Democratic House candidates crushing GOP in fundraising

Good Wednesday morning!

We already knew Democrats had a fundraising advantage this year. But in my 11 years covering New Jersey politics, I’ve never seen anything like this cycle. In all five GOP-held districts, Democrats aren’t just out-raising Republicans — including the three incumbents running for re-election. They’re crushing them. Democrats in New Jersey’s six House districts that are considered competitive by the most generous definition — five of which are held by Republicans — raised $9.7 million to Republicans’ $2.8 million. Now, half of that is Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s $5 million fundraising lead over Republican John McCann, who has almost no money. But even without that the disparity is stark.

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The saving grace for Republicans is that some are about equal in cash on hand. In Chris Smith’s case, he has much more on hand than Josh Welle even though Welle lapped him a couple times in fundraising last quarter. (Facing no real challenge for decades at a time allows you to gather a decent war chest.)

On the flip side, Republican Bob Hugin is out-spending Democrat Bob Menendez at the top of the ticket thanks to Hugin’s personal wealth. And Hugin is spreading that around, donating the maximum $37,000 to all 21 county GOP organizations. But everywhere else, the fundraising disparity is huge. Even after infusing his campaign with $800,000 of his own money, Rep. Tom MacArtrhur was way out-gunned last quarter by Democrat Andy Kim, who raised more than $2 million. And this, apparently, is the trend across the country.

WHERE’S MURPHY? Hamburg and Berlin.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — First Lady Chief of Staff Stephanie Lagos, Dem consultant Sean Darcy, former Rep. Bill Hughes

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY — To my wonderful wife, Emily. Eight years!

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I agree that I should be questioned, under oath, about what I knew and when I knew it, and I look forward to that opportunity.” — Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, who is facing questions about why her office didn’t transfer Katie Brennan’s sexual assault complaint against Al Alvarez, whom she knew

WHERE’S WISNIEWSKI WHEN YOU NEED HIM? — Joint legislative committee to investigate administration’s hiring of Alvarez, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman and Sam Sutton: The state Senate and Assembly will convene a joint committee to investigate Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration’s hiring of Albert J. Alvarez as chief of staff to the state’s Schools Development Authority, despite the knowledge that Alvarez had been accused of sexual assault in 2017. Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin released separate statements Tuesday announcing their members’ respective participation on the committee, which is also being tasked with examining the state’s policies and statutes for addressing accusations of sexual assault and harassment. The senators on the committee are Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Sens. Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson), Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), Fred Madden (D-Gloucester), Steve Oroho (R-Sussex) and Kristin Corrado (R-Passaic). Coughlin expects to name Assembly members to the committee soon. It’s unclear if the committee will have subpoena power to compel witnesses to testify. Read the report

—”Scandal or mistake, Murphy hiring questions ‘incredibly damaging’” Read the report

—“On rape scandal, Team Murphy cannot investigate itself | Moran” Read the column

YOU KNOW WHO ELSE CHARGED $350 AN HOUR? — “Murphy investigation into staffer’s sexual assault allegation won’t come cheap. And you’re paying,” by NJ Advance Media’s Samantha Marcus and Brent Johnson: “New Jersey will pay law firm Sills Cummis & Gross $350 an hour in taxpayer money to investigate how Gov. Phil Murphy’s campaign and administration handled a rape allegation against a senior official who recently resigned. Murphy on Monday tapped the firm of a prominent former state Supreme Court justice and attorney general to conduct a broad review of the administration’s hiring and vetting of Albert J. Alvarez, who another state official, Katie Brennan, accused of raping her during the 2017 campaign. A spokesman for Murphy, Dan Bryan, told NJ Advance Media the administration has a verbal contract for the legal services while they nail down a more formal letter of agreement. He could not say whether the costs would be capped.” Read the report

