Vote-by-fail?

Politico

10 hours ago

Good Wednesday morning!
Two years ago, New Jersey Republicans were talking about retaking one or both houses of the state Legislature for the first time since the early 2000s. They were coming off big pickups in 2021 and a near miss of the governor's office. The issues appeared to be in their favor. The voter registration trends were in their favor. And then Republicans lost six seats in the Assembly and one in the Senate.
There's never just one factor that explains election results, but most agreed at the time that Republican mistrust of vote-by-mail played a role.
Now, with less than three months to go before New Jersey's gubernatorial election, President Trump isn't helping on that front. On Monday he pledged to 'lead a movement' to end mail-in voting altogether in time for the 2026 midterms. 'ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS,' he wrote on Truth Social.
You can read the fact checks of the president's social media post. There were plenty of false claims in it. He's targeting the voting method preferred by Democrats. And he does not have the power to unilaterally end it. States run their own elections, and it would be up to Congress to stop them from using mail-in ballots.
But there have been mail-in ballot fraud scandals in New Jersey — famously in Paterson and even more recently in South Jersey, where notorious operative Craig Callaway pleaded guilty to mail-in ballot fraud. Ironically, he was working at the time for the campaign of Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew, Trump's biggest ally.
This can't be welcomed by Ciattarelli's camp. Most people believe this is a close race. And the way New Jersey mail-in voting works, most voters who have voted by mail before automatically receive ballots. That likely increases the chances that lower-propensity voters will cast them. So even if more Democrats vote this way than Republicans, you probably don't want to discourage Republicans from doing it — especially in gubernatorial elections, which have lower turnout than presidential elections.
In a statement, the Ciattarelli campaign didn't directly contradict Trump but did not say he wants to end mail-in voting. 'Jack wants all NJ voters who already cast their ballots by mail this year to be fully confident they can do so,' said his campaign manager, Eric Arpert. 'Jack feels strongly that the strong partnership between his campaign, the NJGOP and the RNC, will result in a 2025 election marked by integrity and inspire public trust in the election process.'
Ciattarelli has called for some narrowing of New Jersey's mail-in ballot law, like no longer allowing ballots to be received after polls close (postmarked ballots have to be accepted if they arrive within six days of polls closing). He also wants to expand in-person early voting, which Republicans have embraced.
Sean Higgins, the spokesperson for Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill, said in a statement that 'Mikie, who swore oath after oath to defend democracy, will always fight to make it as easy as possible for eligible citizens to vote, including through vote-by-mail.'
I reached out to the three Republican members of Congress from New Jersey about whether they would vote to end mail-in voting, and none responded.
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WHERE'S MURPHY? At the Hard Rock in Atlantic City at 10:30 a.m. for an announcement and 'fireside chat'
QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I was looking to file a police report or potentially even a restraining order against my ex-boyfriend who has been harassing me. He placed recording devices in my home, has continued to text me and call me, and then I just came out last night from work and my car had been keyed and I have no idea who did it, but I don't have anybody else in my life with any animosity. He's also a State Trooper, so I'm especially uncomfortable. I just stopped in the office but nobody was available so the girl at the front desk gave me this number. If you could give me a call back when you have a moment, that would be great.' — Lauren Semanchik in a May 20 phone message to police in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County. The police never called back, according to Semanchik's family. Police believe State Trooper Ricardo J. Santos on Aug. 1 murdered Semanchik and her boyfriend, Tyler Webb.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Morghan Cyr, Steve Klinghoffer
WHAT TRENTON MADE
THOMAS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE — 'NJ Transit owns 8,000 acres and is looking to sell, spur development near train stations,' by The Record's Colleen Wilson: 'NJ Transit owns more than 8,000 acres of valuable real estate throughout the region — and now agency officials are trying to figure out which parcels to sell and how to monetize many other underused lots. Kris Kolluri, president and CEO of NJ Transit, directed agency officials to conduct a systemwide assessment of its real estate holdings to figure out what the agency should keep, what could be sold for a one-time cash infusion, and how other parcels could create recurring revenue … Now the agency wants to sell some properties to the state Economic Development Authority under a new plan approved during last year's state budget negotiations. Gov. Phil Murphy and the Legislature approved sending $100 million to the EDA to purchase properties from NJ Transit. The goal, state officials said at the time, is to dispose of properties such as parking lots or underused parcels, and generate development, more ridership and revenue for NJ Transit.'
THE BLUE WALL — 'NJ trooper murder-suicide case draws similar domestic abuse claims,' by NJ Spotlight News' Brenda Flangan: 'Shonda Tamaro told NJ Spotlight News she was a victim of domestic abuse by her husband, Toms River Police Officer Victor Tamaro. Shonda Tamaro said she is now seeking a divorce … She said he made her fearful, by locking up shared resources and monopolizing economic assets. And she also alleged her estranged husband has been shielded by law enforcement because of his employment as a police officer … Tamaro said it wasn't until she and her daughters received help from a domestic violence advocacy group that they were able to move out. The alleged abuse finally stopped, but by then, Shonda Tamaro said, she'd made numerous reports with the Beachwood Police Department and filed nine requests for a restraining order. All were turned down … 'They basically were protecting their brother in blue. Like, they just didn't seem to really take my or validate my concerns. … Beachwood Police Chief Daniel Altman said in a statement: 'We recognize the gravity of all matters involving domestic violence. Out of respect for the privacy and safety of those involved, we cannot release specific details on this case. We can confirm, however, that any time a person who meets the classification of a domestic violence victim contacts our department and requests to apply for a restraining order they are provided that opportunity, and that was no different in this case.'
STATE OF RACE — 'The Trump-backed candidate for New Jersey governor makes an awkward appeal to Black voters,' by Salon's Garrett Owen: 'When former New Jersey state Rep. Jack Ciattarelli, a self-styled moderate Republican, lost the governor's race to Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy in 2021, he could point to a key failure: his lack of votes from communities of color …. He has worked to court the votes he sorely missed in the last election by reaching out to Black faith leaders across New Jersey … However, taking a look at Ciattarelli's website begins to raise some questions. In the tab entitled, 'Coalitions,' among the groups listed (alongside 'Law Enforcement'; 'Muslims'; and 'Parents') is one for African Americans. Only, it's called 'Blacks.' Clicking it takes you to a page of Ciattarelli standing proudly with his hands on his hips and the phrase 'Blacks Back Jack' in big block letters. Beneath it are photos of Ciattarelli with about a half-dozen Black people, none of whom are identified … When asked about the 'coalition,' Ciattarelli's Deputy Campaign Manager Nick Poche did not have specific details on 'Blacks Back Jack,' but instead talked about the need for the campaign to 'engage' minority groups.'
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TRUMP ERA
INTIMIGRATION — 'The children in Newark Immigration Court,' by NJ Spotlight News' Hannah Gross: 'On a hot summer afternoon, a middle-school-aged girl … took her seat at U.S. immigration court in Newark. She lives with three family members but showed up to court with a woman she had only met once before. The girl's mom, also facing deportation, was too scared to come to court, the woman who had accompanied the child at the mother's request explained. Judge Tamar Wilson called the mother's failure to appear 'unacceptable.' … When her mother arrived in the courtroom, she sat down next to her daughter and wrapped her arms around her as the girl leaned into the embrace … That family's apparent fear inside the Newark courtroom is one example of the environment created by the Trump administration's increased immigration enforcement, which includes immigrants being detained just outside of court. Some parents, afraid of deportation themselves, are increasingly deciding to stay home and send their children facing deportation to court with someone in their circle who is a legal resident … Children, some of whom arrived in the country alone, often face the uncertainty and fear of appearing in immigration court without an attorney, since they do not have the same right to a court-appointed lawyer that U.S. citizens do.'
—'New Jersey leads lawsuit demanding Trump abandon immigration-related conditions on crime victim funds'
—'Bondi threatens to cut Hoboken's federal funding, Bhalla says city still won't aid ICE'
—'Menendez demands DHS rescind advance-notice policy for detention center visits'
—'Trump blames 'stupid and ugly' NJ project for rising energy costs'
LOCAL
DOOBIE AC — 'Atlantic City's weed store glut raises concerns from businesses,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: 'One of the funny things about a gold rush is how few people get rich. For Atlantic City's green gold rush, the surge of cannabis dispensaries and the city's wide-open approach to approving new weed businesses appears to have resulted in a glut on the market and some businesses struggling to get by … There are 15 cannabis dispensaries open in 48 blocks of Atlantic City, with numbers 16 and 17 on the way. 'Really, there's too many of them,' City Council member Kaleem Shabazz said Monday. 'They're cannibalizing each other, and some of them can't make it.' Mayor Marty Small Sr. has remained bullish on cannabis, and his administration has expressed a goal to make Atlantic City the cannabis capital of the East … On the City Council agenda for Wednesday is a resolution to 'sunset' previous letters of support for cannabis businesses if there has not been substantial progress toward a state license in the previous year. But on the agenda for the same meeting are resolutions in support of six different cannabis businesses'
AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY, BUT THOUSANDS ATTRACT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT — 'Beloved N.J. apple-picking farm closing forever after health department fight,' by NJ Advance Media's Emma Ferschweiler: 'Hill Creek Farms in Mullica Hill will close after this year's apple picking season, ending decades of family-friendly fruit picking, hayrides and sales of its renowned apple cider donuts … [Owner Fred] Sorbello blamed clashes with the local health department with prompting his retirement from farming. 'I refuse to deal with the Gloucester County Board of Health here forward. And sadly, potentially another New Jersey farm lost,' he wrote on the farm's websites … Annmarie Ruiz, a health official from the Gloucester County Department of Health, told NJ Advance Media the county has had a multi-year correspondence with the farm about operations. The exchanges started in 2018 when Hill Creek Farms applied for permission to add an employee bathroom on the market building's second floor with no mention of expanding food facilities, Ruiz said. Three years later, the county discovered the farm expanded to a full-size kitchen and a rental venue that were not mentioned in its first application, she said… Hill Creek Farms agreed to scale back services, but the county later found operations again exceeded the approvals, Ruiz said' … While Hill Creek Farms will be closing down, Sorbello announced MC Farms, run by Mario Caltabiano, will take over the apple picking traditions at the site.'
O. HENRY — 'A New Jersey town planned a dozen new affordable homes. They may never be built.,' by WNYC's Mike Hayes: 'New Jersey state Sen. Owen Henry is angry. Before he was elected to the Legislature last year, he'd negotiated as the mayor of Old Bridge to build 12 new affordably priced homes — many of them for veterans — on an empty lot not far from the beach, in the Laurence Harbor neighborhood on the town's east end. Builders said they should have already broken ground. But the project is on an indefinite hold because Owen's legislative colleagues decided in June to divert $125 million from a long-standing state trust fund for constructing affordable housing across the Garden State and spend it instead on other initiatives, including down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Gov. Phil Murphy supported shifting the funds, touting them as a way to provide New Jerseyans with immediate housing assistance. ' I'm very upset. In my opinion, the diversion of those funds is totally asinine,' Henry, a Republican, told Gothamist.'
CODERUPTION— 'City code enforcement officer accused of seeking bribes from N.J. business,' by NJ Advance Media's Nicolas Fernandes: 'A Newark code enforcement officer has been indicted over allegations that she solicited bribes from a business in exchange for letting them reopen. Sonia Rogers, 50, of Newark, was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday on the charges of second-degree official misconduct, bribery in official and political matters, theft by extortion and acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior, the state Attorney General's Office said in a statement. As part of her job, Rogers visited a store on Broad Street in Newark to conduct an inspection in September 2024. Following the inspection, she ordered the store to be closed due to an expired municipal business license, officials said. State investigators allege that Rogers then asked the owner for an $800 cash bribe in exchange for waiving the required fines, reinstating the license and reopening the store. When the store owner turned down the offer, Rogers said she would settle for taking some free merchandise, authorities alleged.'
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—'Katie Brennan backs Solomon for Jersey City mayor'
—'Hackensack calls on NJ Transit to improve safety at crossings after recent fatalities'
—'How a new Tony Soprano mural ended up in a historic [Montclair] hub. See the renovation'
—'Egg Harbor Township to spend $600K to restore West Jersey Avenue after Atlantic Shores pullout'
EVERYTHING ELSE
SHOCCKER — 'N.J. soccer mom demanded justice for daughter after violent foul. Her team got banned instead,' by NJ Advance Media's Patrick Lanni: 'The video tells an undeniable story. Amid a highly contested youth girls soccer match, a player grabs her opponent by the back of the neck, yanking her back and forth before throwing her to the grass face-first. The girl's spontaneous fit of anger is clearly a foul and draws a swift yellow card from the referee … Woodstown Borough, the team with the player who committed the hard foul, was welcomed back to the South Jersey Girls Soccer League for the upcoming 2025 fall season. Monroe Township, the team on the receiving end of the penalty, was not. The ugly foul and the ensuing fallout have now thrust two communities and a volunteer-driven soccer organization into the center of a raging debate over conduct at games, parental involvement in on-field disputes and social media's role in magnifying youth sports incidents and fanning them into viral clips. Lauren Astore, the parent of the Monroe girl who was thrown to the turf, claims her persistent complaints about the incident — and pursuit of accountability from league officials — led to her daughter's team being banned from the league this fall … Online comments, reviewed by NJ Advance Media, show Monroe parents, including Astore, calling the Woodstown player 'trash' and 'evil' as well as other expletives on various Facebook threads'
—'U.S. News public high school rankings are out. How did your NJ school do?'
—'This South Jersey educator has been named national high school principal of the year: 'I love what I am doing''
—'Study ranks women's equality across all 50 states. Here's where New Jersey stands'
—'More Jersey Shore beaches may ban swimming as Hurricane Erin strengthens, creates dangerous surf conditions'