New Campaign-Finance Filings Reveal Contrasts in New Jersey Federal Races
An analysis of fundraising, cash reserves, voter registration and recent presidential results ahead of New Jersey’s 2026 general election.
With less than two weeks until Election Day, newly filed campaign-finance reports provide a closer look at the resources available to New Jersey’s federal candidates heading into the final stretch.
The Federal Election Commission’s October 22 pre-general filing deadline required congressional campaigns to disclose fundraising and spending activity from October 1 through October 14. The reports reveal substantial differences in campaign cash reserves, even in districts where recent presidential voting has become more closely divided.
Our analysis of federal campaign-finance data identifies six local races that stand out for significant financial gaps, substantial fundraising by competing campaigns, or notable differences between campaign resources, voter registration and recent presidential results.
The financial figures reflect reports filed by the October 22 deadline, generally covering activity through October 14. Fundraising and spending totals are cycle-to-date unless otherwise specified. Cash on hand represents the remaining campaign balance and may include funds accumulated before the current election cycle. Debt is reported separately, outside spending is excluded, and unavailable financial values are not treated as zero.
U.S. Senate: a wide financial gap at the top of the ballot
The largest financial divide in New Jersey’s federal races is in the U.S. Senate contest.
Democratic Sen. Cory Booker reports $21.28 million raised and $22.90 million in cash on hand. Republican nominee Justin Murphy reports $68,189 raised and $10,191 in cash, alongside $8,782 in debt.
Booker’s balance provides considerably more financial capacity for statewide advertising, voter outreach and other campaign activity. The disparity extends to New Jersey’s federal state party committees, where the Democratic committee reports $1.79 million in cash on hand, compared with $194,708 for the Republican committee. These figures reflect broader party resources, not funds necessarily committed to either Senate campaign.
NJ-07: two well-funded campaigns in a closely divided district
The 7th Congressional District stands out for the substantial resources reported by both major-party campaigns.
Democrat Rebecca Bennett reports $8.76 million raised, compared with $6.16 million for Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. Kean holds the larger remaining balance, however: $1.37 million in cash compared with $1.05 million for Bennett.
Both campaigns spent more than $1.18 million during October 1–14, exceeding receipts during that period. Bennett raised $563,588, compared with $260,954 for Kean, as both campaigns reduced their cash reserves.
The district’s recorded presidential margin shifted from Democratic by 4 points in 2020 to Republican by 1 point in 2024. October voter registration shows 218,268 Republicans, 202,071 Democrats and 212,745 unaffiliated voters.
NJ-02: a challenger with a much smaller reserve
Southern New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District spans shore communities, farmland and industrial areas across a large geographic region.
Republican incumbent Jeff Van Drew reports $2.41 million raised and $894,792 in cash. Democrat Zack Mullock reports $960,948 raised and $105,400 in cash, alongside $110,000 in debt.
Mullock has raised a substantial amount for a challenger, but Van Drew retains approximately 8.5 times as much cash.
During October 1–14, Mullock raised $136,862, compared with $79,132 for Van Drew. The incumbent spent more during the same period, $374,381 compared with $148,705, but maintained the larger reserve.
The district voted Republican for president by 13 points in 2024, compared with 5 points in 2020. Republicans also outnumber Democrats in October registration, 201,759 to 178,060, while unaffiliated voters form the largest group at 207,654.
NJ-06: a narrower presidential margin, but a wide financial gap
The 6th Congressional District includes Middlesex County communities such as New Brunswick, along with portions of the Monmouth Bayshore and coast.
Its recorded Democratic presidential margin narrowed from 19 points in 2020 to 6 points in 2024.
The latest campaign-finance disclosures show a much wider separation. Democratic incumbent Frank Pallone Jr. reports $2.84 million raised and $3.07 million in cash, compared with $11,766 raised and $614 in cash for Republican Hillary Herzig, who also reports $2,741 in debt.
Democrats retain a substantial registration advantage, with 208,666 registered Democrats compared with 106,622 Republicans and 200,991 unaffiliated voters.
NJ-12: an open seat with unequal campaign resources
Bonnie Watson Coleman’s retirement makes the 12th Congressional District one of New Jersey’s open-seat federal races.
Democrat Adam Hamawy reports $1.99 million raised and $239,845 in cash. Republican Gregg Mele reports $101,521 raised and $13,566 in cash, alongside $112,401 in debt.
During October 1–14, Mele raised $5,819 and spent $2,586, increasing his cash balance. Hamawy raised $84,886 and spent $141,668, reducing his reserve. Even after that spending, Hamawy retains approximately 18 times as much cash.
The district’s recorded 2024 presidential result was Democratic by 24 points. October registration lists 236,510 Democrats, 98,043 Republicans and 205,482 unaffiliated voters.
NJ-09: a Republican presidential result, Democratic financial advantage
The 9th Congressional District presents one of the clearest contrasts between recent presidential voting and current congressional campaign resources.
The district, which includes Paterson, Clifton and parts of Passaic, Bergen and Hudson counties, recorded a 1-point Republican presidential margin in 2024 after a 19-point Democratic margin in 2020.
Democratic incumbent Nellie Pou reports $3.13 million raised and $1.08 million in cash. Republican Rosemary Pino reports $526,367 raised and $13,133 in cash, alongside $158,975 in debt.
During October 1–14, Pou spent $600,207, compared with $76,801 raised, reducing her reserve. Even after that spending, her cash balance remains more than 80 times Pino’s.
October registration remains substantially more Democratic than Republican: 194,471 registered Democrats compared with 101,903 Republicans, alongside 181,900 unaffiliated voters.
The other seven House districts
The table summarizes reported cash on hand from the latest included filings for the principal campaigns in New Jersey’s remaining House districts. Each district links to its full candidate listing and financial records.
| District | Reported cash on hand | Additional context |
|---|---|---|
| NJ-01 | Donald Norcross (D): $2.36M; Damon Galdo (R): $772 | |
| NJ-03 | Herb Conaway (D): $436,316; Michael Patrick McGuire (R): $16,575 | McGuire reports $78,594 in debt |
| NJ-04 | Chris Smith (R): $553,017; Rachel Peace (D): $14,431 | Peace reports $19,412 in debt |
| NJ-05 | Josh Gottheimer (D): $13.53M; Sean Kirrane (R): $196 | Gottheimer’s balance includes previously accumulated funds; Kirrane reports $80,648 in debt |
| NJ-08 | Rob Menendez (D): $722,400 | No Republican on ballot |
| NJ-10 | LaMonica McIver (D): $897,195; Carmen Bucco (R): $2,293 | |
| NJ-11 | Analilia Mejia (D): $115,467; Joe Hathaway (R): $42,173 | Similar cycle-to-date fundraising, but different remaining balances |
A financial snapshot before Election Day
The pre-general reports provide one of the final scheduled disclosures of candidate finances before the November 3 election, capturing fundraising, spending and cash balances through October 14.
The next reporting deadline is December 3, when post-general reports will cover activity from October 15 through November 23, including the final weeks of campaigning.
Public Record NJ’s federal campaign-finance visualization allows readers to examine individual candidate records and compare districts as new disclosures become available.