The combined net worth of the state Democratic Committee, Senate Democratic Majority, and Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee was $690,940, less than half of the Republicans' $1.5 million.
With all 120 legislative seats up for grabs, fund-raising is key this year. Candidates will run in districts with different boundaries after hardball redistricting negotiations resulted in a new map that favors the Democrats.
"The Republicans will still collectively raise more money because they have the governor's seat. But it's not that the Democrats will be able to raise no money," said Ben Dworkin, a political scientist at Rider University.
"The way the legislative-districting process worked out, Democrats should have more than enough money to be competitive in the upcoming legislative elections," Dworkin said.
The longtime minority in Trenton, Republicans typically have struggled to keep pace with Democrats in fund-raising. In the first quarter of 2007, during the administration of Gov. Jon S. Corzine, the party raised $300,144 to the Democrats' $1,400,000. The wealthy Corzine lavished his party members with millions of dollars in campaign contributions during his tenure.
Rick Gorka, a spokesman for the New Jersey GOP, said donors now were responding to Christie's leadership.
"Voters and donors alike are tired of the status quo. They were looking for change when they elected him in 2009, and they want to support him with donations," he said.
Assemblyman John Wisniewski, chairman of the state Democratic Committee, vowed that Democrats would close the fund-raising gap and prevail come election time.
Wisniewski, of Middlesex County, said his goal was to raise enough this year to pay off the committee's debt and support legislative candidates.
Contact staff writer Maya Rao at 609-989-8990 or mrao@phillynews.com.
