Here's a glimpse at how Murphy dark money group spent millions

The political nonprofit run by the wife and close allies of Gov. Phil Murphy declined to disclose who bankrolled the group and filled its coffers with nearly $2.9 million in the first half of last year to boost the governor’s political agenda.

Stronger Fairer Forward collected 33 large checks ranging from $7,500 to $1.5 million during the period covering January through July 2022, according to its first tax filing with the IRS last month.

It is possible to work backward to unearth donors who would prefer to stay hidden. In March, NorthJersey.com uncovered $1.97 million worth of donations to Stronger Fairer Forward by examining IRS and U.S. Department of Labor filings in which a handful of groups are required to report their political spending. They include:

• New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union: $1.5 million.

• International Longshoremen’s Association Committee on Political Education: $100,000.

• American Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO teachers' union: $100,000.

• Service Employees Local 32, a property service workers labor union: $25,000.

• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825: $150,000.

The remaining $911,000 the nonprofit raised through last July — and anything collected since — remains shrouded in secrecy.

Elections Transparency Act

In April 2023, Murphy signed a controversial overhaul of New Jersey’s campaign finance laws that included a provision unveiling certain “dark money” donors, saying “this does a lot of good in terms of transparency, disclosure, and bringing money from outside to inside.”

The “Elections Transparency Act” requires super PACs, 501(c)(6) trade organizations and 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofits — like Stronger Fairer Forward — to name the contributors who give the groups more than $7,500.

But after a previous similar dark money disclosure law was struck down by a federal judge, the Elections Transparency Act was narrowly tailored, requiring this information in specific instances that groups can work around.

The law applies to “electioneering communications,” or ads made within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election that mention a candidate or policy question, or “independent expenditures,” which explicitly call for the support or defeat of a candidate or policy.

For example, a Stronger Fairer Forward ad that aired outside those time frames with words that don’t expressly include such phrases as “Vote for” or “Vote against Gov. Murphy” would not require disclosure. Since it appears the group has not aired ads since the law was enacted — and Murphy cannot run for governor for a third consecutive term — it’s unlikely the group will report its donors.

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“We will file all disclosures as required by law," said Stronger Fairer Forward's executive director, Dan Bryan.

The organization’s annual tax filing requires that the check amount be publicly reported, but not the name of the donor. For 33 lines, Stronger Fairer Forward writes “N/A” for each name and address field.

How did Stronger Fairer Forward spend $2.4 million?

The tax form does give a glimpse into how the group spent more than $2.4 million.

The vast majority, or $2 million, went to “advertising and promotion,” likely referring to the previously-r ported ad campaign spent on TV, digital platforms and billboards to boost Murphy’s national profile.

Another $66,000 went to salaries.

Compensation murky

The page that lists compensation for those in Stronger Fairer Forward leadership roles marks the four listed officers as not collecting any funds: First lady Tammy Murphy, the group’s director; director Kristen McMahon, a friend of the Murphys and COO of Purple Strategies, a reputation management firm; President Mollie Binotto, Murphy's 2021 campaign manager; and Bryan, a former senior adviser to Murphy.

Bryan and Binotto collect salaries, though they are not marked on the form because that part of the filing covers 2021 payments, and the group was formed in January 2022, Bryan said. He declined to say how much he is paid.

Rachel Arndt, the former deputy finance director of Murphy’s campaign, received $30,000.

The nonprofit spent $79,000 to help fundraise, with $60,000 going to Jafri Strategies, headed by Murphy’s former finance director and senior adviser to the Democratic Governors Association, Rafi Jafri.

The group spent nearly $17,000 on conferences and conventions, $11,000 on travel, $51,000 on legal expenses and $20,000 on accounting.

The filing reported that nearly $48,000 in spending was on “political campaign activity.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Where did Murphy dark money group spend millions?