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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
With $122M spent, the 2025 governor's race is already New Jersey's most expensive
Spending totals for this campaign have already more than doubled those in every gubernatorial primary since at least the turn of the millennium. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Candidates and outside groups have spent more than $122.5 million on this year's gubernatorial primary, a total greater than any other in state history and one that stands to rise in the race's closing days, the New Jersey Election Law Commission said Friday. The spending total includes $54.9 million from the candidates themselves and $67.7 million from outside groups. Between them, $14 million remained unspent, and that number could swell from late-arriving donations to independent expenditure groups, which face no contribution limits. Voting is underway and ends Tuesday. Spending totals for this campaign have already more than doubled those in every gubernatorial primary since at least the turn of the millennium and have outpaced even the most expensive gubernatorial general election. That November 2005 race between Democrat Jon Corzine and Republican Doug Forrester cost about $98 million after adjustments to inflation, the commission said. This year's 11 gubernatorial candidates had about $6.7 million left in reserves on May 27, the last date covered by regular pre-election campaign finance disclosures. The commission credited the number of candidacies and a larger gubernatorial fund match for the increase. Candidates who meet fundraising and spending thresholds can receive up to $5.5 million in matching public dollars for the primary in exchange for observing an $8.7 million primary spending cap and participating in debates hosted by the commission. Five of the eight candidates have maxed out or nearly maxed out their matching funds. Of the $54.9 million spent by the candidates, Democrats Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Rep. Mikie Sherrill lead the pack, with Fulop spending nearly $8.7 million and Sherrill shelling out $8.5 million as of May 27. Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2017 and 2021, spent $8 million, followed by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat, at $7.9 million. Spending by outside groups is dominated by Working New Jersey, a super PAC funded by an independent expenditure group linked to statewide teachers union the New Jersey Education Association. It is responsible for more than half of the outside spending in the race, with at least $37.5 million boosting Democrat Sean Spiller, the union's president. Spiller's own campaign has spent only $342,059. Spiller's Democratic rivals have seen less but still sizable support from independent expenditure groups. They have boosted Rep. Josh Gottheimer to the tune of $11.6 million; Fulop, $7.4 million; former state Sen. Steve Sweeney, $4.3 million; and Sherrill, $3.8 million. A group run in part by Trump ally Kellyanne Conway has spent $1.3 million supporting Ciattarelli's campaign. Gubernatorial totals far exceed fundraising and spending on this year's Assembly races (all 80 seats in the chamber are on the ballot this year). Not counting independent expenditures, Assembly candidates have raised nearly $26.3 million and spent about $15.4 million, the commission said. Most of that money, $20.8 million, has flowed to incumbents. Collectively, challengers have raised just under $5.5 million. The ratio is similarly split along party lines. Democratic candidates account for $21.6 million of the funds raised, while only $4.7 million went to Republicans. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Politico
5 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Spiller super PAC spent $8.3M just on canvassing
Presented by Good Thursday morning! The super PAC that's unofficially running NJEA President Sean Spiller's campaign for governor has spent as much just on canvassing as his rival candidates' actual campaigns are allowed to spend, period. Yesterday, NJEA critic Mike Lilley's group pointed out an odd-seeming $8.3 million in expenditures on the financial disclosure of the super PAC, Working New Jersey, which is funded with $40 million entirely by the union. All that money went to AP Consulting Firm in Newark, which as far as I can tell is a tiny company run by former Newark Board of Education member Ariagna Perello that specializes in tax prep. That's actually payment for Working New Jersey's field operation, according to the super PAC's spokesperson Eddie Vale. He said it's run by James Souder, who was briefly Newark's director of neighborhood and recreational services but stepped down amid an alleged nude photo incident and general dissatisfaction with his job performance, and later served as a legislative director for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, according to his LinkedIn page. Perello, he said, is administering it. Vale told me the canvassing operation is in all 21 counties. 'Working New Jersey's field program remains active in all of these counties as part of what is certainly the biggest GOTV operation, independent or otherwise, in the Democratic primary, especially now during early vote and the final six days of the campaign,' he said. 'Biggest GOTV operation' seems like an understatement. All five of Spiller's Democratic rivals are taking matching funds from the state, which basically limits them to spending $8.7 million. And while there are super PACs doing field work for some of Spiller's rivals, none of them approach $8.3 million. And that figure was with two weeks to go before the primary, so it will almost certainly be larger. By contrast, Ras Baraka's campaign has spent about $685,000 on canvassing through his brother Middy's consulting firm, and it broke down the expenses to include every person receiving the walking-around money. Or to make an even more stark comparison, Working New Jersey's field operation alone costs more than 24 times the roughly $342,058.84 Sean Spiller's campaign reported spending since he launched his campaign a year ago. Have I ever mentioned that our campaign finance system is absurd? FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — In Hoboken at 11 a.m. for a Unilever headquarters opening. In Newark at 1:15 p.m. for a 'ratepayer relief' announcement. And in Oceanport at 6:30 p.m. for a New Jersey Theatre Alliance gala. