A big fight but an early night

Politico

a day ago

Presented by Sports Betting Alliance
Line? What line?
In the end, the primary wasn't close. The lack of a county line for both parties for the first time since 1981 contributed to the crowded field, but it didn't change the result.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, four-term former Navy congresswoman and former Navy helicopter pilot, easily prevailed over five other Democrats for the party's nomination for governor. The AP called the race for Sherrill less than 40 minutes after polls closed.
Jack Ciattarelli, a former three-term Assemblymember making his third run for governor, will for a second time be the Republican nominee, easily defeating his four Republican opponents and likely winning every county. The AP made an even quicker call for him, less than 20 minutes after polls closed.
This is supposed to be a competitive election in November, but given that many of us thought the Democratic contest waa nail-biter, who really knows?
Sherrill and Ciattarelli both have deep resumes and plenty of merits as candidates, so I'm not trying to discount that, but both also had the backing of most of their parties' establishments. And those machines —especially Democrats — showed that they're still formidable without the visual advantage that they bestowed on their chosen candidates for decades. Take Hudson, which Sherrill convincingly carried with the county Democrats' support despite Fulop being the long-serving mayor of its largest city. (Hudson's picture is a bit more complicated in the two non-Brian Stack Assembly districts, where nail-biter races were too close to call late last night.)
Read my story about the election here.
Some more observations:
Steve Sweeney won his native Gloucester County, but as of last night he, Mikie Sherrill and Sean Spiller were virtually tied in Camden County. You could tell it was over for Sweeney as soon as polls closed, when Camden County's mail-in ballots showed Sherrill, Spiller and Sweeney with almost identical totals. This suggests, to me at least, that that the Camden County Democratic machine was more concerned with shoring up its Assembly candidates against Steve Fulop-backed primary challenges than putting a lot of effort into Sweeney's long-shot campaign.
Deep-red Ocean County was supposed to be Bill Spadea's base. It's prime listening area for his radio show and county GOP Chair George Gilmore not only backed Spadea but was on the payroll of one of his super PACs. Yet Ciattarelli won Ocean County easily, and by pretty much the same margin he won Monmouth County, where the GOP establishment was behind him. My guess is the unusual Vaad endorsement for Ciattarelli played a significant role in this. But the Vaad, which endorsed Josh Gottheimer in the Democratic primary, didn't overcome Mikie Sherrill there. She won it easily. With 95 percent of the vote counted, Gottheimer was in third place in Ocean.
I'll have to wait to see more detailed numbers from Montclair, the hometown of NJEA President and Democratic candidate Sean Spiller. But the early results I saw last night were terrible for Spiller, whose tumultuous four years as mayor (he decided not to seek reelection) doesn't appear to have endeared him to the town's voters. Early numbers showed him competing with Sweeney for last place in many, perhaps most, of the town's voting districts. The NJEA put at least $40 million into backing Spiller, and, last I checked, he was in fifth place statewide.
Is Monmouth County regretting its decision to close down its polling institute? Pollster Patrick Murray's poll last month held up well.
And this one's not exactly a shocker, but openly criticizing President Trump isn't a winning message in a Republican primary. State Sen. Jon Bramnick came in a distant third place. Over the course of the campaign I heard several people praise Bramnick for having the guts to go against the president, but everyone saw this coming.
