NJ.com owner linked to $400K in Democrat donations as GOP slams media bias
TRENTON, NJ — You might say the Star Ledger died a miserable death because it fell out of touch with the majority of New Jerseyans. Once a mighty staple on every kitchen table in America, the declining media giant shut down its operation, but continued it’s online NJ.com newswebsite.
If you haven’t been following, NJ.com is New Jersey’s most far left, biased newspaper and today, thanks to a report by The New Jersey Globe, we have some insight as to why.
A key executive at the company is dumping serious cash into progresive candidates, and the newspaper has become a talking piece for the Democrat party.
The political neutrality of one of New Jersey’s largest news organizations is under fire after revelations that Ben Newhouse, a high-level executive and heir to the $24 billion Newhouse publishing empire, has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into Democratic campaigns — including those of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill — while his company owns NJ.com and The Star-Ledger.
Newhouse, 43, a Jersey City resident and executive at Advance Media, has donated over $400,000 to Democratic candidates nationwide, including $16,700 to Sherrill’s campaigns for Congress and governor, campaign finance records show.
With matching public funds, Newhouse’s $5,800 donation to Sherrill for Governor ultimately yielded $17,400 in campaign cash, helping her solidify her status as the Democratic frontrunner. He has supported Sherrill since 2017, beginning with a $5,300 contribution as she aimed to flip New Jersey’s 11th congressional district from Republican Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.
Newhouse’s donations extend beyond Sherrill. He backed Tom Malinowski with $2,700 during his 2018 victory over Rep. Leonard Lance, and again in 2022 with $2,900 in an unsuccessful bid against Rep. Tom Kean Jr. In 2024, he gave $5,800 to Sue Altman, the Democratic challenger to Kean, and contributed $3,300 each to the New Jersey Democratic State Committee and the NJ Dems Victory Fund.
Critics, including several prominent Republicans, say the donations expose a hidden bias in the state’s largest news outlet, alleging that NJ.com has been providing slanted coverage favoring Democratic candidates — particularly in races where Newhouse has financially backed challengers.
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-24) took to X, formerly Twitter, calling out the coverage:
“None of the Star-Ledger columns, editorials, or news stories advised readers that one of their owners was a major donor to candidates they were covering. So much for ‘True Jersey.’ More like ‘Blue Jersey.’”
Kate Gibbs, executive director of the NJGOP, called the disclosure “outrageous,” accusing NJ Advance Media of passing off campaign messaging as journalism:
“For years we’ve said much of @njdotcom’s coverage reads like campaign propaganda, and now we can confirm why — just follow the money.”
Neither Advance Media nor Ben Newhouse has issued a public response regarding the donations or criticism of NJ.com’s coverage.
Newhouse is the grandson of S.I. Newhouse Jr., former chairman of Advance Publications, which owns media assets including Condé Nast, NJ Advance Media, and numerous local papers nationwide.
Key Points
- Ben Newhouse, heir to the Newhouse publishing fortune, has donated over $400,000 to Democrats, including $16,700 to Mikie Sherrill
- NJ.com and the Star-Ledger, both owned by his company, have faced criticism for alleged biased political coverage
- Republican leaders accuse the media outlets of failing to disclose ownership ties to political donations
New Jersey’s biggest newsroom now faces questions not about headlines — but about who’s funding the narrative.