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'The whole thing is looking like the three-way standoff in the movie Reservoir Dogs. And that shoot-out turned out poorly for everyone involved.' — Princeton's Sam Wang and FairVote's David Daley on the Democratic primary in a Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed advocating for ranked choice voting. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Kevin Peng, Shereef Elnahal, Dan Harris, Charles Rosen. WHAT TRENTON MADE HE'S LITERALLY PHONING IT IN — 'Even Offstage, Trump Is Everywhere in New Jersey's Governor's Race,' by The New York Times' Tracey Tully: 'President Trump has played a starring role throughout the race for governor of New Jersey, thanks to his stronger-than-expected showing last November in the Democrat-led state. But his influence on the Republican and Democratic primaries, set for Tuesday, was impossible to miss this week. On Monday night, just hours before the start of early voting, Trump held a dial-in telephone rally for the candidate he endorsed last month, a Republican former assemblyman named Jack Ciattarelli, who is making his third run for governor. Ciattarelli was at the front of a five-candidate G.O.P. pack long before he earned Trump's backing. Still, if Ciattarelli wins Tuesday's primary and beats the Democratic nominee in November, the president will rightly be able to claim some credit. Only New Jersey and Virginia are holding races for governor this year, and the contests will offer an early gauge of voter attitudes toward Trump, five months into his second term as president. He seemed to allude to that looming scorecard on the call, reminding listeners that the race was 'being watched, actually, all over the world.'' — 'New Jersey primary sets up the first major fight for the Democratic Party's future' EVERYBODY'S GONE SURVEYING. SURVEYUSA — It doesn't really tell us anything about the primary, but a new poll conducted by SurveyUSA for the advocacy group Education Reform Now has some numbers worth looking at considering the dearth of polling. The poll of 576 likely voters shows Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer with the highest net favorability ratings of seven candidates for governor: All six Democrats and Republican Jack Ciattarelli (it did not ask about Bill Spadea). Sherrill is at +12 and Gottheimer at +13. Ciattarelli is at +4, Ras Baraka +3 and Sean Spiller +3. The two Steves, Sweeney and Fulop, are just barely in the negative, at -2 and -1, respectively. The poll also asked voters' attitudes towards President Trump. He's 44 percent approve to 53 percent disapprove, a -9 net favorability rating. It's not apples to apples, but that's worse than the 47-47 approval rating split in a recent Emerson poll, but significantly better than the -21 approval rating he had in a May 2017 Quinnipiac poll. See the poll questions and results here. The poll's credibility interval is +/- 6.1 percentage points. POWER — 'Utilities plan to delay (but not decrease) electric rate hikes for New Jersey customers,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Wayne Parry: 'New Jersey's main utility companies plan to delay steep increases in the price of electricity until the fall, but customers will still pay every penny of the higher rates, just spread out over time. Three utility companies say they have requested permission from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to defer the significantly higher rates brought on by the most recent supplier auction held by PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator … The steps proposed by the power companies, in response to a request by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, will be but a reprieve for customers; unless they qualify for financial assistance, they will still pay the full amount of the increases, but the cost could be spread out over as many as six months.' SKINT TAG — 'Murphy plans to axe summer tuition aid for college students,' by NJ Spotlight News' Hannah Gross: 'For a growing number of low-income college students, summer does not necessarily mean time off from school. The expansion of the Tuition Aid Grant program to include summer classes has allowed students to continue toward their degree at a lower cost — but this could be the last summer the financial aid is available. Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed budget does not include funding for Summer TAG, which has helped around 24,000 students in its first two years. At budget hearings, college presidents called for the Legislature to add $30 million for summer tuition aid to the budget for next year so the program can continue in summer 2026. This is one of several requests from higher education leaders, who are raising alarm about potential cuts at the state and federal levels. 'It's a perfect storm of disinvestment,' said Eric Friedman, president of Bergen Community College.' GOTTHEIMER — 'Former Gaza hostage Edan Alexander and his family support Democrat in tight N.J. governor race,' by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: 'Edan Alexander, the New Jersey native who was recently released after being held hostage for 19 months in Gaza, and his family wrote a letter supporting U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer as he runs in the state's tight Democratic primary for governor, now in its closing days, NJ Advance Media has learned. Alexander, a soldier for the Israeli army, on May 11 became the last living American hostage set free by Hamas. … The family wrote the letter a week after Alexander's release ... They said they were in Israel, 'embracing every moment of Edan's return to our lives.'' — 'Eleven towns that tell the story of New Jersey's Democratic brawl for governor' — Kean Sr.: 'We all lose without local news' — 'Goal of NJ school segregation suit is not to revoke home rule law, attorney says' — 'In school segregation case, New Jersey opposes appeal as think tank urges court to consider remedy' — 'New Jersey teachers bankroll the $40 million man' — 'New Jersey has given $37.5M in matching funds to governor hopefuls' — Pizarro: 'Critical Context on 'the Establishment' Candidacy of Mikie Sherrill' TRUMP ERA AN ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO FREE SPEECH — 'Surveilled, detained: Feds pursue Paterson woman a year after Gaza protest,' by The Record's Hannan Adely: 'Leqaa Kordia of Paterson said she soon found that the Department of