LAWSUIT: CARPENTERS AREN’T ACTING LIKE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS CARPENTER — Lawsuit: Carpenters union leader fired for revealing ‘self-dealing and corruption’, by POLITICO’s Ryan Hutchins: A new whistleblower lawsuit by a former high-ranking official in the powerful Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters alleges he was fired after uncovering malfeasance that had the blessing of some of the international union’s top leaders. The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey Superior Court last week by John Ballantyne and two other former union employees, alleges the United Brotherhood of Carpenters dissolved the local council in May as cover to get rid of Ballantyne and his subordinates. Ballantyne is joined on the suit by Robert Weakley, who served as the regional council’s director of human resources, and Laura Czarneski, Ballantyne’s longtime assistant. “Although Defendants have the right to restructure the Union under the International Constitution, they do not have the right to use such restructuring as a tool, cover or pretext to illegally retaliate against Plaintiffs for protected whistleblowing activity,” attorney Nancy Erika Smith, a prominent civil rights and employment lawyer, wrote in the 18-page jury demand. The complaint opens a window into an internal squabble that has roiled one of the most influential and deep-pocketed trades unions in the region. The carpenters have been close allies with George Norcross, the all-powerful Democratic Party boss of South Jersey, and those in his orbit. Ballantyne, who was the council’s executive secretary-treasurer, claims to have discovered a long list of items that constitute “self-dealing and corruption.” Read the report

BECAUSE IT’S IN CRISIS — “NJ Transit is in crisis. So why is it paying $250K to an elite public relations firm?” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “After Superstorm Sandy tore up the coastline, the state hired a public relations company to help get tourists back to the Jersey Shore. Now the company behind the “Stronger Than the Storm” campaign has been hired to to help NJ Transit get back on track with its messaging. MWW, an influential East Rutherford public relations firm, was hired on Sept. 4 for $250,000, said Nancy Snyder, an NJ Transit spokeswoman. The company has six months to recommend how to overhaul NJ Transit’s communications, she said. MWW was hired roughly a month before the release of a $1.3 million audit ordered by Gov. Phil Murphy. MWW is the state’s largest public relations and lobbying company. MWW worked for the state to develop the post Hurricane Sandy ‘Stronger than the Storm’ ad campaign to promote Jersey Shore tourism as the region rebuilt.” Read the report

IS IT WIRTHS IT? LET FEDS WORK IT. PUT THE PROBE DOWN FLIP IT AND REVERSE IT — “Wirths wants the feds in on the investigation of Murphy administration hiring practices,” by InsiderNJ: “Assemblyman Hal Wirths wants the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey to oversee an investigation by the Murphy administration into its own hiring practices, and he wants members of both houses to join him. ‘History has proven that so-called independent investigations by past administrations into their own actions are fallible,’ said Wirths. ‘Having the U.S. attorney to investigate the charges against Alvarez, and the handling of it by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and, obviously, the Murphy administration will avoid any further conflicts and allow us to find truth.’” Read the report

MURPHY TO GERMANS: ‘DU. DU HAST. DU HAST MICH’ — “Murphy in Germany, where staffer sex assault controversy follows him,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: “ Within two hours of landing in the city where he once served as U.S. ambassador, Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday peppered a small audience here with handshakes, hugs and a welcome speech that included some lines in German. It’s the start of Murphy’s nine-day business mission to Germany and Israel, as the New Jersey governor tries to shift the focus away from the controversy in New Jersey about how his team responded to allegations a senior staffer raped a woman while he worked for the Murphy campaign last year. Both Democratic and Republican state lawmakers have called for additional inquiries into how the allegations against the former top staffer were handled by the administration. ‘No,’ Murphy responded to reporters when asked if he thought his trip would be overshadowed by the allegations.” Read the report

— Murphy opens Choose New Jersey office in Germany Read the report

—“Murphy says he told woman who accused his ex-staffer of sexual assault he ‘admires her courage’” Read the report

—“Murphy, on first stop of tour, announces opening of Choose NJ office in Berlin” Read the report

