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Overall, they raised $45.2 million and spent $38.3 million

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Democratic and Republican legislative candidates spent $13.6 million in the final days of their election campaigns in October and November, almost 36 percent of the money spent during the entire campaign, the state Election Law Enforcement Commission reported Monday.

On a percentage basis, the amount of last-minute spending is only slightly smaller than during a comparable election four years ago when legislative candidates spent $15.8 million or 37 percent in the last days of the campaign,

“Particularly in competitive districts, it is not uncommon for candidates to delay their spending as late as possible to try to keep their opponents guessing,” ELEC Director Jeff Brindle said. “So the heaviest spending often takes place during the last several days.’’

Overall fundraising dropped 10 percent from 2007, the last year in which all 120 legislative seats were up for reelection. Overall spending was down even more- about 12 percent.

The Democratic and Republican campaigns raised $45.2 million this year and spent $38.3 million. In 2007, they raised $50.2 million and spent $43.4 million.

“While all legislative fundraising activity for 2011 has not yet been reported, it appears that this year’s totals will be lower than those of even 2003, when spending totaled about $45 million,’’ Brindle said. “You would have to go back to 2001 to find less spending in a year with all 120 legislative seats in contention.

“It is clear the economy, restrictions on contributions by state contractors, competition from independent fundraising groups and other factors are taking a toll on legislative fundraising,’’ Brindle added.

In this year’s election, incumbents enjoyed an even bigger advantage over challengers than most in recent legislative elections. Incumbents raised 74 percent of the money compared to 26 percent for challengers.

The incumbents raised $33.5 million and spent $27.3 million while the challengers raised $11.6 million and spent $10.9 million.

“In the six previous elections, incumbents held an average fundraising advantage of about 63 percent,” Brindle said. “In just the 2007 election, the edge was just 55 percent.’’

Democrats, who control both the Senate and Assembly, dominated in fundraising throughout the election. The report shows that even despite Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s fund-raising efforts, the Democrats outraised the GOP by more than a two-to-one margin, and outspent them by a similar amount.

The Democrats raised $31.8 million, the Republicans $13.3 million and Independents $76,598.

Unlike most past recent elections, the 80 Assembly members outraised and outspent the 40 Senate members.

The Assembly candidates raised $23 million and spent $20.4 million compared to the Senate candidates who raised $22.1 million and spent $17.9 million.

However, Senate candidates, on average, spent more for their seats than Assembly candidates — an estimated $255,332 for Assembly members versus $448,494 for Senate members. The overall average for all 120 seats was $319,720. Like the overall totals, that average is the lowest since 2001.

While overall spending is down, reports available show that fundraising topped $1 million in 13 legislative districts- a new record for legislative elections. Previously, 11 districts topped the $1 million threshold in both the 2003 and 2007 elections.

The largest amount of spending occurred in the 2nd District in Atlantic County where Republican Assemblyman Vincent Polistina unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Sen. Jim Whelan for his seat. A total of $5.5 million was raised and $5.1 million was spent.

None of this year’s races are likely to top the all-time record for a legislative campaign- a $6.1 million campaign in the 4th District in Camden and Gloucester counties in 2004.

However, the Whelan-Polistina campaign currently ranks as the third most expensive legislative campaign in state history. The 38th District campaign in Bergen County, which has cost at least $4.6 million, ranks as the fourth most expensive. Both districts have been highly competitive over the last decade.

The top five districts alone out of 40 legislative districts statewide attracted $19 million, a 43 percent of total legislative contributions in the election. The top 10 districts drew nearly $28 million or 62 percent of all legislative contributions.