Combined campaign finance activity of New Jersey’s so-called “Big Six” committees sank to the lowest level in at least eight years, according to an analysis by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).
The two state parties and four legislative leadership committees raised a total of $4.9 million, spend just over $4 million and ended the year with just under $1.7 million in the bank. The fundraising and spending totals are the lowest since at least 2007. Comparing only off-election years (cash reserves usually are low after elections), cash-on-hand totals previously were lower only in 2010.
“Traditional party fundraising groups are being buffeted by many headwinds,” said Jeff Brindle, ELEC’s Executive Director.
He said political parties should be strengthened to offset the influence of independent groups and the effects of tight restrictions on contractor contributions and contribution limits that have not been inflation adjusted for several years.
Looking at 2014 campaign finance activity, Democratic committees as a group raised and spent more funds than Republicans, and reported a higher net worth (net worth is cash-on-hand adjusted for debts owed to or by a committee). Republicans reported more cash-on-hand at year’s end.
Compared to 2010 year-end numbers, both parties raised and spent less money than four years ago, and Republicans also reported lower cash-on-hand and net worth totals. Democrats reported higher cash-on-hand and net worth numbers compared to 2010.
Here’s ELEC’s comparison of both parties’ financial activity from 2007:
2007
$ 19,177,655 raised
$ 23,367,064 spent
$ 377,324 cash-on-hand
$ (521,409) net worth
YES Statewide elections?
2008
$ 6,653,676 raised
$ 5,186,294 spent
$ 1,844,704 cash-on-hand
$ 1,669,848 net worth
NO Statewide elections?
2009
$ 12,368,082 raised
$ 12,919,862 spent
$ 1,297,457 cash-on-hand
$ 1,107,532 net worth
YES Statewide elections?
2010
$ 6,180,605 raised
$ 5,918,029 spent
$ 1,540,032 cash-on-hand
$ 1,305,667 net worth
NO Statewide elections?
2011
$ 15,035,468 raised
$ 15,547,359 spent
$ 1,028,142 cash-on-hand
$ 705,787 net worth
YES Statewide elections?
2012
$ 7,063,133 raised
$ 6,391,757 spent
$ 1,684,525 cash-on-hand
$ 1,516,187 net worth
NO Statewide elections?
2013
$ 13,885,028 raised
$ 14,727,957 spent
$ 841,599 cash-on-hand
$ 755,419 net worth
YES Statewide elections?
2014
$ 4,872,907 raised
$ 4,048,955 spent
$ 1,662,052 cash-on-hand
$ 1,008,612 net worth
NO Statewide elections?
FUNDRAISING BY BIG SIX COMMITTEES from January 1-Dec. 31st, 2014:
New Jersey Republican State Committee
$ 1,663,324 raised
$ 1,522,137 spent
$ 553,549 cash-on-hand
$ 25,818 net worth
Senate Republican Majority
$ 255,348 raised
$ 93,495 spent
$ 218,089 cash-on-hand
$ 218,089 net worth
Assembly Republican Victory
$ 367,815 raised
$ 185,698 spent
$ 222,830 cash-on-hand
$ 222,830 net worth
Sub Total-Republicans
$ 2,286,487 raised
$ 1,801,330 spent
$ 994,468 cash-on-hand
$ 466,737 net worth
Versus 2010 (Dollars)
$ (652,652) raised
$ (836,644) spent
$ (81,209) cash-on-hand
$ (493,757) net worth
Versus 2010 (Percent)
-22%
-32%
-8%
-51%
DEMOCRATS
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
$ 1,502,577
$ 1,485,948
$ 175,651
$ 100,380
Senate Democratic Majority
$ 374,125
$ 278,545
$ 174,718
$ 154,718
Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee
$ 709,718
$ 483,132
$ 317,215
$ 286,777
Sub Total-Democrats
$ 2,586,420
$ 2,247,625
$ 667,584
$ 541,875
Versus 2010 (Dollars)
$ (655,045)
$ (1,032,430)
$ 203,229
$ 196,702
Versus 2010 (Percent)
-20%
-31%
44%
57%
Total-Both Parties
$ 4,872,907 raised
$ 4,048,955 spent
$ 1,662,052 cash-on-hand
$ 1,008,612 net worth
Versus 2010 (Dollars)
$(1,307,698)
$ (1,869,074)
$ 122,020
$ (297,055)
Versus 2010 (Percent)
-21%
-32%
8%
-23%