NO NOT REALLY!!! — “No, Kim Guadagno, NJ won’t stop your military son from voting,” by NJ 101.5’s Adam Hochron: “On Sunday, Kim Guadagno took to Facebook to vent her concerns about the law, which most notably made anyone who voted by mail in the 2016 general election a mail-in voter permanently … In her Facebook post, Guadagno said her son, who is currently serving in the Air Force in Korea, received a mail-in ballot at his New Jersey address. Guadagno said she was concerned that the paper ballot he received in New Jersey would leave him ‘disenfranchised’ and stop him from voting while serving his country. ‘So a kid who fights for his country cannot vote because the mail in ballot (he never requested) cancels his email ballot. Really???,’ she said … Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon said Kevin Guadagno, and all New Jersey residents serving overseas, are not disenfranchised by the new law and that there is a simple fix. Anyone in a position like Kevin need only reach out to their county clerk to request an email ballot, and that will cancel out the mail-in ballot they may have received at their last address in country, she said.” Read the report

R.I.P. — “Codey salutes Maluchnik,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Former Gov. Richard Codey today offered tremendous praise of Norbert Maluchnik, a respected and well-liked aide to six governors from both parties who passed away last week after a battle with brain cancer. ‘I used to see Norbert with prior Governors and wonder what he did– I was told not to ask. Once I was Governor I understood’” said Codey, who served as governor from 2004 to 2016. ‘He knew how to get things done, no task was too large or small, and he did it without fanfare. He was a close friend to all of us and will be missed. May God be with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.’” Read the report

—“New Jersey considers panic buttons for hotel workers” Read the report

— Edelstein: “The Phil Murphy administration is sailing into dangerous waters” Read the column

— New Jersey to deploy $38 million to child care subsidies, grants Read the report

— Solar leader concerned industry could ‘halt’ as state develops new funding system Read the report

—”Op-ed: New Jersey’s opioid strategy is missing an important component” Read the op-ed

—“Shaping up for a big fight in NJ on question of right to a clean environment” Read the report

HUGIN HAS HAD MORE EXPENSIVE DINNERS — “Senate Majority PAC spends $3M in New Jersey,” by POLITICO’s James Arkin: “The top Democratic Senate super PAC is spending $3 million in deep blue New Jersey to boost Sen. Bob Menendez, who has struggled to put away his race a year after facing federal corruption charges, which were dropped after a mistrial. Senate Majority PAC, which is aligned with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, is spending the money on ads attacking Republican Bob Hugin, Menendez’s opponent and a wealthy former pharmaceutical executive who is self-funding his campaign. The first ad attacks Hugin on health care and for his connections to President Trump … Republicans have hoped Hugin’s ability to self-fund would force Democrats to spend precious resources boosting Menendez, which prevents them from spending that money to aid Democratic incumbents in tight races in deep red states.” Read the report

TOO MANY FOR FRELINGHUYSEN TO WRITE TO ALL THEIR EMPLOYERS — “Meet the women of the suburban resistance,” by WNYC’s Nancy Solomon: “Three activist groups are changing the political landscape of a large swath of New Jersey suburbs that have elected Republicans to local and national office for at least 40 years. It’s the most successful grassroots movement the state has seen in a very long time, and the women who started these groups share a very similar story. They woke up the morning after the Trump election in shock. ‘I was devastated by the outcome, expecting that we’d have a first woman president like everybody else,’ said Amy Higer of Maplewood, one of the founders of SOMA Action. She read an essay that recommended connecting with others who felt the same way. ‘So I emailed everybody I knew in my community and invited them to my house just to talk and then my house was fuller than it’s ever been.’” Read the report

