TOMS RIVER, NJ – One New Jersey candidate will be victorious in June whether or not he wins the GOP primary election for governor.
Editor’s Note: This article incorrectly reported funds diverted from Spadea’s Common Sense Club PAC to BillSpadea.Com LLC as $100,000. It has been modified to reflect the actual number of $225,000 through February, 2025.
Spadea is now being accused of being a ‘bad actor’ by his opponents as records on file with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission show that he is laundering public campaign funding into an LLC bearing his name.
The candidate’s latest P2 reports show Spadea’s Common Sense Club PAC and his own campaign making dozens and dozens of payments worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to Bill Spadea.Com LLC.
Spadea paid himself as much as $6,000 per week through his campaign some weeks. In total, from the Common Sense Club PAC, Spadea has paid the LLC that bears his name $225,000 as of February 2025.
Bill Spadea, a prominent Republican candidate for New Jersey governor and former radio host, has come under fire after revelations that he allegedly paid himself over $250,000 from political donations during his campaign efforts.
During our investigation, we found state election records filed by Spadea’s campaign that showed over $225,000 in personal payments, but his opponent, Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign claims that figure is higher than $250,000 when you factor in all of the other financial reimbursements Spadea has noted in his New Jersey ELEC filings.
The disclosure, which surfaced during a recent GOP primary debate, has sparked accusations of financial impropriety and raised questions about the ethics of his fundraising practices as he vies to succeed Governor Phil Murphy in the 2025 election.
Spadea, known for his outspoken conservative commentary on New Jersey 101.5 before stepping down to focus on his gubernatorial bid, has defended the payments, arguing they were necessary to cover personal expenses while he dedicated himself full-time to political organizing.
Running a campaign is a business according to Spadea
“Running a campaign is like running a business,” Spadea said in response to critics. “I’ve been transparent about this from the start, and I’m still owed more for the work I’ve put in.”
He compared his actions to those of entrepreneurs who draw salaries from their ventures, framing the payments as legitimate compensation for his efforts.
IRS records show Spadea taking campaign salary
The controversy erupted when rival candidate Jack Ciattarelli, a former Assemblyman, pointed to an IRS filing from Spadea’s political action committee, Elect Common Sense, during a debate at Rider University earlier this year. The document, publicly available, shows Spadea received $65,000 from donor contributions.
“He didn’t disclose that when he was soliciting donations from hardworking people,” Ciattarelli charged, accusing Spadea of “double-dipping” by drawing income from both his radio gig and campaign funds before resigning from the station.
Critics call out Spadea’s “Grift”
Critics have seized on the revelation, with some labeling it as an example of “grifting” off small-dollar donors, many of whom are Trump supporters from across the country.
Reports earlier this year highlighted confusion among some out-of-state contributors, several of whom told media outlets they were unaware their recurring donations—processed through the WinRed platform—were going to Spadea’s campaign rather than directly to Donald Trump’s efforts.
Spadea’s campaign has dismissed these claims, with manager Mike Hahn asserting that the candidate’s “pro-Trump, conservative message” resonates nationally, driving voluntary support.
The campaign said they were free to use Trump and his wife Melania’s name in their fundraising efforts, even though a large sum of that money was not going to conservative efforts, but directly into the candidate’s pockets.
Spadea integrity called out by opponents
His opponents, including Ciattarelli and State Senator Jon Bramnick, have used the issue to question his integrity, with Ciattarelli arguing it undermines Spadea’s outsider persona. “
He’s been part of the system, taking money from donors to pad his own pockets,” Ciattarelli said during the debate.
See it for yourself (scroll to page 68)
Bill Spadea NJ ELEC P2 Form by Phil Stilton on Scribd
Is it legal?
New Jersey election law permits candidates to pay themselves from campaign funds for reasonable expenses, provided the payments are disclosed and deemed necessary for campaign activities.
Spadea’s campaign insists the salary complies with these regulations, noting that he reported the income in required filings.
However, political watchdogs argue the practice, while legal, risks eroding donor trust, especially when not explicitly communicated during fundraising appeals.
As the June primary approaches, the controversy threatens to overshadow Spadea’s policy platform, which includes slashing the state budget, ending energy mandates, and reversing sanctuary state policies.
With $16.8 million in public matching funds already distributed among candidates, Spadea has qualified for the program after raising over $580,000 from private donors—a milestone he touts as evidence of broad support.
Yet, the questions surrounding his financial decisions could complicate his bid to unify the GOP base, particularly among voters wary of establishment tactics.