Flood of money from NJ special interest groups is altering the political landscape ahead of vote

TRENTON — Campaign contributions from special interest political action committees soared 60 percent last year, when every state Assembly seat was up for reelection. These PACs, primarily founded by labor groups and professional and trade associations, spent $17.8 million in 2015, according to the Election Law Enforcement Commission. They spent $11.1 million in 2014, when there…