for GOP committees,’’ said Brindle. “Democratic parties
received 96 percent of all out-of-state funds versus 4 percent for Republicans.”

Nine of the top 25 donors to county parties are based in the District of Columbia, along with one each
from New York, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. Twenty-one of the top 25 are unions.

The top 25 donors contributed 49 percent of all funds raised by county party committees. Democratic
committees received 55 percent of their contributions from the top 25 while Republicans committees received.

The top 25 included two newcomers that have not given money to past New Jersey state elections.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi funneled $259,000 to seven Democratic party committees,
perhaps in anticipation of this year’s mid-term congressional elections.

Stacy Schusterman, chair-person of Samson Energy in Oklahoma and a prominent Democratic donor
nationally, gave $222,000 to six county party committees.

Party committees received 76 checks worth $37,000- the maximum contribution they can accept- from
out-of-state donors compared to 52 from in-state donors. Democrats received 119 “max” checks while
Republican received 9.

“Much of the increase in county party fund-raising during gubernatorial years is explained by the influx
of out-of-state funds, particularly from the District of Columbia,’’ Brindle said.

While county parties hugely benefited from out-of-state financial support in 2021, the two gubernatorial
candidates got the most help.

The most prominent example was the involvement of the Democratic and Republican Governors
Associations. While the Democratic group donated $457,500 to county parties, the two associations spent $6.1 million on behalf of their respective gubernatorial candidates.

While the gubernatorial election year helped swell county coffers in 2021, the totals were below the
average for all six gubernatorial years since 2001 though higher than the average for non-gubernatorial election years.

“On average, county parties since 2001 have raised $15.6 million, and spent $15.3 million during the
past six gubernatorial election years,’’ said. “Those averages are about 30 percent more than totals raised and spent during non-gubernatorial years.”

Five county party committees- all Democratic- raised more than $1 million in 2021 largely with help
from out-of-state donors. Just those five committees received 39 percent of contributions that went to all county parties in 2021.

Among Democratic county committees that have filed their quarterly reports, 11 committees-Bergen,
Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, and Union – reported cash balances above $100,000.

The Cape May County committee was the only Republican committee reporting a cash balance above
$100,000.

The numbers in this analysis are based on reports filed by noon February 2, 2022. They have yet to be
verified by ELEC staff, and should be considered preliminary.