Why Jeffries' redistricting idea is so unlikely in NJ

Politico

3 days ago

Good Wednesday morning!
Last week, CNN reported that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was looking to several Democratic states, including New Jersey, for potential mid-decade redistricting to counter the move to redraw the map in Texas to further favor Republicans.
But by the time the report surfaced, it was probably already too late in New Jersey.
This would have been difficult no matter what. New Jersey's Constitution mandates that congressional redistricting takes place after the Census conducted at the beginning of each decade. To change that, you'd have to change the Constitution. To guarantee a favorable map for Democrats, you'd also have to change the constitutionally assigned system from a redistricting commission with equal party representation and a tiebreaker to one that favors Democrats.
It is, of course, possible to change the state Constitution. Democrats have slightly more than the three-fifths majorities they need in both houses to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot this November. But even if they were to get all their members on board with the plan — far from a given — I still doubt they'd be able to pull it off.
The state Constitution requires constitutional amendments be published in newspapers in each county 'not less than three months prior to submission to the people.' Notwithstanding the dearth of newspapers, that makes the deadline Aug. 4, according to the Division of Elections, which I trust more than myself to do the math.
But even if Democratic leaders got virtually all their members to come back from vacation and support an amendment before Aug. 4, they still likely wouldn't be able to get it on the ballot in time to affect the 2026 midterms. The constitution requires lawmaker to wait at least 20 days following an amendment's introduction, then hold a public hearing, before they can vote on it.
I'm no lawyer or constitutional scholar, so I called law professor Ronald Chen, who's also worked on congressional and state redistricting commissions. And he agreed there's no way to do it in time for the Nov. 4 general election.
Chen noted one possible way to do it: If the Legislature passes a law to delay the general election. And Democrats did delay the primary a week so as not to conflict with the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. But this would require an election delay of at least three weeks. And given that Democrats already have a friendly congressional map with very few options to gain more than the nine seats they hold, it seems like an extraordinarily unlikely gambit.
But perhaps there's a way for Gov. Phil Murphy fire the First Assistant Constitution and replace it with an Acting Constitution.
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SHOW ME THE WAY: Acting Gov. Way has no public schedule
QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'This is smart. As things stand, McGreevey is on track to be the next mayor. Unless the other candidates show some vision or courage, which they haven't, he'll keep gaining ground. The rest are stuck recycling tired lines: 'developers bad,' 'everyone's corrupt,' 'Jersey City is a mess.' with no vision beyond those talking points. Their cautiousness on every issue including MLK/Bergen and Baldwin/Summit speaks volumes about how they would lead' — outgoing Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop on candidate Jim McGreevey's transit plans. (Fulop last year expressed doubts about McGreevey's chances.)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Kevin McCabe, Elissa Schragger, Christian Fuscarino, Felicia Hopson, Robert Basmadjian
WHAT TRENTON MADE
J-J-J JIM 'N DALE RESCUE CAMPAIGNERS — 'Do NJ lt. governor candidates matter? Do Gannon, Caldwell help their tickets?' by The Record's Charles Stile: 'Last week's rollout of lieutenant governor candidates demonstrated how the volatile debate — and concerns — over diversity shaped their selections.. Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli's selection of Jim Gannon, the popular Morris County sheriff, was widely seen as a tactical move to siphon away some suburban support from his rival, the Democratic nominee, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who has represented a large swath of Morris since her blue-wave election in 2018. Yet by choosing a White county sheriff and ex-Boonton cop, Ciattarelli is also rejecting the familiar expectation that the governor's lieutenant must be a diversity pick. … Every nominee since the first lieutenant governor campaign in 2009 has followed the diversity script … Yet Ciattarelli is ignoring precedent — despite candidly lamenting in a postmortem symposium that his 2021 campaign was 'too White.' … Sherrill, meanwhile, had little choice but to follow the Democratic Party's diversity playbook by choosing Dale Caldwell, a pillar of the party Democratic establishment and the first African American president of Centenary College in Hackettstown.'
