A Look at the Interests Behind $8.5 Million in NJ Campaign Contributions

Apr 11, 2025

When campaign finance reports are filed in New Jersey, contributors often list their employer—shedding light not only on who’s giving, but why. A review of the top contributors by employer, as reported to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC), reveals a familiar pattern: law firms, engineering contractors, real estate developers, and public sector employees dominate the donor rolls.

In total, individuals affiliated with just 20 employers contributed over $8.5 million to New Jersey campaigns from 2019 through 2024 according to data obtained from NJ Elec.

These aren’t random donors. The top contributing employers are deeply tied to the state’s infrastructure, development, and public contracting ecosystem. Many of these firms stand to gain from decisions made by the very politicians their employees are helping to elect.

Infrastructure, Law, and Real Estate: The Big Three

Duane Morris LLP and Connell Foley LLP, two prominent law firms with extensive ties to public and private development in New Jersey, top the list with combined contributions of over $2 million.
HNTB Corporation and Morgan Engineering LLC, both major players in transportation and infrastructure, contributed more than $1.9 million. HNTB in particular has been involved in state highway and bridge projects across New Jersey.
LeFrak Organization and Kamson Corp, real estate developers and landlords with extensive holdings in New Jersey, have a vested interest in zoning, tax abatements, and PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) agreements.

These firms don’t typically donate as institutions. Rather, it’s the executives, partners, and professionals within these organizations making individual contributions—presumably with an eye toward keeping their business interests aligned with political leadership.

The Public Sector Also Gives—Heavily

Employees from Camden County, Gloucester County, and the Borough of Cliffside Park contributed hundreds of thousands combined. This suggests not only political activity among public employees but potential entrenchment of political machines in local governance.

Energy, Tech, and Planning

Vanguard Energy Partners and Thor Labs represent sectors with growing influence in New Jersey—solar infrastructure and high-tech manufacturing.
Planning and accounting firms like DeBlasio & Associates, Wielkotz & Company, and CME Associates round out the list, each with longstanding relationships managing public money or guiding development approvals in municipalities across the state.

What Do These Contributions Buy?

In New Jersey, where public contracts and development approvals can be highly lucrative, campaign contributions help build access, ensure visibility, and—at minimum—keep key firms from being left out of critical decisions. Whether it’s who gets selected for a major bridge redesign or which law firm is retained for litigation, those with political capital tend to fare better.

Political contributions tied to employer interests don’t just reflect civic engagement—they often signal strategic investment in access to public dollars.