Homeland Security was investigating nearly every aspect of her life. They interrogated her mother, uncle, a clothing store owner and tenants of an apartment that she briefly rented. … The scrutiny, described in a federal lawsuit, came nearly a year after her participation at a demonstration on April 30, 2024, outside the gates of Columbia University. New York City police arrested 119 protesters on and off campus that day, including Kordia, a Palestinian who had been in the United States since 2016. Although charges were dropped, the arrest put her on federal authorities' radar, the lawsuit shows. In March, the Department of Homeland Security announced Kordia had been arrested for overstaying her student visa. Kordia's mother had filed a family-based petition for her to become a permanent resident that she mistakenly thought gave her temporary legal status, her attorneys said. Today, she remains in Texas at the Prairieland Detention Facility, 1,500 miles away from her family, held in what her attorneys describe as 'inhumane conditions.'' — Testa: 'Don't let NJ Democrats distract you with their epic failures. Medicaid is safe' — 'CBO: Nearly 11 million people will be uninsured if GOP megabill becomes law' LOCAL FROM RENAISSANCE SCHOOLS TO A DARK AGE — 'Camden students bring concerns about budget cuts to New Jersey Department of Education,' by WHYY's P. Kenneth Burns: 'At least two dozen Camden students traveled Wednesday to Trenton to protest looming budget cuts being made to the state-run school district, voicing frustration and fear over what the reductions could mean for their education. And they didn't come alone. Community members and representatives from the Camden Education Association, New Jersey Education Association, NAACP New Jersey State Conference Youth and College Division and New Jersey Working Families Party also showed up to support the student-led rally outside of the New Jersey Department of Education building. … Several students spoke of their hurt that more than 100 people, including teachers and a cast of support staff, will be laid off to cover a $91 million budget deficit. The deficit was announced by state District Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs on April 30, along with a series of moves to balance the budget, including the layoffs. 'I am devastated,' said Kevin Duncan, a Camden High School student. 'There is no emotions and words that can describe this feeling that I'm feeling today.'' PATERSON — 'Paterson shootings down from 31 in 2024 to 20 this year,' by the Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'As summer approaches, Paterson has seen a significant decrease in gun violence in 2025, according to data released by the city police department on June 3. The city had 20 shooting incidents during the first five months of this year, compared to 31 over the same time period in 2024, a 35.5% reduction, the police department said. Meanwhile, the number of shooting victims in Paterson from January through May dropped by about 50% compared to the first five months of last year, when 41 people were killed or injured by gunfire in the city, officials said. The 2025 drop in gun violence has been unmatched over the past decade … Paterson PBA President Angel Jimenez attributed the drop in shootings to the violent crime suppression initiative, which uses overtime to assign extra officers to notorious trouble spots … As part of the state takeover, Gov. Phil Murphy's administration has allocated an extra $20 million for Paterson police operations, including millions spent on overtime to increase police presence on the streets.' 500-PERSON TOWN HAS ITS OWN POLICE FORCE, SCHOOL BOARD — 'West Wildwood could look to supplement cops, not disband,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: 'The Board of Commissioners will consider contracting with an outside police department to cover overnight shifts for its understaffed and overstressed police … On Monday, a report from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police on West Wildwood became public, outlining multiple problems with the department. They included serious staffing woes, along with raising concerns about procedure for handling evidence, training officers for leadership and responsibilities for investigation … But the conclusion of the report was that the department should be disbanded, contracting with Wildwood for police service. A group of West Wildwood residents does not want to see that happen. More than 200, out of a year-round population of about 540, are part of a Facebook group called 'Save the West Wildwood Police Department.'' MR. GUYBACHEV, PUT UP THIS WALL BETWEEN UNION CITY AND NORTH BERGEN — 'Hudson County officials celebrate a piece of the Berlin Wall coming to Secaucus park,' by Hudson County View's Daniel Ulloa: 'Hudson County officials celebrated a piece of the Berlin Wall that separated West Berlin from East Germany during the Cold War was installed in Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus yesterday. 'It's a powerful symbol of a world once divided: It marked the triumph of the human spirit, that moment changed the world,' Hudson County Cultural and Heritage Affairs Director Gina Hulings said at the ceremony. ... Hudson County Executive Craig Guy also expressed enthusiasm about the unveiling. 'This is an historic event, right? We have a piece of the Berlin Wall that comes all the way across the pond, all the way to Hudson County … It finds itself in one of the best parks,' he stated.' MANALAPOLOGY — 'Mayor's wife wrote apology letter after stealing $5K at housekeeping job, police say,' by NJ Advance Media's Anthony G. Attrino: 'The wife of a mayor in Monmouth County wrote a letter of apology to a friend she worked for as a housekeeper after the friend allegedly caught her on a security camera stealing cash, according to police. Jennifer Nelson, 52, of Manalapan, was charged with third-degree theft on May 22 for an incident that allegedly occurred a week earlier at a home in Freehold, according to police. The victim is identified in court records as Nelson's friend, and someone whose home Nelson cleaned for eight years.' — 'New Jersey primary 2025: Here's what to know about Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen's reelection bid and City Council races' — 'Turnout so far: 9% for Demcorats, 5% for GOP' — 'Ex-[Mount Arlington] councilman who took an envelope of cash from a secret hotel meeting will avoid jail' — 'Democrat