TRENTON -- Independent committees spent more than $2 million in the three districts where Democrats picked up four seats in last month's state Assembly election that awarded the party its largest majority in the lower chamber since 1979.
The groups, led by General Majority PAC, spent nearly that much on south Jersey's District 2 race in which no seats were gained or lost, and another $400,000 to hold onto two highly contested seats in the 38th District in north Jersey, according to a new analysis by the Election Law Enforcement Commission.
The role of independent spending in New Jersey statewide elections is on the rise, and in this fall's election, with Assembly races topping the ballot, set a record high, ELEC said.
Republican Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union), explaining his party's losses, has said outside money played an outsized role in the Assembly elections.
"There was an incredible amount of special interest money (going to Democrats)," he said the day after the election. "I get it. I'm going to have to work harder to make sure what voters know our message is... But it's very difficult to run against that amount of money."
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The Democrats' wins -- one seat in south Jersey's District 1, one in central Jersey's District 16 and two in Monmouth County's District 11 -- bring them closer to a veto-proof majority, with 52 of the 80 seats in the Assembly.
In total, outside groups spent $10.7 million in the general election, 35 percent of all spending, which also includes $19.7 million from the candidates themselves, according to ELEC's analysis of recent campaign finance reports.
"Virtually all of the $10.7 million in independent spending benefited Democratic candidates, plus they also spent 2.5 times more than Republican candidates," Executive Director Jeff Brindle said in a statement.
Democrats raised $15.8 million and spent $14.1 million, compared with Republicans, who raised $6.5 million and spent $5.6 million.
At about $5.9 million, General Majority PAC, a national group dedicated to supporting Democrats running for state office, poured the most cash into the race. It is followed by Garden State Forward, founded in 2013 by the dominant teachers' union in the state, which spent close to $4 million, most of which was passed through General Majority PAC.
The Carpenters Fund for Growth and Progress spent nearly $1.3 million, about $400,000 of which also went to General Majority PAC.
The groups aimed their money at a handful of districts deemed competitive in north and south Jersey. More than half -- and possibly up to three-fourths -- of all spending went to a quarter of the districts on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to ELEC.
"A handful of districts typically attract the most campaign money because the voter mix in those districts is more even," Brindle said. "That makes them more competitive than most other districts around the state."
Independent groups spent the most on District 2, without success. Both the Democratic and Republican incumbents held onto their seats. Adjusting for inflation, the nearly $5 million spent by those groups and candidates there ranks it the second costliest Assembly race in state history.
This year's race with the second-highest price tag, District 1, became the third most expensive in state history, according to ELEC. Democrat R. Bruce Land clinched that seat from Republican incumbent Sam Fiocchi.
Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.