Preparing for 2025, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop put $400,000 from his New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission account into a super PAC linked to him at the end of last year, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The 4th quarter 2021 FEC filing from the super PAC Coalition for Progress shows that Fulop’s personal ELEC account contributed $400,000 on December 16th and reported $3,766,001.10 cash on hand. His prior ELEC cash on hand was $661,681.51.
The entity was closely associated with an expected Fulop gubernatorial run in 2016, raising around $3.2 million, though ended up not being put to use when he instead endorsed eventual winner Phil Murphy.
“Mayor Fulop supports CFP’s mission of aiding Democratic candidates who share its vision of promoting equitable economic development, lifting up working and middle class families and moving the state forward,” Fulop spokesman Phil Swibinski told HCV.
“Given the organization’s strong engagement in last year’s Hillside race and its commitment to help candidates in these critical upcoming years, he decided to make a significant contribution.”
The PAC spent $24,619 on campaign mail and text messages for Hillside council-at-large candidates backed by Mayor Dahlia Vertreese, who ended up pulling off a clean sweep. Fulop then swore in Vertreese on New Year’s Day.
With Murphy limited to two terms under state statute, Fulop is an early Democratic favorite to run for governor in 2025.
Other potential contenders include Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and U.S. Rep Mikie Sherrill (D-11), with former state Senate President Sweeney already declaring he plans to throw his hat in the ring.
After being elected to his third term in November, Fulop said his focus is on Jersey City, though stopped short of ruling out a gubernatorial run.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do here, so I would just say look, we’ll see where things go, but the priority is gonna be Jersey City I’m not gonna take my eye off the ball here. It ultimately is about doing the best job here, we’ve got some policy initiatives that I’m very excited about, and that’s where we’re gonna go,” he said in an interview at the time.
