Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 11/8/2021 – InsiderNJ
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I think next year’s going to be a bloodbath.” – A South Jersey operative referring to next year’s mid-term election in the aftermath of last week’s election
TOP STORY: The End of Sweeney, and Under the Hood of Scutari for Senate Prez
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 1,049,464 cases and 25,269 confirmed fatalities (and 158,005 probable cases and 2,816 probable fatalities) as of Sunday (an increase of 971 confirmed cases, 195 probable cases, and 5 lab-confirmed fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is 1.01. There are 6,110,671 people fully vaccinated.
Join Insider NJ at our Power Party (Part IV) in Atlantic City on November 16th.
Governor Murphy discussed the election results yesterday morning on Meet The Press, saying of his accomplishments over the past four years: ‘thank God we put the programs in place’ otherwise ‘we might have been swept away as well’, while admitting that ‘there are a lot of kitchen tables that we need to connect more deeply with’.
Governor Murphy announced $10M in funding for Phase 3 of the Serve & Sustain NJ program.
The AG’s Office announced the sentencing of attorney Elizabeth Valandingham for her role in a illegal campaign contribution scheme.
Governor Murphy applauded the House passage of the infrastructure bill.
Last week’s bruising election could spell trouble for House incumbents next year, according to NJ.com.
Mail-in-ballots are growing in popularity in New Jersey, according to the Bergen Record.
ICYMI: Murphy touts victory, Ciattarelli waiting for final votes, cautioned against ‘wild conspiracy theories’; blue-collar towns going GOP; poll issues caused chaos, Sacco: ‘whatever system they’re using, it isn’t working‘, Schepisi: ‘we’ve got to fix this‘; Ciattarelli voted early, expresses confidence, has packed town hall and touted his ground game; Murphy encounters protesters; Ciattarelli: ‘this is a dead heat‘
Former Perth Amboy Mayor Diaz decried ‘Corzine-level energy’ among Democrats in last week’s election, saying it should be a ‘wake-up call‘ that Democrats are ‘losing their base among Latino voters’.
In LD3, Assemblyman Burzichelli reflected on the Democratic wipeout in last week’s election, saying they are ‘collateral damage to a moment in time‘ due to low Democratic enthusiasm to support Governor Murphy in South Jersey, the national ‘soap opera’, as well as the dearth of local news. Senator-elect Edward Durr apologized for past anti-Islamic comments, saying he’s a ‘passionate guy’ but supports ‘everybody’s rights’. Senate President Sweeney, meanwhile, is digging in for the long count. Governor Murphy says he’s ‘stunned‘ by the loss and doesn’t ‘welcome this in any way’, while calling Durr a ‘dangerous man’, according to NJ.com.
South Jersey powerbroker George Norcross says Election Day was a ‘tsunami‘ and that NJ Democrats are in trouble, according to Politico NJ, and that he would still like to see Senate President Sweeney run for Governor in 2025, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In LD11, Senator Gopal declared victory after a close race.
In LD16, Democrats Freiman and Jaffer secured victory, as Democrats swept in the district following Assemblyman Zwicker’s defeat of GOP Senate candidate Mike Pappas.
Despite big wins in Ocean County, a battle between Gilmore and Holman looms, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Vote in Insider NJ Poll: Of This Group, Who Would You Most Like to See Run for Guv?
ICYMI: Morris Dems’ bad night; Codey refused to gloat over Sweeney, Sacco paid deference to Sweeney, Buono does endzone dance; Zwicker declared victory; Codey criticized the direction of the Murphy campaign; Rice excoriated the Murphy campaign; Stack provided half of the county’s votes; Guardian, Swift appear to have defeated the Democrats; Polistina appears to have defeated Mazzeo; Stanfield appears on pace to defeat Addiego; Somerset’s Kirsh victorious; Murphy attended Election-Eve GOTV rally in Union City with Senator Stack, a subdued event, while Ciattarelli held a rally in Raritan; Passaic County election nuggets; in LD16, candidates hit the streets; the overall silliness of the season
Senator Gill announced her candidacy for Senate President, saying ‘we are at a pivotal moment for the future of New Jersey’, setting up a potential showdown with Senator Scutari, who is poised for the position as of Friday. Black and Latino leaders issued a statement on Friday morning urging the selection of a minority for the leadership role, saying ‘we must not allow another white male to ascend to Senate President’. Essex (and state party) Chairman Jones, Passaic Chairman Currie, and Monmouth Chairman Brown issued a statement of support for Scutari, touting his ‘commitment to communities of color’. Gill’s Essex County colleague Senator Rice threw his support behind Gill, after having excoriated the Murphy campaign’s ‘failure’ to effectively communicate with minority communities.
Child care and mental health are among the Assembly’s lame duck priorities, according to NJ Monitor.