running for Wayne mayor: My primary opponent is a 'lifelong Republican'' — 'Jersey Shore firefighter wins court battle over growing beard on religious grounds' — '[Salem City] man says he's fighting for justice after beloved bulldog dies in animal control custody' — 'N.J. suspends license of [Penns Grove] department's top cop over licensing dispute involving other cops' — 'Jersey City Police Officer Freeman is 6th candidate to formally declare for mayor' EVERYTHING ELSE THE CRUCIFIX IS IN — Lawmakers threaten Seton Hall funding amid new scandal, by POLITICO's Dustin Racioppi: Seton Hall University could lose $1 million in state funding over its handling of sexual abuse scandals. Two influential state senators said in a statement that they are 'no longer confident that Seton Hall deserves funding from NJ taxpayers,' following new allegations of sexual abuse and hazing in the school's baseball program. Those claims, detailed in a new lawsuit, follow POLITICO's reporting that the university hired its new president despite recommendations he not hold leadership positions because he didn't properly report sexual abuse allegations as a seminary leader. And even though the Catholic university's church leader ordered an investigation into how the new president was hired, Seton Hall has blocked a key witness from testifying, setting up a power clash at the country's oldest diocesan university. State Sens. Joseph Vitale and Andrew Zwicker said they are 'particularly disturbed' by that decision and are now 'confronted with allegations that go to the heart of the university's culture and failure of leadership.' — 'Sailor returned from combat to find his beloved dog was given away; he wants Archie back' — 'Decorative helicopter mishap cost American Dream over $20M, developer says' — 'Cliffside Cube? A new style duplex is rising in northern NJ. And it's everywhere'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Teachers union PAC has given $40M to group backing union president's gubernatorial run
Teachers union president Sean Spiller has eschewed traditional campaign fundraising methods and relies instead on massive support from an outside group connected to his union. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) A super PAC aligned with statewide teachers union the New Jersey Education Association has put at least $40 million into an independent expenditure group backing the gubernatorial candidacy of Democrat Sean Spiller, the union's president, according to new campaign filings. Working New Jersey, the independent expenditure group, reported spending nearly $37.5 million in a preelection report filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission and made public Monday. All its money came from Garden State Forward, the teachers union super PAC. The spending dwarfs Spiller's own. The union leader was the only one of the six Democrats vying on June 10 for the nomination to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy to miss fundraising and spending thresholds needed to qualify for matching public funds and debates organized by the commission. Spiller reported raising a cumulative $438,817 on his most recent campaign filing. He's spent just $342,059 over the course of the cycle — nearly 110 times less than Working New Jersey has spent boosting his campaign. Asked to comment, Spiller said in a statement from his campaign that his backing comes from 'working folks.' 'I reject the premise that only corporations, Wall Street, and billionaires are allowed to back the candidates that represent their interests,' Spiller said. 'It's time working folks had a chance to speak too. I'm proud that my campaign is supported by tens of thousands of hard-working people all across the state who have made small-dollar donations to help us fight back against the insiders and wealthy interests who are trying to buy this election.' The Sunlight Policy Center, a frequent critic of the teachers union, characterized the news of Working New Jersey's new disclosures about its spending as New Jersey teachers 'being forced to fund Spiller's vanity run.' 'All of this money comes from teachers' highest-in-the-nation annual dues without their knowledge or consent. It's a scandal of the first order,' said the group's founder, Mike Lilley. The teachers union PAC has endorsed Spiller. The union had invited all other gubernatorial candidates to screen for its backing, but only Spiller did so, it said last August. Working New Jersey's role in Spiller's campaign is unusual. While candidates for high-profile offices like New Jersey's governorship often see independent expenditures boosting or dinging their candidacies, the degree to which Working New Jersey has supplanted traditional campaign infrastructure and spending stands out. The group has spent broadly. Its funds have paid for media buys across a range of platforms, a bevy of polls and research, and millions of dollars in consulting. The depth of its spending may well be unprecedented. Working New Jersey's $37.5 million in spending lags the combined spending of the race's five other Democrats by only $818,587, though some of those candidates are also receiving outside support, if at far lower levels. Independent spending in the 2017 governor's primary — that was the last year New Jersey had such a race with no incumbent on the ballot — totaled just $9.1 million, according to the Election Law Enforcement Commission. Garden State Forward, the PAC associated with the teachers union, gave a second independent expenditure group called Protecting Our Democracy $5 million between April 2022 and January 2024. Spiller appeared in ads crafted by Protecting Our Democracy to pledge to protect democracy and create affordable housing and conducted interviews on civic engagement for its social media channels. Protecting Our Democracy did not file a preelection report — its spending predates the start of the campaign and may not have to be reported — and it's not clear how much money it's put into the race. The group was last publicly active in May 2024, when it launched a 30-second ad with a voiceover from Spiller, who launched his gubernatorial campaign the following month. Candidates are barred by law from coordinating spending with independent expenditure groups. The race's other Democrats have also received outside support, though none at the level Spiller has enjoyed. Two independent expenditure groups backing Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-05) — Affordable New Jersey and No Surrender — have spent a combined $11.6 million boosting Gottheimer's candidacy. One Giant Leap PAC has put nearly $3.8 million behind Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11), while the Coalition for Progress has backed Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Assembly candidates he's recruited with $6.8 million. Former state Sen. Steve Sweeney received nearly $4.3 million in backing from the Building Bridges Voter Project. Early in-person voting for the primary begins Tuesday at 10 a.m., and residents have already returned more than 258,000 mail-in ballots. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