SCHOOL FUNDING — Coughlin proposal is latest to address school funding woes, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: With cuts in state education aid hitting some suburban school districts hard and driving up property taxes, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin is seeking to alter New Jersey's school funding formula and give the Legislature more power over it. Coughlin and Assemblymember Sterley Stanley, a fellow Democrat from Middlesex County, last week introduced legislation, NJ A5966 (24R), that would make significant changes to how education aid is calculated, and require the Legislature to affirmatively approve of the governor's office's determination of per-pupil funding amounts. 'This bill attempts to provide both school districts and the public with more clarity, predictability and time as to how much School Aid their districts can expect for each succeeding school year,' Coughlin said in a statement. The bill comes as education aid, always a tense political issue, threatens to rile up voters ahead of the November election, when all 80 Assembly seats are up. And it follows efforts from the Murphy administration and Senate to address the recent controversies.
CIATTARELLI FINDS A DISAGREEMENT WITH TRUMP — 'Ciattarelli opposes ICE plan to house detainees at N.J. base, but blames Dems for 'crisis',' by NJ Advance Media's Steve Strunsky: 'Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli opposes a plan to use part of a sprawling U.S. military base in Burlington County to temporarily house immigration detainees, though he blames Democrats for the situation, the candidate and his campaign said this week. Ciattarelli's campaign issued a statement by the GOP gubernatorial nominee and former state senator from Somerset County on Monday night accusing his opponent and other Democrats of creating a 'crisis' that forced immigration officials to obtain permission from the Pentagon to house detainees in tents at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. … On Tuesday, Ciattarelli campaign manager Eric Arpert clarified that his candidate opposes housing detainees at the joint base, while reiterating his assertion that Democrats were to blame for the situation.'
KEVIN TOMAFSKY — 'Ex-Gov. Christie aide sentenced to prison for possession of child sex abuse material,' by NJ Advance Media's Victoria Gladstoine: 'A onetime aide to former Gov. Chris Christie pleaded guilty on Monday to first-degree endangering the welfare of a child after police found images of child sexual abuse material on his personal devices, authorities said. Kevin Tomafsky, 43, of Washington Township, was arrested in 2022. … Tomafsky accepted a plea deal that will require him to serve 10 years in prison. He will have to serve five years before being eligible for parole, authorities said. … Tomafsky worked in the governor's office from 2010 to 2012.'
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—'Vineland gun shop loses court decision to NJ AG. What this means for Butch's Gun World'
TRUMP ERA
FROM BEDMINSTER TO BEDLAM — Trump fired court-appointed Habba replacement, records show, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard and Kyle Cheney: President Donald Trump moved to fire the career federal prosecutor New Jersey judges picked to be acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, according to court records filed Tuesday. The Department of Justice revealed Trump's decision in an email filed with a federal judge in Pennsylvania, who is preparing to weigh in on an escalating fight between the Trump administration and the federal bench in New Jersey. The filing underscores Trump's direct involvement in a bid to keep his former personal attorney, Alina Habba, as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor, despite the expiration last week of her 120-day tenure as interim U.S. attorney and New Jersey judges selecting prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace to serve in Habba's place. … Trump's workaround is now creating uncertainty across the federal criminal justice system in New Jersey. A defense attorney, Thomas Mirigliano, is trying to get 2024 drug and gun charges against his client thrown out by arguing the Trump administration's maneuvering was irregular and unconstitutional. … In a 29-page response made Tuesday at noon, the Department of Justice said Habba is legally the acting U.S. attorney and walked through each step of the workaround that it says allows Habba to continue serving. But the department made lengthy arguments meant to keep criminal cases from unraveling in the event a judge decides that Habba's authority is dubious.'
—'Has Trump's naming of Alina Habba created a crisis in the federal courts?'
