Special interest groups backed primarily by Democrats and unions raised $5.4 million for the upcoming state Assembly elections — nearly as much money as the candidates' solicited for their own campaign committees, according to an analysis Tuesday by the Election Law Enforcement Commission
TRENTON -- Special interest groups backed primarily by Democrats and unions raised $5.4 million for the upcoming state Assembly elections -- nearly as much as the candidates solicited for their own campaign, according to an analysis Tuesday by the Election Law Enforcement Commission.
During the first cycle of campaign fundraising and spending that ended Oct. 2, the candidates raised $6.6 million while five independent groups collected $5.4 million, according to ELEC's analysis of preliminary data.
All 80 seats in the Assembly are up in the Nov. 3 election, but so far only three of the 40 legislative races -- two in south Jersey, one in north Jersey -- are drawing the most cash, according to ELEC's analysis.
RELATED: Special interest campaign spending was off the charts in 2013
"Usually, an election with just Assembly candidates on the ballot is a low-key affair. But the involvement of the independent committees is definitely adding some drama this year,'' Jeff Brindle, ELEC's executive director said.
These special interest groups are known as 527 organizations, which are tax exempt and can accept donations from contributors without limits. They must disclose their donors to the IRS, not the state.
Garden State Forward, founded in 2013 by the dominant teachers' union in the state, the New Jersey Education Association, raised $2.75 million, more than any other independent group.
When the NJEA formed Garden State Forward two years ago, the union's spokesman said the intent was to focus more on issues and less on specific elections. The NJEA already had a state political action committee.
General Majority PAC, a national group dedicated to supporting Democrats running for state office, raised $2,019,000.
"The last time Assembly candidates ran alone on the ticket in 1999, there was no independent spending,'' Brindle said. "Interestingly, independent group spending in this year's Assembly general election so far represents 45 percent of total spending."
These special interest political action committees are not new to New Jersey elections. In 2013 when the governor and all 120 seats in the state legislature were open, these committees spent $38.9 million, representing 60 percent of all contributions. General Majority PAC, under the name Fund for Jobs Growth and Security, spent more than $8 million to help elect Democrats, according to ELEC's analysis.
The committees also played a significant role in the Newark mayoral race last year, which drew $5.5 million in independent spending -- a record for a local race, Brindle said.
Nearly $12 million has been raised collectively for the Nov. 3 Assembly contests, with Democratic candidates reporting $8.5 million and Republicans $3.8 million, according to ELEC.
The other top special interest groups contributing this election cycle include the Carpenters Fund for Growth and Progress, which raised $349,410 and gave $300,000 of it to General Majority PAC; the National Association of Realtors Fund which raised $250,450; and New Jerseyans for a Better Tomorrow, which raised $25,000 and gave it all to the General Majority PAC.
General Majority PAC, founded by U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's former chief of staff Susan McCue, has spent a combined $854,069 on the race in the 1st District, consisting of Cape May County and parts of Atlantic and Cumberland Counties, and the 2nd District in Atlantic County.
Incumbent Bob Andrzejczak and R. Bruce Land are the Democrats, and incumbent Samuel Fiocchi and Jim Sauro are the Republicans running in District 1.
Incumbent Vincent Mazzeo and Colin Bell are the Democrats running in District 2; incumbent Chris Brown and Will Pauls are the Republicans.
General Majority also spent $198,262 in the 38th District, which represents parts of Bergen and Passaic counties. Incumbents Tim Eustace and Joseph Lagana are the Democrats in District 38; Mark DiPisa is the Republican challenger.
Anthony Cappola was running with DiPisa until he dropped out this month following a story by POLITICO New Jersey about a book he wrote 12 years ago filled with rants and slurs against gay men and women, blacks, Asians, senior citizens, Muslims and foreign-born business owners.
Democrats hold a 47-32 majority in the Assembly, with one vacancy in the heavily Democratic 5th District representing parts of Camden and Gloucester.
Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