New York Times
09-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
A Teachers' Union Is Spending Millions to Elect Its Boss Governor
He failed to qualify for matching state campaign funds and fell short of the threshold to participate in two upcoming debates as he runs for governor of New Jersey. His spokesman works for a consulting firm in Washington, D.C., and he has no paid campaign manager. But Sean Spiller has something the other five Democrats running for governor don't: a $35 million blank check from a group with close ties to the labor union he leads, the New Jersey Education Association. For more than six months, Mr. Spiller's image has been plastered on billboards, campaign mailers and front-door hangers throughout New Jersey. He has been featured in commercials, digital posts and, more than a year before November's election, a full-page ad in The New York Times. The publicity has been paid for by Working New Jersey, a super PAC funded largely with public schoolteachers' union dues, according to a review of Internal Revenue Service records. Since July, I.R.S. records show that a political arm of the teachers' union has sent at least $17.25 million to Working New Jersey. The super PAC, in turn, has reported that it was prepared to spend as much as $35 million on behalf of Mr. Spiller, a science teacher by trade who draws a roughly $370,000 salary as president of the N.J.E.A. Working New Jersey has already spent $8.3 million on television, digital and streaming ads, according to AdImpact, which tracks political spending. The union's unconventional strategy appears to have helped boost Mr. Spiller's standing in the hypercompetitive race. Early surveys indicated that Mr. Spiller, a little-known former mayor of Montclair, N.J., had limited political support. But recent polls have suggested that he is now tied for second place. Representative Mikie Sherrill has consistently been at the front of the pack, with Mr. Spiller and the mayor of Newark, Ras J. Baraka, and the mayor of Jersey City, Steve Fulop, close behind her. But nothing about the race to replace the state's term-limited governor, Philip D. Murphy, is certain with such a large and accomplished field of candidates. Fundamental changes to the rules that govern primaries have made it the state's most volatile contest in recent history. A poll conducted in January by Emerson College found that 56 percent of Democrats remain undecided. The N.J.E.A. has long been among the state's most powerful unions, with nearly 200,000 members and a willingness to take on political foes. Its involvement with the Working New Jersey PAC is among its most overt efforts to sway voters in a state election. Mr. Spiller, who emigrated from Jamaica as a child, has said that as governor he would focus on expanding affordable housing, strengthening schools and defending New Jersey against President Trump's policies. Most of the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor are benefiting from spending by outside interest groups. But Mr. Spiller is the only candidate to have also raised so little on his own to directly fund his campaign. As of the most recent state filing, Mr. Spiller's campaign had raised $183,000 in a race where every other prominent candidate collected more than $1 million — and several have taken in close to $3 million each. In an interview, Mr. Spiller, 49, said there were metrics beyond fund-raising and the size of a campaign staff that were more indicative of support for his candidacy. He noted that he had submitted more signatures to get on the ballot than all but one other Democratic candidate. He refused to directly address questions about whether he considered it a conflict of interest that he was benefiting so significantly from dues contributed by members of a union that employs him as president. He noted that other candidates had turned to real estate developers and Wall Street bankers for contributions, and that by sidestepping that funding stream he had avoided being beholden to their interests, if elected. 'Our campaign is based on fighting for working class folks,' he said. He also dismissed the significance of falling short of the $580,000 campaign fund-raising threshold that would have qualified him for 2-to-1 matching funds for the June 10 primary. 'If I called millionaires and very wealthy folks, I could meet goals,' he said. By law, super PACs may raise and spend unlimited sums but are barred from explicitly coordinating with candidates' campaigns. Officials with the N.J.E.A. and Working New Jersey said that Mr. Spiller had not been involved in allocating union funding or in any promotional efforts on his behalf. 'We recognized the need to put guardrails and protections in place to ensure that there was not a conflict of interest,' said Steven Baker, the union's spokesman. 'The candidate does not get to decide what is spent or how it is spent.' Mr. Baker said Mr. Spiller also had no role in the union's decision to set aside money for political advocacy or for its political arm to send millions to Working New Jersey. A spokesman for Working New Jersey, Eddie Vale, said the same thing. 'As an independent expenditure campaign, we cannot, and do not, coordinate with or talk to the Spiller campaign in any way,' Mr. Vale said. To voters, however, the Spiller promotional material piling up in mailboxes may be largely indistinguishable from the types of ads paid for directly by his opponents' campaigns. Each carries a tiny disclaimer: 'not made with the cooperation or prior consent of, or in consultation with or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate, or any person or committee acting on behalf of any candidate.' Specialists in campaign finance law say that Working New Jersey's support for Mr. Spiller is part of a growing trend of outsourcing to special interest groups work traditionally done by campaigns. Daniel Weiner, an election law expert at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, noted that Mr. Trump also relied heavily on super PACs for core campaign responsibilities. 