Incumbent Republican Gov. Tom Ridge beat Democratic challenger Ivan Itkin by more than 25 percentage points. In contrast, New Jersey has the first and arguably one of the best public financing programs in the country for gubernatorial elections. Both races were decided by less than 1 percent. Unlike Pennsylvania, where credible and highly qualified candidates were scared away by Ridge's campaign coffers, many qualified candidates were attracted into the New Jersey primary with public financing. Michael Morrill, executive director of the Pennsylvania Consumer Action Network, noted that Pennsylvania is one of only 13 states with no limits on political contributions.
Gubernatorial races are the most expensive in the state, but other seats are influenced by money.
Any public funding will diminish the influence of the special interests and increase the influence of the ordinary citizen. Fourteen states now have some sort of public financing system set up for gubernatorial elections.