LIKE THAT GUY YOU KNEW AS A KIDS WHOSE FACEBOOK POSTS FORCE YOU TO UNFRIEND HIM — “Inside the ‘very awkward’ South Jersey congressional race between former friends Jeff Van Drew and Seth Grossman,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg: “Jeff Van Drew has told the wedding story from the night before and wants it told again. It pretty much sums up the weird but true, dizzying and unexpectedly personal campaign in which this smooth South Jersey pol is reaching for the Second District Congressional ring against — of all people! — Seth Grossman, his longtime friend. The same Seth Grossman who never missed a Van Drew family end-of-summer pig roast in Dennis Township — until this year when, it goes without saying, he was not invited. Now Grossman is all that stands in the way of Van Drew, a moderate Democrat, flipping the House seat long held by retiring U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, a moderate Republican.” Read the report

—“GOP mocks Clinton after minor vehicle collision outside Mendendez campaign event” Read the report

—“Fact Check: Did Senator Menendez hire underage prostitutes?” Read the report

—“More gutter to get to: The U.S. Senate debacle, three weeks out” Read the report

—“Professor cries foul after college nixes Mikie Sherrill appearance on campus” Read the report

—“Michael Bloomberg, a newly minted Democrat, in Hackensack stumping for Josh Gottheimer” Read the report

—“NJ Election: 6th District pits Pallone against perennial candidate Pezzullo” Read the report

—“NJ Puerto Rican Congress president backs Hugin” Read the report

—“Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Rising’ featured in Democrat female vet campaign video” Read the report

EDUCATION — “In Newark, reporting lapses hide thousands of student suspensions from public view,” by Chalkbeat’s Patrick Wall: “Newark schools are suspending thousands of students, the majority of them black, according to 2015-16 federal data collected by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. But because of reporting lapses, those suspensions are nowhere to be found in the state’s published school report cards. … Instead, the reports give the false impression that Newark has all but eliminated suspensions” Read the report

DOESN’T HE KNOW THERE ARE NO POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THIS KIND OF BIGOTRY? — “Chatham councilman apologizes for anti-Muslim statements,” by The Record’s Joshua Jongsma: “A Chatham councilman running for re-election apologized for anti-Muslim statements he made that were condemned Monday by an Islamic organization. Peter Hoffman said that 10 years ago he made a post on the anti-Islam website BarenakedIslam that read, ‘Islam is a sick, backward faith practiced by low life scum … until the ‘moderate’ Muslims rein in their sick brethren and stop this type of behavior, Islam will always be the religion of beasts in my mind.’ Hoffman made the post after viewing a video showing someone stoned to death.” Read the report

JUDGE NOT LEST YOU… NEVERMIND. JUDGE HIM! — “Judge Russo faces hearing on charges he asked alleged rape victim if she kept legs closed,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Kathleen Hopkins: “Ocean County Superior Court Judge John F. Russo, barred from hearing cases since 2017 after being accused of throwing a file at his law clerk, will have his day in court on charges he behaved badly on the bench. Russo, who since May 2017 has been on paid administrative leave from his $165,000-a-year position, will have a hearing Wednesday on charges that he violated the state’s code of judicial conduct by, among other things, asking an alleged rape victim if she tried to prevent the attack by keeping her legs closed. The hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. before the state Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct. It will be held in the Supreme Court courtroom in the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex here.” Read the report

NORTH ARLINGTON — “Vice chair: Republican committee falsified North Arlington nomination,” by The Record’s Nicholas Katzban: “Thee North Arlington Republican County Committee vote to fill a ballot vacancy never took place, said its vice chair. In a sworn affidavit, Vice Chair Barbara Kaiser said documents filed on her committee’s behalf in Superior Court contained false information and were never approved by its members. Likewise, a vote to allow Dan Pronti, a Republican and vice president of the Borough Council, to replace recently deceased Mayor Joseph Bianchi on the ballot, never took place, according to Kaiser’s statement. ‘It has not met in several months,’ Kaiser wrote of the committee, which was named as a plaintiff in a Superior Court order to allow Republicans to choose a new candidate and order the Bergen County Clerk’s Office to print new ballots. ‘To my knowledge,’ she stated, ‘the municipal committee has never authorized this complaint.’” Read the report