THIRD CIRCUIT — Senate confirms Emil Bove to Third Circuit, as Dems fail to thwart Trump pick, by POLITICO's Hailey Fuchs: Emil Bove, President Donald Trump's former criminal defense attorney, has been confirmed to a lifetime seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals — the culmination of a tumultuous campaign from his detractors that ultimately fractured his support among the Senate GOP. The Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Bove, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska defecting from the rest of their party to join all Democrats in opposing. Bove was plagued by reports of whistleblowers alleging that he recommended the administration ignore court orders that would disrupt Trump's aggressive immigration agenda. His nomination became a flashpoint battle for Democrats, who argued the current principal associate deputy attorney general had made clear he valued fealty to the president over the law and was therefore unfit for the federal bench. 'Look at his record: Emil Bove has shown time and time again his disrespect for the very office he seeks to hold,' said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), pointing to the allegations, during a recent speech on the Senate floor.
TIRED: MASTRO. WIRED: MASTO — 'Booker feuds with fellow Senate Dems in surprise dispute over police bill package,' by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: 'What might have been the fairly routine passage of several police-related bills on the Senate floor this afternoon turned into a surprisingly bitter intra-Democratic argument, with Senator Cory Booker sparring with two of his fellow Democratic senators over how willing their party should be to work with Republicans and President Donald Trump. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) took to the floor to ask for unanimous consent to pass seven bills related to policing and public safety, all of which have a bipartisan list of co-sponsors and one of which even lists Booker himself as a co-sponsor. But Booker objected to five of the bills, accusing the Trump administration of shifting police grant funding away from states like New Jersey in retaliation for their Democratic-leaning politics and their hesitance to cooperate with the president on immigration enforcement. 'Why would we do something today that's playing into the president's politics, and that's going to hurt the officers in states like mine?' Booker said. 'I believe in these bills – I'm a co-sponsor on some – and that's why I'm standing here to fight to ensure police departments in New Jersey aren't excluded from accessing these vital funds.' Booker asked to pass an amendment ensuring that grant money is equally allocated; Cortez Masto objected, calling it a 'poison pill' to the package.''
—Booker: 'There's a lot of us in this caucus that want to fucking fight. And what's bothering me right now is we don't see enough fight in this caucus.'
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—'N.J. Reps. want details from Hegseth, Noem about immigration detention center plans at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst'
LOCAL
EDISON — '3 N.J. cops were charged with stealing. Not one will serve a day in prison,' by NJ Advance Media's Riley Yates: 'The charges against the Edison police officers were meant to send a message. Cops accused of falsifying off-duty work to add tens of thousands of dollars to their pay checks would face serious consequences, Middlesex County prosecutors announced in 2018. Theft charges. Racketeering allegations. Years of scandal inside the township's long embattled police department would finally come to an end in the kind of corruption case that puts police behind bars. Then the charges languished for seven years. Until last week, when authorities cut a deal with their three final defendants, concluding a costly prosecution that began with fanfare and ended with none of the three former cops spending a day in prison. Two of the accused officers — Gregory Makras and James Panagoulakos — saw their charges dismissed on July 23 in exchange for their resignations from the police force, where they haven't worked since they were charged. Another former officer, Sgt. Ioannis (John) Mpletsakis, pleaded guilty on the same day to a tax charge for failing to report income.'
THE HOUSE UN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER AND POOL ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE — ''He is trying to divide us:' How a dispute over American flags turned this small N.J. town upside down,' by NJ Advance Media's Glenn Epps: 'More than a dozen residents in Belvidere say they have become the target of a local politician's hostility, causing them to become more concerned about their safety in their small town. During a public meeting on Monday night, several residents accused Councilman Christopher Allen, 24, of doxxing addresses. … The controversy began on July 19 when Allen posted images on Facebook showing front yards with campaign signs for council candidate Josh Johnson alongside American flags hung in a distress-signal style. In his post, Allen explained that he was highlighting disrespect to the national symbol. … Days after the social media post, Allen introduced a resolution requiring the United States flag be prominently displayed in all municipal building meeting rooms and mandating the pledge of allegiance as the first order of business for any public meeting performing governmental duties … Currently, the Belvidere Community Center and Pool Committee, where Allen serves as council liaison, do not regularly read the pledge of allegiance at meetings.'