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WHERE'S MURPHY — In Jersey City at 11 a.m. for a World Cup announcement
QUOTE OF THE DAY #1: 'If this campaign were a drinking game and you took a shot every time Mikie Sherrill says 'Trump,' you're going to be drunk off your ass every day between now and November 4th.' — Jack Ciattarelli
QUOTE OF THE DAY #2: 'A Trump lackey like Jack Ciattarelli … I'm ready to shake up the status quo and Jack is the status quo. He's not change, he's a re-run. He's a ghost of elections past.' — Mikie Sherrill
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Steve Sweeney, Mary Melfi, Marshall Spevak, Steven Goldstein, Joey Novick, Matt Mowers
WHAT TRENTON MADE
BLET'S MAKE A DEAL! — The union of engineers whose strike idled NJ Transit trains in May voted to ratify a deal that will raise wages to 'over $50 per hour,' the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen said Tuesday. The union said its members had overwhelmingly voted to approve the seven-year deal, which replaces one that expired before the pandemic. 'This agreement gives us the pay raises we needed, but also was done without a major hit to NJT's budget and should not require a fare hike for passengers,' union leader Tom Haas said in a statement. The head of NJ Transit, CEO Kris Kolluri, said in a statement he was pleased by the vote. The union's rank and file had previously voted down another deal, teeing up the strike that resulted in this agreement. — Ry Rivard
THE ODDS WERE STACKED — 'Team Stack beats Team Sacco in LD33 proxy war,' by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: 'Neither State Sen./Union City Mayor Brian Stack and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco will appear on voters' ballots this year, but they were engaged in an all-out war against one another all the same in the 33rd legislative district – and Stack has emerged victorious. In the Democratic primary for the district's two Assembly seats, Stack's running mates, Assemblyman Gabe Rodriguez (D-West New York) and frequent North Bergen mayoral candidate Larry Wainstein, have defeated Sacco's slate of former North Bergen school board member Tony Hector and former Union City Republican chairman Frank Alonso. … As of 8:40 p.m., with only early votes reporting, Rodriguez and Wainstein lead by a combined 78%-22% margin'
WHAT THEY DO IN THE SHADOWS — 'Who knows what lawmakers will do in fog of NJ budget,' by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer: 'In New Jersey once again, it remains unclear when exactly legislative leaders are planning to formally introduce and pass a spending bill for the fiscal year that begins July 1. That uncertainty was on display at the start of Monday's Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting. Chair Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) discussed a potential schedule for adopting New Jersey's yet-to-be-introduced fiscal year 2026 spending bill later this month, but he stopped short of committing to any specific dates. … But still to come is the introduction of the actual bill that will become the state's next annual budget. This legislative version is likely to include hundreds of millions of dollars in new spending that, in time-worn tradition, lawmakers would tack onto a final draft of the proposed budget Murphy released nearly four weeks ago. Up to this point in the process, all the major events on the calendar, including Murphy's budget message and individual legislative hearings with executive branch department heads, have been held in public in Trenton.'
—'Op-Ed: Proposed tax changes could threaten patients' access to care'
—'Legislator wants assistant attorney general who runs elections fired'
—'Morales, venezia win closer-than-expected race against Claybrooks in LD34'
TRUMP ERA
MCICTMENT — New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver indicted following ICE protest, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: A grand jury indicted Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) on a trio of charges, acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba said Tuesday. The indictment continues the Trump administration's legal attacks against opponents of its immigration policies. And it comes as the administration has sent troops into Los Angeles over immigration protests. The indictment is a required step for prosecutors to keep pressing felony charges announced last month following a scuffle outside an immigration detention facility in Newark involving McIver, two other Democratic members of the New Jersey congressional delegation, the city's mayor and a group of federal law enforcement agents. The three counts, which allege McIver forcibly interfered with law enforcement officials, come with a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison. 'As I have stated in the past, it is my Constitutional obligation as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for New Jersey to ensure that our federal partners are protected when executing their duties,' Habba said in a social media post.
—'Trump's DOJ indicted a Democratic Congresswoman. The case could fall apart,' by POLITICO's Ankush Khardori: 'The indictment of Rep. LaMonica McIver on Tuesday marks the latest dramatic escalation in the Trump administration's effort to quell public and political opposition to the president's crackdown on illegal immigration. It's also likely to be a dud. The decision to proceed with an indictment following the initial charges against the New Jersey Democrat comes at a politically volatile moment — following President Donald Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard and the Marines in response to protests in Los Angeles, and in the midst of ongoing wrangling over the scope and legality of the administration's deportation effort. In recent weeks, that effort has generated heartrending images from courthouse arrests and more admissions of mistaken deportations from the Justice Department. Meanwhile, the administration is moving to deport hundreds of thousands of people who entered the country legally under the last administration. The Justice Department's prosecution of McIver — stemming from a scuffle with Homeland Security agents in Newark last month — cannot be disentangled from this context. And that may ultimately prove to be the undoing of the case.'
—'McIver, fellow Delaney Hall dems come to sanctuary cities' defense in letter to Trump admin'
—'As Trump moves to cut LGBTQ suicide prevention line, NJ counselors see spike in calls'
—'[Sandy Hook] beach may not have enough lifeguards after Trump cuts, [Pallone] says'
LOCAL
R.I.P. — 'Brian Hughes, five-term Mercer County Executive, dies at 68,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'Brian Hughes, who served as the Mercer County Executive from 2004 to 2024, died this morning. He was 68. The son of Richard J. Hughes, who served as governor of New Jersey from 1962 to 1970 and chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973 to 1979, Hughes was the Democratic candidate for Congress against Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Manchester) in 1992 and was elected Mercer County freeholder in 1997 and 2000. Hughes ended 24 years of Republican control of the Mercer County Executive's office in 2003 when he defeated County Clerk Cathy DiCostanzo by 1,673 votes, 49%-47%.'
I SHOCKED THE SHERIFF — 'Davis declares victory over Schillari in primary for Hudson County sheriff,' by Hudson County View's John Heinis: 'Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis has declared victory over Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari, who was seeking a sixth term, marking a big win for the county Democrats … Schillari, who ran on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop's 'Democrats for Change' gubernatorial slate, hit Davis repeatedly over workplace lawsuits alleging sexual harassment. Davis, who ran on the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) slate, returned fire by alleging excessive overtime spending in the sheriff's office and saying five terms is enough.'
VELEZCALATION — 'Paterson mayor and councilman feud intensifies. Preview of mayoral race?' by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: 'The conflict between Mayor Andre Sayegh and Councilman Luis Velez escalated over the weekend after television news on June 6 reported allegations that Velez pulled a City Hall fire alarm last year. Velez said he believes Sayegh leaked 'false information' about the fire alarm to NBC News. 'My friend, you need to try harder to put me down,' Velez told Sayegh in a text message sent less than an hour after the story aired. 'Like always playing dirty politics,' the councilman added. Sayegh responded that same night with a text asking Velez to stop texting him, 'especially while you are under investigation by multiple law enforcement entities.' … The growing feud between onetime allies in some ways represents a preview of Paterson's mayoral election next May. Velez has said he plans to challenge Sayegh. But political insiders say it's highly unlikely that the contest will be a two-man battle. City Council members Michael Jackson and Alex Mendez — both of whom have been facing state election fraud charges for the past five years — have indicated interest in running for mayor.'
RODRICK VS. EVERYBODY — 'Toms River PBA says mayor is not telling the truth about police staffing,' by the Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle: 'The Toms River PBA has accused Mayor Daniel Rodrick of making false claims about police department staffing, which the organization notes has fallen to the lowest level in 21 years. The unusual statement issued June 7 by Toms River PBA Local 137 came in response to a letter sent by the mayor to township residents, in which Rodrick said he had increased the number of police on the road by 20%, 'and we're in the process of hiring even more officers.' PBA President Kenneth Thomas took issue with the mayor's statements about police staffing, writing 'this claim of a 20% increase in 'cops on the road' is completely false.' As of June 6, Thomas said, Toms River's overall police workforce is 151 officers, down from 163 in January 2024. Thomas said that pending retirements are expected to drop the roster to 146 officers by Septembe.r … The mayor argues that a change in working hours from three, 11-hour shifts to 4, 10-hour shits a week for officers has actually placed more police on township streets every day … 'They are so angry because they don't get hardly any overtime anymore,' the mayor said of the officers' new schedule.'
—'Political operative Craig Callaway's sentencing in 2022 election ballot fraud case delayed'
—'Small declares victory in Atlantic City Democratic mayoral race'
—'Lawsuit claiming retaliation for anonymous emails criticizing N.J. school district tossed'
—'What should Camden's next superintendent do? Residents want someone to manage crises and the budget'
—'Islamic congregation considers next step after Sayreville rejects mosque proposal'
—'Stranded dolphin on coast of Jersey Shore town euthanized after rescue attempt'
—'Sources: Bergen executive Tedesco to run for reelection'
R.I.P. — 'Family mourning loss of Camden star football player killed in shooting'
EVERYTHING ELSE
MR. BIN WIZARDEN — 'Teen's explosives in basement were used as part of 'science project,' cops say,' by NJ Advance Medai's Jeff Goldman: 'A Moorestown teenager who had explosives materials in a lab in his basement and brought them to a friend's house to use in a school project had no malicious intentions, authorities said. 'It was a science project that they were doing,' Moorestown police director Patrick Reilly said at a press conference on Monday.''
—'Computer, enhance!: Atlantic City police recover Heart's stolen instrument using license plate reader technology, surveillance footage'