GRAPE SODA: BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS — “Councilman woke up one morning and tossed $300 in junk food. It was a life changer,” by NJ Advance Media’s Barry Carter: “The urologist didn’t mince words last year with East Orange Councilman Bergson Leneus. ‘Which one of your kids is going to read your eulogy?’ said Leneus, recalling the gravity of the moment. Test results showed his urine had dangerously high levels of sugar — a sure sign of diabetes and worse. Leneus said the doctor feared for his life. He weighed 375 pounds, and at times he tipped the scale at 385. He was too young to be that big — a 37-year-old man standing 6 feet 3 inches tall … The dramatic health journey for Leneus began when he let go of his harmful diet. Breakfast before was a honey bun and grape soda … He cleaned out his kitchen, throwing away starchy foods. Right behind the pasta, rice and potatoes, Leneus tossed out the potato chips, glazed donuts, cookies, and candy bars. Liquid calories — booze and sugary drinks — went too … When he returned to the doctor in May of this year, he had shed about 125 pounds. His blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels were normal.” Read the report

WORSE THAN PEARL HARBOR — “Councilman warns of ‘day of infamy’ as vote looms on Trenton salary ordinance,” by The Trentonians’ Isaac Aviucea: “A day that will possibly live in infamy. That’s how at-large councilman Jerell Blakeley’s described the possible adoption of an ordinance that could drastically increase salaries for Mayor Reed Gusciora’s appointments. The legislative body is set to vote on the salary ordinance Thursday following a public hearing on the Reed Gusciora administration’s proposal.” Read the report

—“Atlantic City executive council meets for first time” Read the report

—“Morris County clerk candidates Ann Grossi, Shala Gagliardi continue to trade barbs” Read the report

—“Woodbridge school’s mold, asbestos issues continue” Read the report

—“Toms River school board member files ethics charges over critic’s Facebook posts” Read the report

—“Embattled commissioner resigns, still faces charges in crash” Read the report

HOUSING —“Mold, lead, rats and bugs are harming health in South Jersey’s rental units,” by Cherry Hill Courier-Post’s Kim Mulford: “Tens of thousands of young children in Camden County haven’t been tested for the presence of lead in their bloodstreams. Landlords across the state aren’t required to test for mold — and often lead — in taxpayer-subsidized housing. There’s no state-required certification for mold inspectors or mold remediators. And when a youngster develops a known case of lead poisoning, government officials struggle to relocate that family into a safe, affordable home because New Jersey doesn’t have enough of them. During a two-hour public hearing held Tuesday by the Assembly’s Housing and Community Development Committee, state legislators heard testimony about rental units filled with mold, lead, bugs and vermin. Safe housing advocates and local health officials sketched a troubling portrait of the state’s aging stock of low-income housing.” Read the report

BRUUUCE — “How an iconic rock club rode the ups and down of one of New Jersey’s most stories shore towns,” by The New York Times’ Nick Corasaniti: “It’s Memorial Day weekend, 1976, and nearly 1,000 people pack a tiny club in Asbury Park, N.J., to watch a local band and a local legend named Bruce Springsteen, share their mix of rock and soul with a wider world that had all but written off this struggling seaside city for good. Fast forward to this past summer: More than 4,000 crowd the club’s lot three nights in a row to see another local band return home. The crunch of guitars and pounding punk rock reverberate off the nearby luxury condominiums that are signs of the city’s rising economic fortunes. Since it opened in 1974, the club, the Stone Pony, has been the beating heart of Asbury Park, a beacon for musicians and fans alike. But its survival, much like that of its host city, has been a constant battle, a story of resilience and revival, of sold-out shows and shuttered windows. Here is the renowned club’s history, as told by the owners, musicians, staff and fans who have called its dark black interior and low-slung stage home.” Read the report

—“Bruce Springsteen on the Stone Pony: ‘Just a very down-home ‘place’” Read the report

—”No thanks! Speaker rejects Rutgers invitation after ‘anti-Islam’ uproar” Read the report