LIKE ERASING HISTORY WITH LIGHTNING — 'New Brunswick will rename Woodrow Wilson school to 'better reflect the community',' by MyCentralJersey's Cheryl Makin: 'The Board is Education is seeking nominations to help rename Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, named for the 28th president who is said to have had questionable ties to the Ku Klux Klan and racist leanings. On the heels of Princeton University, where Wilson served as its president for from 1902 to 1910, Monmouth University and the Camden School District which all have erased his name from buildings, New Brunswick Public Schools is seeking the same change 'that would better reflect the community.''
TOWN HALL EMPLOYEES GET SURPRISE INVITATION TO TURKISH BATH WITH PAULIE WALNUTS — 'Are there rats in Brick Town Hall?' by Jersey Shore Online's Bob Vosseller: 'Usually when someone says there are rats in town hall it is meant as an insult aimed at those serving in public office but recently that question has come up in a more literal sense. Mayor Lisa Crate and Business Administrator Joanne Bergin both told The Brick Times that despite commentary to the contrary by township employees, there is no rat infestation within Town Hall located at 401 Chambers Bridge Road. Bergin didn't rule out that a mouse might have found its way into the building that was built in the 1970s. Three employees who spoke anonymously with The Brick Times, saying they feared losing their jobs if they went public, made it clear that someone witnessed more than one rat in the building.'
— 'Atlantic County homelessness surges 60% — officials cite 'housing affordability crisis''
—'Atlantic City Housing Authority votes to authorize response to HUD takeover'
—'Glassboro-Camden Line closer than ever, but hurdles remain before construction can begin'
—'Paterson police named in wrongful-death lawsuit by Najee Seabrooks' family seek dismissal'
—'Camden police are now deploying social workers to city streets'
—'DEP to unveil Liberty State Park Plan at open house next week'
—'Essex prosecutor arrested for drunk driving still trying cases'
—'Bayonne hospital workers & Jersey City nurses avoid strikes, ratify new contracts'
—'Massive AI data center with major energy needs under construction in [Vineland]'
EVERYTHING ELSE
MILLZINNS — 'Rutgers set to make Keli Zinn its highest-paid athletic director ever,' by NJ Advance Media's Steve Politi and Brian Fonseca: 'The Rutgers Board of Governors is expected on Wednesday to approve a five-year contract for Keli Zinn that would make the longtime college administrator the highest-paid athletic director in school history, a person with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media. Zinn, who is currently the executive deputy athletic director and chief operating officer at LSU, is set to make a base salary of $1.35 million that can rise if the athletic department hits any of the multiple incentives in the deal, the person said.'
COUP D'WAH — 'Chief of Ramapough Lenape Nation in Mahwah unseated, arrested in tribal dispute,' by The Record's Marsha Stoltz: 'Dwaine Perry, principal chief of the 5,000-member Ramapough Lenape Nation since 2007, has been permanently removed from office by its Tribal Council and arrested for trespassing for trying to enter its Community Center on Stag Hill Road. The Tribal Council first announced Perry's 'temporary suspension' for alleged 'serious violations' in a May 27 statement. A hearing was reportedly held on June 1, and the Tribal Council announced on June 13 that it had 'voted unanimously to permanently remove, ban and disqualify former Chief Dwaine C. Perry from holding any current or future office.' Perry was arrested on July 22 for attempting to enter the tribe's Community Center, police reports show. … Perry, through his attorney Lydia Cotz, characterized the Tribal Council accusations as part of an attempted 'illegal coup.''
—''Jeopardy!' champ with 16-game streak addresses theory he deliberately lost final match'
—'Meet the N.J. lifeguard who has been patrolling the Jersey Shore for decades'
— 'Tolls could rise on Delaware River bridges connecting NJ and Pennsylvania'