NJEA Spends Over $500 Per Vote Backing Sean Spiller in NJ Governor Race — Finishes 5th

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON, NJ – June 11, 2025 — The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) invested a staggering $45 million to help elect its president, Sean Spiller, in the 2025 Democratic gubernatorial primary. But despite the unprecedented support, Spiller finished fifth out of six candidates, capturing just 11% of the vote — a result that amounts to over $500 spent per vote.

This massive investment, much of it funded by union dues paid by public school teachers, marks one of the most expensive candidate support efforts in New Jersey political history. Yet, it yielded minimal return for the state’s most powerful teachers union.

📊 The Numbers: A Costly Campaign With Little Payoff

• Total spent by NJEA & affiliates: $45 million

• Votes received by Sean Spiller: Approx. 84,500

• Cost per vote: ~$533

• Spiller’s finish: 5th place out of 6 Democratic candidates

• Leading winner: Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), now the Democratic nominee for governor

The NJEA funneled its spending through political action committees including Garden State Forward and the super PAC Working New Jersey, funding everything from TV ads to direct mail and a reported $8.3 million field operation.

🧾 How the Spending Stacks Up

Compared to other high-profile candidates, Spiller’s spending per vote was by far the highest:

• Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly): $210/vote

• Steve Fulop (D-Jersey City): $129/vote

• Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield): $160/vote

• Mikie Sherrill: $46/vote

• Jack Ciattarelli (Republican nominee): $30/vote

Spiller’s failure to qualify for public matching funds—a requirement for participation in televised debates—further hampered his visibility in the final stretch of the campaign. His strategy of relying on outside PACs backfired, as he missed the $580,000 minimum in direct campaign donations needed to appear on the primary debate stage.

🧑‍🏫 Union Response and Backlash

Following the defeat, NJEA Vice President Steve Beatty and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson issued a joint statement praising Spiller’s campaign and grassroots volunteer base.

“While we did not get the outcome we wanted, we showed New Jersey that we refuse to be forgotten or taken for granted,” they wrote. “This was an unprecedented grassroots effort powered by thousands of member volunteers.”

Still, questions are mounting within the union over how much say rank-and-file teachers had in the decision to spend tens of millions on Spiller’s campaign. Some teachers have voiced frustration at what they view as a top-down political play that lacked input from the broader membership.

🔍 Critics Call for Accountability

Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, expressed skepticism about the NJEA’s strategy.

“It’s tough to see what the NJEA got in return for draining their political accounts,” he said. “Rank-and-file members may start demanding answers.”

Meanwhile, Mike Lilley of the Sunlight Policy Center, a longtime critic of Spiller and the NJEA, labeled the effort “a scandal,” pointing to the union’s long history of large political investments with underwhelming outcomes — including a failed $5 million bid to unseat Senate President Steve Sweeney in 2017.

🗳️ Spiller’s Performance: Some Strength in South Jersey

Despite a poor overall showing, Spiller managed some localized success. He won Cumberland County and placed second or third in other South Jersey counties, largely by bypassing party leadership and targeting voters directly with a multimillion-dollar ad blitz.

However, he failed to establish a strong base even in his hometown of Montclair, where he served as mayor until 2024. In Montclair, he garnered just 2.5% of the vote — a humiliating finish after more than a decade in public office there.

🧠 What This Means for the NJEA and 2025 General Election

While the NJEA remains a potent political force in New Jersey, this loss is a clear warning sign about over-investment in a single candidate. Analysts say the union will likely still support Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill, but with significantly reduced resources and leverage.

The $120+ million total spent in both party primaries sets a record for a New Jersey gubernatorial contest, with most of the money failing to translate into meaningful momentum for candidates other than Sherrill and Ciattarelli.

🔄 Looking Ahead: Lessons and Fallout

The 2025 Democratic primary underscores a critical lesson in political spending: money alone doesn’t win elections, especially when candidates lack a statewide coalition, strong ground game, or clear local support.

As NJEA members evaluate the campaign’s fallout and begin preparations for November’s general election, expect internal discussions about political priorities, transparency, and member engagement to take center stage.

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