Spending on New Jersey’s June 10 primary election has reached historic levels, according to a June 6 release from the Election Law Enforcement Commission. Candidates and independent groups have spent more than $122 million so far — and the general election is still months away.

Candidates have spent $54.8 million while independent committees have added $67.6 million to the pot. Most of the committees have supported specific candidates but are legally barred from directly coordinating their activities with the campaigns. The spending far exceeds previous primary records, and the commission reports that independent groups have another $14 million in reserve.

The commission says that the current election “appears to be the most expensive state election in history.”

While candidate fund raising and spending has been prodigious, the spending by independent groups has pushed the election into the history books.

Sean Spiller, the head of the statewide teachers union, has raised less that half a million dollars. Sending on Spiller’s behalf by the independent group Working New Jersey has totaled $37.5 million. The political action committee is funded by the New Jersey Education Association, the union for which Spiller serves as president.

With independent groups spending $67.6 million, three candidates, Spiller, Josh Gottheimer, and Steven Fulop, account for 80% of those expenditures.

The large number of candidates in the race, the high levels of gubernatorial match funds available, and the record spending by independent committees have all lifted the 2025 primaries to new heights.

New Jersey approved matching funds to gubernatorial candidates back in 1977 and expanded the program to include the primaries in 1981. The 2025 primaries represent the first primary elections since 1989 where as many as eight candidates have qualified for matching funds. Candidates who qualify can receive as much as $5.5 million.

The release notes that “a major shift in this election cycle compared to past years in that independent expenditure committees set up by supporters of declared candidates are now also spending heavily during the primary.” Another significant amount of outside funding is expected in the fall general election with new groups adding to the mix.

The Democratic Governors Association has opened a campaign account and its Republican counterpart is expected to follow suit. Spending by other national groups may follow.