Two dozen New Jersey congressional candidates combined to spend nearly $57.3 million this cycle, with only one House seat changing hands — with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) winning by double digits and even more than $13.7 million. his campaign chest.
The top fundraiser this cycle was Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes), who lost to Republican Tom Keen in the 7th District after raising $8,978,756 and spending $9,993,912. Keane, a former state Senate minority leader, raised $4,383,743 and spent $4,337,880.
But these numbers do not tell the whole story. Two Republican committees — the Congressional Leadership Fund and the National Republican Congressional Committee — spent more than $4.6 million supporting Keane, while their counterparts, the House Majority PAC and the Democratic Congressional Caucus, spent about $1 million on Malinowski. .4 million dollars.
Gottheimer, the Human Fundraising Machine, raised $8,166,128 and spent $2,812,212 to win his fourth term in NJ-5. His net worth is $13,703,015.
These numbers also paint the full picture: In addition to his company, Gottheimer does too raised more than $5 million for Democratic candidates.
His Republican opponent, former investment banker Frank Pallotta, raised just $915,578 and spent $906,978. Palotta proved to be a weak fundraiser, unable to convince his top donor – himself – to release the money. He has spent just $230,000 of his own money this year, far less than the $1.4 million he has poured into his 2020 bid to unseat Gottheimer.
Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), a prolific fundraiser in three House elections, raised $7,127,061 and spent $7,445,077 in his 11-point victory over Republican Bob Healy in the 3rd District.
Healy raised $4,646,501 — $2.76 million of which was self-funded — and spent $4,586,050. That doesn’t include nearly $2.3 million from the super PAC, Garden State Advance; Healy’s mother donated $2 million.
This was the third time Kim faced self-financing.
In the 11th District, Rep. Mickey Sherrill (D-Montclair) raised $6,302,937 this cycle and spent $8,666,726 to win re-election by a whopping 19 points.
Her Republican rival, former Passaic County Assistant District Attorney Paul DeGroot, raised $710,058 and spent $679,374. He put $456,521 of his own money into the race.
One race that turned out to be closer than expected was in the 9th District, where Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Patterson) was re-elected by ten points against Republican Billy Prempech. Pascrell raised $1,576,186 and spent $1,544,431. Prempe raised $292,879 and spent $271,289.
Cheryl and Kim will need to replenish the coffers they depleted in anticipation of the red tide of 2022, which never came.
This year, Cheryl used the money she’s had in the bank since 2020, and as of Nov. 28, she had $767,932 in cash. Kim’s post-election bank balance was $233,818.
As the congressman-elect from New Jersey’s 7th district, Keane is already at the top of the list of Democratic targets for 2024. At the end of last month, he had $137,102 on hand.
