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Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jim Johnson.

(Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Advance Media)

TRENTON -- A Democratic gubernatorial hopeful alleges the party's early frontrunner has run afoul of New Jersey's election laws and is asking a panel that enforces the rules to weigh in.

Jim Johnson, former U.S. Department of Treasury official under then-President Bill Clinton and federal prosecutor, wants the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission to investigate Phil Murphy, a former ambassador under then-President Barack Obama and Goldman Sachs executive.

Johnson claims two groups Murphy was involved with -- New Start New Jersey and New Way for New Jersey -- prior to launching his statewide bid amounted to exploratory committees and that Murphy's eventual gubernatorial campaign benefited from those groups when they raised about $5 million in contributions, according to the complaint.

He also alleges Murphy avoided disclosing some contributors and expenditures and that he skirted the close scrutiny that comes with declaring a gubernatorial run so early.

"If you are forming a committee that is aiding or promoting your candidacy, then you've got to file," Johnson said on a conference call with reporters on Thursday, the same day his campaign filed the complaint.

Murphy's campaign said the complaint is without merit and that it's seeking a prompt review and dismissal of the allegations.

"There is absolutely no merit to his complaint but there is lots of merit to the notion that he is wasting taxpayers' money in forcing ELEC to look into allegations that he, as an attorney, knows don't pass the laugh test," Julie Roginsky, a senior strategist for the Murphy campaign, said.

Murphy's campaign also called the claim that the campaign avoided scrutiny over contributors and expenditures of the two groups baseless because they provided an addendum to their Internal Revenue Service filings that showed Murphy disclosed that he donated the $1 million to New Start New Jersey. That group isn't required by law to disclose donors.

ELEC this week held its first meeting in over a year because the panel had vacancies.

If the commission decides to investigate Johnson's claims and finds a violation, it could fine Murphy up to $8,600, according to state election officials.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook.