At the New Jersey Education Association annual convention last week, outgoing president Sean Spiller was a conspicuous presence, with the program urging attendees to attend Spiller’s keynote speech: “Sean has announced his candidacy for governor of New Jersey, and he is NJEA’s endorsed candidate! Be sure to visit njeaconvention.org/spiller4gov to learn more about Sean and where to find him at the convention. Don’t miss your chance to take a selfie with the next governor of New Jersey!”

However on Friday morning, as Spiller took the stage for his keynote, all NJEA members received a text message that said, “Sean Spiller Remains Under ‘Ongoing’ Criminal Investigation,” a reference to Spiller’s legal troubles that stem from his term as mayor of Montclair. The text continues, “$43  million of your dues is going to his campaign for governor. Is that how you want your dues to be spent? Talk to your NJEA reps.”

In response, NJEA leaders sent an email to all members that states, “this attack against us and our president is coming because they know we are the most powerful group in New Jersey standing in the way of Project 2025.”

The text message was sent by Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey, which has commented regularly on the amount of teacher union dues sent to boost Spiller’s campaign in a crowded Democratic field that already includes Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, and, shortly, U.S. Representatives Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer.

According to IRS records, over the last decade  NJEA has contributed $82.2 million to Garden State Forward, one of NJEA’s super PACs. During the three months of July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024. NJEA contributions came to $10.86 million.  In turn, Garden State Forward reported making $7.1 million in contributions to a super PAC called Working New Jersey, run by former NJEA president Ed Richardson, former NJEA spokesman Steve Wollmer, and former Montclair Education Association President Gayl Shepard. Politico reports that, in filings with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, this PAC disclosed plans to spend $35 million on Spiller’s campaign to succeed Murphy.  There is another NJEA-funded PAC receiving funding from NJEA called Protecting Our Democracy;  according to Matt Friedman, NJEA “has poured  $2 million…promoting its president, Sean Spiller, who’s considered a potential candidate for governor in 2025.”

[Correction: Propublica now reports NJEA sent $5 million to Protecting Our Democracy, not $2 million. In addition, NJEA pays a 21% tax on political contributions to Garden State Forward, which will require an additional outlay of almost $21,000,000.]

NJ Spotlight has previously reported, “some have also questioned the NJEA spending money on Spiller’s candidacy out of the union’s dues.”

In an emailed comment to NJ Education Report, Sunlight’s founder Michael Lilley said, “NJEA leadership, including Sean Spiller, has already spent $15 million backing Spiller’s run for governor, and plans to spend $28 million more — all paid for by teachers’ regular dues without their knowledge.”

As of press time, NJEA had not yet responded to a request for comment.