On March 28, New Jersey’s Governor signed A100. It provides for public funding for legislative candidates this year, but in only 3 districts (New Jersey has 40 legislative districts). Legislative leaders will decide which three districts participate, but they must choose a district that currently has three Democrats, a district that currently has three Republicans, and a district that has a mixed delegation (each New Jersey legislative district has one Senator and two Assemblymembers).

Democratic and Republican candidates can qualify for public funding of $50,000 if they raise $10 contributions from 400 residents of their district. Other candidates who raise the same amount of contributions would receive $25,000. In 2009, though, the “other” candidates would receive equal treatment if they had polled at least 10% in 2007. In the case of unqualified parties, if that unqualified party polls 10% for that legislative race in 2007, it gets equal funding in 2009.