Gov. Sherrill Signs Bill Allowing Campaign Funds for Security

New Jersey Campaign Funds Now Open for Personal Security After Legislative Approval

Candidates running for office in New Jersey and certain political fundraising committees can now use campaign contributions to pay for security upgrades, including cameras, gates, and personnel, following legislation signed on Tuesday by Mikie Sherrill, the New Jersey Monitor reported.

The measure addresses rising security demands for individuals seeking or holding public office. However, the legislation establishes strict boundaries on these expenditures. It explicitly prohibits using campaign funds to purchase firearms or ammunition, and it bars any payments to family members or entities operated by family members.

Any security hardware or equipment purchased using campaign accounts remains the legal property of the campaign. Once a campaign account closes or an officeholder leaves their position, those assets must be dissolved by selling them at cost or for another reasonable value. The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission is tasked with establishing the specific regulations governing these transactions.

Legislative Divisions and Bipartisan Sponsorship

The path to enactment revealed sharp legislative divisions. While the measure sailed through the Senate with unanimous support, the Assembly passed it by a 51-12 margin that split largely along party lines.

The bill was sponsored across party lines by Senators Paul Sarlo, a Democrat from Bergen, and Carmen Amato, a Republican from Ocean, alongside Assemblyman Rob Karabinchak, a Democrat from Middlesex. Despite this bipartisan backing in leadership, the legislation encountered organized Republican opposition in the lower chamber. Dissenting lawmakers argued that campaign donors are the inappropriate source to shoulder the costs of candidate and officeholder security.

The legislative push began in February following a turbulent wave of political violence in 2025. That year saw high-profile security failures, including the assassinations of former Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, alongside the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

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