Trenton, NJ – Garden State Forward, a super PAC backed by the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), is funneling millions of dollars into a high-stakes campaign to propel NJEA President Sean Spiller into the governor’s mansion, sources confirmed this week.
The aggressive spending highlights the union’s determination to secure a powerful ally in the state’s top office as New Jersey gears up for its 2025 gubernatorial election.
Spiller, who has led the NJEA since 2021, announced his candidacy earlier this year, touting his experience as a union leader and Montclair council member.
He did not run for re-election in Montclair. He had a tumultuous run as mayor in the city and was facing an uphill battle to remain in office.
Garden State Forward has already deployed over $5 million in advertisements, voter outreach, and grassroots organizing, according to campaign finance reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Insiders suggest the super PAC could spend upwards of $10 million by the primary election, a staggering sum for a state race.
The super PAC’s ads highlight Spiller’s advocacy for public education, framing him as a champion for teachers and students.
One TV spot, airing heavily in North Jersey, features a teacher praising Spiller’s “tireless fight for fair funding.”
Critics, however, argue the campaign is a blatant power grab by the state’s most powerful union.
“This is the NJEA trying to buy the governor’s office,” said State Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris), a vocal opponent of Spiller’s candidacy. “Voters should be wary of a candidate bankrolled by a single interest group with so much at stake.” Bucco pointed to the NJEA’s history of clashing with lawmakers over pension costs and charter school expansion.
Garden State Forward’s war chest is fueled largely by NJEA member dues, though the super PAC has also drawn contributions from allied labor groups.
The spending has dwarfed early efforts by other Democratic contenders, giving Spiller a significant edge in name recognition. Polls show him leading a crowded primary field, though no clear frontrunner has emerged.
Spiller’s campaign has leaned heavily on education and economic fairness as key issues. At a recent rally in Newark, he pledged to “fully fund our schools and protect working families.”
But, as President of the NJEA, Spiller praised New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for already fully funding New Jersey’s schools, despite dozens of districts statewide closing schools, firing teachers, and cutting programs.
He has also called for raising taxes on high earners, a proposal that has sparked debate among voters and business leaders.
The NJEA, representing over 200,000 educators, has long been a political powerhouse in New Jersey, but this election marks its boldest bid yet to shape the state’s highest office.
With millions already spent and more to come, Garden State Forward’s gamble could reshape the state’s political landscape—or backfire if voters recoil at the union’s outsized role.