'Every election cycle people push the envelope even further,' Mr. Weiner said. The trend can be traced to the Supreme Court's Citizens United campaign finance decision in 2010, which freed political action committees run by corporations and unions to spend unlimited sums on behalf of candidates. 'The theory was that these groups would not be interchangeable with candidates' campaigns,' Mr. Weiner said. 'Instead, the way they often work is they're just sort of the alter ego of the campaign.' Only New Jersey and Virginia hold governor's races the year after a presidential election, and their results are likely to offer some of the nation's earliest insights into voter attitudes toward Mr. Trump ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. It is perhaps no surprise that New Jersey's contest is on track to hit campaign spending levels that one top state elections official called 'stratospheric.' That's true of super PACs, too. In 2021, super PACs spent a record $13.4 million in support of all primary candidates for New Jersey governor. That record has already been dwarfed by the $35 million in anticipated spending by a single super PAC on behalf of Mr. Spiller. In the days leading up to the March 24 deadline to qualify for matching funds, Mr. Spiller's appeals to potential donors took on an urgent tone. 'I need you to donate $20 or more,' one email stated. 'I'll be honest with you,' another read, 'we're not yet where we need to be.' But his shortage of funds appears to have had no effect on Working New Jersey's ability to spread his message. Officials running the super PAC said that they had conducted 13 internal polls to measure Mr. Spiller's standing in the race and are prepared to continue targeting Democratic primary voters on television, social media, billboards and at their homes. Last Friday, people affiliated with Working New Jersey hung fliers on doors in Cranford, N.J. — an effort that the officials said was part of a statewide canvassing blitz that had already reached 661,000 homes. At one house, after leaving a door hanger, the representative sent a text message to the registered Democrat in the household with a link to the super PAC's website: 'New Jersey needs fighters like Sean to stand up to the Trump administration's radical agenda and do something about rising costs.' Should he lose, Mr. Spiller is likely to face questions about the wisdom of investing teacher dues so heavily in a single political campaign. 'He's going to have to face his members' and explain spending millions of dollars, said Matthew Frankel of the Sunlight Policy Center, a nonprofit advocacy group critical of N.J.E.A. leadership. 'On that,' Mr. Frankel added, 'I think he's in a world of hurt.' Mr. Baker, the union spokesman, said that the N.J.E.A.'s endorsement of Mr. Spiller and financial support for his candidacy were based on a conviction that he could 'most forcefully and effectively advance' members' priorities. Those priorities, he said, are multifaceted and include improving pension allocations, fully funding schools and defending freedom to read initiatives. 'When you look at the national landscape, voters are very aware of what's at stake in a state like New Jersey,' Mr. Baker said.
Politico
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Campaigning under the influencers
Good Wednesday morning! By now you've seen, and perhaps have received, the countless mailers the NJEA-funded super PAC Working New Jersey has sent on behalf of the union's president, Sean Spiller, for his gubernatorial candidacy. But Working New Jersey has also been using a much more 21st century approach to influencing the primary: Paying influencers. My colleague Madison Fernandez spotted these on Instagram, sometimes with the messages mixed in with content about, say, coffee or clothing. 'I urge you to start making your plan for election season. Sean Spiller will be standing up for voter rights, reproductive rights, every day families, students across the state, union workers, all to keep New Jersey strong,' says influencer Jessica Raiola. Madison found six social media influencers who ran these sponsored ads from Working New Jersey, which is technically not the Spiller campaign but, in reality, is pretty much the entire thing. So there's probably quite a few more. They have follower counts ranging from around 4,000 to just over 114,000. So it's clearly a micro-targeting strategy. One of the big lessons of 2024 was the Trump campaign's mastery of social media, but that was earned, not paid media. 'Of course we're running a comprehensive campaign that includes social influencers because that's the only way in Trump 2.0 to stop the insanity in Washington and defeat Elon Musk and the MAGA Republicans who want to impose Trump's chaos and cruelty on New Jersey,' Working New Jersey spokesperson Eddie Vale said in a statement. 'We're proud that these influencers —digital door knockers — support our independent effort to elect Sean Spiller.' Vale said they only use influencers who already support Spiller 'because authenticity is important to us.' This is, of course, in addition to millions more the union has spent to boost Spiller through the super PAC. As we reported last year, Working New Jersey stated it planned to spend about $35 million to boost Spiller. And New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo in a story Monday reported that Spiller's campaign doesn't even have any staff. Which once again just shows us how absurd campaign finance laws are. Why have donation limits at all when a super PAC that's technically barred from coordinating with a campaign can effectively run it? HAPPY BIRTHDAY: John Bartlett, Jim Jefferson, Scott Shields, Jay Springer WHERE'S MURPHY? On the radio. 'Ask Governor Murphy' at 7 p.m. on your local NPR affiliate QUOTE OF THE DAY: '"I never met somebody who is a die-hard Phil Murphy person … Nobody ... bleeds for Phil Murphy.' — Steven Fulop during an event in Montclair, to which a Murphy ally responded with this. WHAT TRENTON MADE POWER PLAY — Top Assembly lawmaker wants to restructure New Jersey utilities, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Assembly lawmakers unleashed a wave of legislation this week to remake New Jersey's energy market in response to outrage over skyrocketing power prices. One bill, NJ A5439 (24R), backed by Democratic leadership, would restructure the state's utility companies, allowing PSE&G and other utilities to build their own power plants for the first time in a quarter-century. The goal is to spur someone to quickly build new power plants to meet rising electricity demand. 