Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s campaign for governor is alleging that U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11), a primary opponent, used her federal account to help pay for her statewide run, according to an amended campaign finance complaint.
“We just want a fair election and our intent was not to drag out the details in public, but rather to just let [the state New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission] ELEC handle it,” said Ashley Manz, spokesperson for the Fulop Campaign.
“However, when Sherrill once again misrepresented the facts last week and attacked us for calling it out, we had no choice but to take this approach. The public should see that what Mikie says and what she actually does are two very different things.”
Fulop, through campaign attorney Scott Salmon, a shareholder at Jardim Meisner Salmon Sprague & Susser, filed the initial complaint on Thursday and Sherrill’s team wrote it off as a “desperate” political stunt.
In light of that, Salmon filed an amended complaint with ELEC today citing specifics.
For example, he mentions that Sherrill paid $27,100 from her congressional (Federal Elections Commission) account for a gubernatorial event in Atlantic City, as well as spending $45,00 on Google Ads statewide for her re-election bid.
Particularly, 62.6 percent of the ad spend was outside of her district, based on Google’s Transparency Dashboard. The complaint also mentions that the Sherrill for Congress account spent $20,000 on holiday cards that were mailed out statewide.
“Whether it was being dishonest about her intention to move into the district after her first election, or being dishonest about her intentions to serve in Congress in the last election, or being dishonest about intentionally circumventing NJ’s Campaign Finance Laws in this election, there is a clear trend with Mikie Sherrill when it comes to misrepresenting the truth and a willingness to do anything to get elected,” Fulop asserted.
“This is the exact thing that makes voters cynical about NJ politicians, and the deceit is an action synonymous with the NJ political machine. We are requesting a full audit of the contracts and expenditures from her congressional account and the appropriate reduction from matching funds in the governor’s race to keep a fair playing field.”
The complaint is based on ELEC’s Advisory Opinion No. 01-2023, which says that gubernatorial candidates, whether they have officially declared or sought matching funds, must attribute expenses from other accounts to their statewide campaign.
“Trying to bypass our state’s campaign finance laws erodes public trust and jeopardizes the integrity of our electoral system. Applying for taxpayer-funded matching grants, only to use congressional funds to cover campaign expenses, is a clear violation of ethical standards and runs contrary to the rules set by ELEC,” Salmon added.
Sherrill for governor campaign manager Alex Ball said they fully believe they are compliant with all campaign finance laws.
“As a former federal prosecutor, Mikie Sherrill takes the law seriously. Her campaign is compliant with and cognizant of ELEC’s regulations, and she has even taken the rare step of asking the FEC for an advisory opinion to ensure full compliance with all campaign-finance rules,” she said.
“Steven Fulop’s new allegations at best demonstrate a lack of understanding of the law. And at worst, try to make a mockery of campaign-finance laws in a blatant attempt to mislead voters. Not surprising from a corrupt, career politician in last place in the polls trying desperately to save his campaign.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from Mikie Sherrill for governor campaign manager Alex Ball.