The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) has approved $3,242,743 in public matching funds for a major party candidate (Steve Sweeney) in the 2025 gubernatorial primary election. It is the third disbursement from the state’s Gubernatorial Public Financing Program.

Total public funds distributed to date have now reached $16,791,765.

Qualified candidates may file additional submissions for public matching funds through November 5, 2025. March 25, 2025 is the deadline for candidates to qualify for participation in the Gubernatorial Public Financing Program.

Under the program, which began in 1974, candidates who raise $580,000 or more can qualify for public matching funds. Primary candidates are eligible for up to $5.5 million in public funds. In exchange, other than a few exceptions, they must limit their total primary spending to $8.7 million.