Vote in the Insider NJ Poll: Of These, Who Should be the Next Senate President?
ICYMI: Coughlin reaffirmed, sending political classes aflutter with intrigue regarding the Senate Presidency, now suddenly vacant; jockeying has begun for the Senate Presidency with power talks underway, amid shifting political sands, Middlesex has the edge; Senate GOP rolled out leadership team; Democrats convening to reaffirm Coughlin; Weinberg shares her thoughts on guv race; Sweeney announced leadership team
School ‘parental control’ drove many to the polls on Tuesday – and they won, according to the Bergen Record.
In Long Branch, the AG’s Office is investigating a police-involved shooting.
In Knowlton, the AG’s Office is investigating a fatal police shooting.
In Colts Neck, residents fear apartments will bring overdevelopment and pollution, according to the Asbury Park Press.
In Delanco, the fire chief was accused of sexual misconduct at the firehouse, according to the Courier Post.
In Frankford, three BOE incumbents were ousted by challengers, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Jersey City, Councilman Boggiano and challenger Bing are hitting the campaign trail ahead of the runoff, according to the Jersey Journal.
In Long Hill, the library is tackling the digital divide, according to NJ Hills.
In Ocean City, residents turned out in force at a public meeting, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Paramus, a split council will become a GOP majority after the election, according to the Bergen Record.
In Paterson, Mayor Sayegh and Councilman Mendez got into an altercation over a table at a PBA fundraiser, according to Paterson Times.
In Pitman, Councilman-elect Kelly apologized for a past blackface photo, according to NJ.com.
In Phillipsburg, ex-Councilman McVey was indicted for allegedly blackmailing former Mayor Tersigni, according to the Lehigh Valley Live.
In Ridgewood, Paul Vagianos won a village council seat, according to the Bergen Record.
In Summit, the Democratic council candidates’ lead is holding, according to TAPinto.
In Trenton, Clerk Conlon threatened to sue Mercer County Clerk Covello over election results delays, according to the Trentonian.
In Watchung, the town reopened cannabis revenue questions, according to NJ Hills.
In Wayne, Mayor Vergano addressed why the town doesn’t have an Economic Development Committee, according to TAPinto.
In Wyckoff, the committee incumbents survived a write-in challenge from former BCRO Chairman Yudin, according to the Bergen Record.
ICYMI: In Newark, Bankston announced candidacy for South Ward; in Jersey City, Mayor Fulop won re-election; n Lumberton, Democrats defended seats; in Parsippany, Soriano conceded; in Belleville, Melham says Dems took Hispanic vote for granted; in Cherry Hill, Sweeney commanded forces; in Irvington, Vauss is in gear for Murphy; in Camden, Rosiji says Murphy ‘really let the city of Camden down‘; in Newark, Baraka 2025 buzz increases; in Secucaus, Gonelli quietly nullified opposition; in Edison, Rajendra Joshi charged in sign-pilfering case; in Randolph, Columbus Day chaos boomeranging on BOE race
AROUND THE WEB:
As Steve Sweeney departs the state Senate, where do Democrats go? | Stile
Charles Stile, NorthJersey.com
- Stephen Sweeney, a union ironworker, was the most physically imposing figure to stride the Statehouse halls in a generation. An ex-bouncer in suspenders loomed from the well of the state Senate, keeping a careful hawk’s eye on his fractious caucus.
Red wave driven by GOP turnout, but will it last?
Michelle Brunetti Post, Press of Atlantic City
- In the wake of Republicans sweeping into office across South Jersey, knocking out even longtime Democratic State Senate President Steve Sweeney, one man may be the happiest politician in the state.
Here are five hard election lessons for Republicans and Democrats | Mike Kelly
Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com
- So, Democrats, do you get it yet? And, Republicans, how about you? To say that this week’s election sent shock waves through America’s political ponds is an understatement. Yes, Virginia, there is no election Santa Claus. Virginia’s allegedly “blue” and Democratic political house collapsed like a cardboard box in the rain. But the real fears stem from what took place in New Jersey.
Democrats, stop counting on Trump to win elections for you
Terence T. McDonald, NJ Monitor
- Democrats may need an intervention to end their Donald Trump addiction, if Tuesday’s election results didn’t already send that message. Take Gov. Phil Murphy’s campaign. From his campaign flyers — every one I received had Trump as its main image — to the “Stop the Trump Team” signs that lined Route 3 in the days before Election Day, a casual voter may have assumed Murphy’s challenger was the former president, not Jack Ciattarelli.
Steve Sweeney was knocked down by a political ‘tsunami.’ What does it mean for South Jersey?
Allison Steele, Andrew Seidman, and Jonathan Tamari, Philadelphia Inquirer
- The stunning defeat of Democratic Senate president Steve Sweeney in Tuesday’s election was not only the toppling of an entrenched and powerful politician. It was also an unexpected blow to the South Jersey Democratic establishment.