'We're opening up a clean sheet of paper, we need to consider all options,' said Wayne DeAngelo, the chair of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, who sponsored the restructuring bill. Utility bills are set to increase by about $25 a month in June, thanks to a power supply crunch within the state and across a 13-state power market that includes New Jersey. Energy prices are clearly top of mind for lawmakers, perhaps because the price spikes will hit amid a governor's race and legislative elections with all 80 members of the Assembly on the ballot. UNFARE — 'Proposed $3.2B NJ Transit budget is 5% larger, includes 3% fare hike,' by The Record's Colleen Wilson: 'NJ Transit's board of directors approved a $3.2 billion budget to send to the governor, about 5% larger than last year's, and it includes a 3% fare increase required by a new policy passed by the board last year. Despite its growth, the budget maintains current service levels and keeps up with rising labor costs. NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri told the board it included $58 million in cost reductions, including cutting overtime 4% and shedding at least 100 administrative positions via attrition. The budget also includes $40 million in 'revenue enhancements,' such as selling property … For customers wondering if their NJ Transit riding experience will improve because of their higher fares — up 18% when including a 15% hike that took effect last summer — Kolluri said he is not accepting the status quo. … Sarah Klibanoff, a mother of six, said she is forced to take earlier trains to and from her job in Manhattan because taking the train is so unreliable — and even then she often gets stuck with delays and cancellations. … 'I'm literally just here because I can't get to work,' Klibanoff said. 'I took off from work today just to be here because I really haven't given up on NJ Transit.'' TOILET READING — The governor's full budget proposal —'NJ's pending electric rate increase sparks finger-pointing' —'New Jersey considers charging fossil fuel firms tens of billions to pay costs of climate change' —'Gottheimer scores massive win at Bergen Democratic convention' TRUMP ERA NOT KEAN ON TOWN HALLS — 'Are NJ members of Congress hosting town halls? Which ones?' by The Record's Katie Sobko: 'New Jersey's three Republicans in Congress — Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of the 7th Congressional District, Rep. Chris Smith of the 4th District and Rep. Jeff Van Drew of the 2nd District — are not, at least for now. Last week, Rep. Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told members to avoid in-person town halls for fear that they would be interrupted by activists. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat who represents New Jersey's 12th Congressional District, is taking matters into her own hands when it comes to the Republican districts in New Jersey, offering to 'travel to Tom Kean's district, Chris Smith's district, or Jeff Van Drew's district to help them explain their vote to their constituents.' In addition to suggesting the events in the 2nd, 4th and 7th districts, Watson Coleman held a tele-town hall in February to discuss the risks to Social Security and Medicaid, and her staff said it was well-attended. … Her colleague Rep. Rob Menendez, a Democrat who represents the 8th Congressional District, had a town hall event last week and also uses social media and an email newsletter to announce them. … Menendez also teamed up with Rep. LaMonica McIver, a Democrat who represents the 10th Congressional District, for a town hall. She also held one on immigration and has another town hall slated for March 21.' COLD AS ICE — 'It's hard to keep track of ICE detainees, families say, adding to distress,' by NJ Spotlight News' Taylor Jung: 'Families of detained immigrants say they are facing heightened uncertainty and fear because they often can't find their loved ones once they are incarcerated in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention system. These families describe being unable to consistently locate or communicate with their family members. They fault delays in the online detainee tracker system because detainees are often transferred between facilities. This lack of information, families say, creates significant distress against a backdrop of already heightened concern over threats of mass deportation and arrests under the Trump administration. Also adding to their fears are what they say are worsening conditions at the Elizabeth Detention Center, raising concerns about the well-being of those in custody as ICE facilities reach capacity.' —'Baraka, protesters say they'll fight against planned ICE detention center' GRANTS NOT YET IN THE TOMB — 'Judge blocks Trump cuts to teacher training funding after N.J. sues,' by NJ Advance Media's Eric Connklin: 'A federal judge has granted New Jersey's request to temporarily block the Trump administration from eliminating federal funding to train and hire K-12 teachers. New Jersey is one of seven states suing the Trump administration's attempt to withdraw $600 million for teacher recruitment and preparation grants. The lawsuit was filed last week after the administration said it intends to cut the funding for the teacher training programs, which federal officials said had 'divisive' ideologies. … New Jersey, California and Massachusetts are the suit's lead plaintiffs.' —Education Department announces antisemitism investigations into 60 universities —'Immigration judge says Jersey Kebab owner, arrested by ICE, can be released on bond' —'US judge orders Trump administration to restore teacher preparation grants' —'Trump cuts could threaten NJ community colleges, hurt Pell grant recipients, officials say' —'In NJ, a surprise cost of tariffs on imports? Higher auto insurance rates' —'House ekes out bill to avert shutdown, with N.J. Dems voting no' LOCAL FIVE MILE ISLAND MELTDOWN — 'The Wildwoods' long-awaited beach fix is on the brink of getting canceled,' by NJ Advance Media's Steven Rodas: 'An enormous federal project meant to protect the coasts of multiple Jersey Shore towns is on the precipice of no longer happening at all because local mayors can't agree on whether it makes sense. The 'Five Mile Island' project, most recently estimated to cost about $54 million, has been more than a decade in the making. The beach work is meant to benefit Wildwood Crest, Lower Township, Wildwood and North Wildwood — the last of which has been particularly desperate for a spruced up beach due to severe erosion. … However, the massive project — led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with help from the state — has continued to hit stumbling blocks. … On Tuesday, in a sternly-worded letter, New Jersey's Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn LaTourette said the Five Mile project was now 'in serious jeopardy.'' PATERSON FAILS — 'Paterson 'second chance' program for low-grade offenders yet to launch 30 months later,' by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'The city's 'second chance' Municipal Court initiative for nonviolent offenders still hasn't started operation, more than 30 months after Mayor Andre Sayegh's administration received a $600,000 federal grant to pay for it. 'Help is here,' Sayegh proclaimed during a City Hall press conference on March 11, 2024, that city officials said represented the 'launch' of the community court program.. … Sayegh told Paterson Press the city could not move forward with its municipal program until it received approvals from the state court system, which happened a few months ago. The mayor said his administration would hold a 'soft launch' celebrating the new program in April and that the first sessions would begin in May.' BUS CRASH — '14-year-old boy 'fighting for his life' after Montvale bus crash on Garden State Parkway,' by The Record's Manahil Ahmad: 'A 14-year-old boy is 'fighting for his life' after being pinned beneath an overturned school bus on the Garden State Parkway Monday evening, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali said Tuesday. New Jersey State Police said troopers responded to the crash at 7:39 p.m. near milepost 170.5 in Montvale. A preliminary investigation found that the bus, driven by a 44-year-old Lakewood man, was traveling north when it veered off the right side of the roadway and overturned. The driver sustained moderate injuries, while one juvenile passenger suffered serious injuries. Thirteen other juveniles sustained minor injuries, police said.' CONTAMINAMDEN — 'South Camden residents demand change from EMR after scrapyard fire,' by WHYY's Sophia Schmidt: 'People living near the EMR metal recycling complex in South Camden, the site of a massive fire last month, are demanding change from the facility and local elected officials. A handful of Waterfront South residents gathered outside the sewage treatment plant next to the scrapyard and at EMR's U.S. headquarters in Camden Tuesday morning, calling on the company to answer their questions, take better health and safety precautions and even move its metal recycling facility out of the neighborhood. 'We're tired of them ignoring us,' said Aliyia Jones, a resident who lives less than 2,000 feet away from EMR's fenceline and organized Tuesday's rally. She has asthma and experienced trouble breathing after evacuating her family during the fire last month. 'I want them to relocate,' she said.' BROWN OUT — 'Somerset Sheriff candidate withdraws,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'Seven days after Somerset County Republicans endorsed him for sheriff, Bill Brown has dropped out of the race. His likely successor to take on two-term Democratic Sheriff Darren Russo is Mike Manochio, a retired Union County homicide detective who was overwhelmingly rejected by GOP county committee members when he received just 16% against Brown at the convention. 'After recent conversations with those closest to me, it has become clear that I need to put my family first and end my campaign,' Brown, a retired SWAT team commander, said in a cryptic message.' —'Hundreds with disabilities in Ocean County left without doctor after unusual clinic closes' —'Can Toms River slash affordable housing requirement? This is how it will be decided' —'[Roselle school district] owes IRS money in penalties. But it won't say how much' —'[Robbinsville] judge removed from bench after accusation of sexual misconduct by staffer' —'[Elizabeth] police officer acquitted of health insurance fraud charges' —'Family of former Somerville fire chief pleads for answers 10 years after hit-and-run death' —'Gary DeMarzo files suit to stay in Upper Township job' EVERYTHING ELSE HE HOPED TO MAKE IT TO TRENTON FOR THE BUDGET SPEECH — 'Meet Miles the pig, who was on the loose for days in several N.J. towns,' by NJ Advance Media's Eric Conklin: 'At a veterinarian's office in South Jersey, a potbellied pig, Miles, is resting after eluding those trying to catch him as he traversed at least two towns. The 100-pound domesticated pig was captured Saturday night by a volunteer-based group after being seen in Hamilton and Egg Harbor townships in Atlantic County over the weekend. The pig's rescuers estimate Miles roamed 12 miles in less than 48 hours before being caught. Miles' journey was shared on social media, encouraging a volunteer-led effort to rescue him. He was found behind houses in Egg Harbor Township around 9:30 p.m. Saturday.' HIS VALUES ARE 145 MILLION YEARS OLD — 'N.J. company refused to lend money to certain racial, ethnic groups, AG says,' by NJ Advance Media's Matthew Enuco: 'A former lending business in Monmouth County has been accused of discriminating against certain ethnic and racial groups and may face enforcement action, officials with the Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday. An investigation by the Division of Civil Rights found probable cause that Advance Funding Partners violated New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination by discriminating against certain different races and ethnicities, officials said. The investigation found that the company's owner, Joseph Jurasic, told staffers to not do business with 'Chinese, African, and Spanish' potential clients, authorities said.' —'COVID may have been in the air, but it ended smoking for a year in Atlantic City's casinos' —'Doctors in NJ on alert for measles' —'North Jersey native with Parkinson's hopes to inspire others after big win on 'Jeopardy!''