Opinion: Democratic machine flopped in Murphy’s close call
Carl Golden, NJ Spotlight
- In the run-up to the gubernatorial election, Democratic and Republican leaders, consultants and the pundit population agreed that, given the low level of enthusiasm, voter turnout took on added importance as the key to success.
Chat Box: Election post-mortem
NJ Spotlight
- On Chat Box this week, David Cruz takes stock of the election with Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Republican National Committeeman Bill Palatucci. Also discussing the outcome — especially the pre-election polls — are Ashley Koning of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University and John Froonjian of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.
Murphy had Obama, Ciattarelli had diners. Why those different approaches led to a close race.
Amanda Hoover, NJ Advance Media For NJ.com
- A slate of liberal stars touched down in New Jersey ahead of the election — former President Barack Obama, current President Joe Biden, and Sen. Bernie Sanders — in moves that could have helped Gov. Phil Murphy keep his job as the Garden State’s governor.
Daysi Calavia-Robertson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- In English, we say the election was “razor-thin.” In Spanish, I can tell you Gov. Phil Murphy won “por un pelo” — by nothing more than a hair. But why? Some say it all boils down to taxes. Others think growing unhappiness with President Biden pushed many of the state’s suburban voters to turn away from Murphy.
Here’s our list of winners and losers from those wild N.J. elections
Matt Arco and Brent Johnson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- New Jersey still hasn’t recovered from an Election Week that brought out all the adjectives: wild, crazy, unbelievable, stunning.
Whitman: Youngkin walked the Trump tight rope; Ciattarelli did not | Opinion
Christine Todd Whitman
- The very slim margins of victory in this week’s New Jersey gubernatorial contest hold lessons for both parties. Gov. Phil Murphy did break the 44-year streak of Democrat governors not being re-elected in the garden state, but there remains a significant “enthusiasm gap” between Democrats, who are currently in power at the federal level, and Republicans.
In Paterson, Black crime victims face abuse by police | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger
- You can tell which bills scare Democratic legislators by looking at the political calendar. If the vote is delayed until after the election, in what’s known as the “lame duck” session, that means they worry voters will revolt.
Cancel mail voting: Time to go back to the future | Mulshine
Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger
- After the events of last week I think we have a bipartisan consensus on one point: this stinks.
Did new election law cause vote reporting delays in Murphy-Ciattarelli race? Yes, experts say.
Karin Price Mueller and Larry Higgs, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Whether voters cast their in-person ballots early or on Election Day, they had to deal with new technology, including electronic poll tablets instead of voter registration books. In some cases, voters cast their ballots on new electronic voting machines, too. And behind the scenes, poll workers faced a host of changes as to how they carried out the election.
Ed Durr, the media mob’s newest target, calls Dennis & Judi (Opinion)
Judi Franco, NJ 1015
- Ed Durr shocked the political world not only here in New Jersey, but around the country, with his surprise upset win over entrenched Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney. He came out of nowhere with very little money to beat perhaps the biggest player in state government next to the Governor. He’s a truck driver, a father and grandfather and a political novice.
Did New Jersey’s government Twitter account celebrate Murphy’s victory?
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- New Jersey’s “official” Twitter page – run by the state and funded by your tax dollars – has a long history of skirting the line between promoting the state and political advocacy on behalf of the Murphy Administration. The line appeared to have been unambiguously crossed on Thursday when, after the Associated Press called the gubernatorial contest for Phil Murphy, @NJGov tweeted out the acronym “GOAT.”
Team Murphy is playing both sides of the “counting every vote” game
Matt Rooney, Save Jersey
- Governor Murphy laid into Senator-elect Edward Durr on Friday, Save Jerseyans, telling reporters that the Gloucester County truck driver who vanquished Steve Sweeney is a “dangerous guy.” It doesn’t matter if you think Durr’s comments regarding Islam were stupid and offensive (he’s since apologized). Calling Durr “dangerous” is awfully rich coming from a man who killed 8,000+ nursing home patients but, hey, there you have it.
Op-Ed: The Badasses vs. The Squad: A tale of two Democratic parties
Hudson County View
- In an editorial, Democratic 10th Congressional District challenger Imani Oakley lays out how and why she feels Black women are continually spurned by the Democratic party.
Sweeney’s stunning defeat: How did that happen?
John P. McAlpin, Lilo H. Stainton, NJ Spotlight
- He was the longest-serving president of the state Senate, a deal-maker who brokered pension reforms and earned the ire of teachers and public workers, a Democrat whose cozy relationship with a Republican governor helped remake South Jersey and frustrated progressives. He was perhaps the closest ally, a literal childhood friend, to one of the state’s influential power brokers.
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