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Politico
a day ago
- Business
- Politico
Toughness and Trump featured in New York City mayoral candidate's new ad
NEW YORK — Democrat Scott Stringer's mayoral campaign will release a TV ad Wednesday casting the bespectacled former city comptroller as an understated tough guy to lead the nation's largest city. 'Toughest' features Stringer, who has polled behind Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani and Comptroller Brad Lander, speaking directly to the camera as he walks down a street. The 30-second spot is part of a seven-figure buy and will appear on broadcast, cable and digital channels. 'Look, real New Yorkers know: The loudest guy on the block is never the toughest,' Stringer says as images of Cuomo, Mayor Eric Adams and President Donald Trump are shown. The ad — Stringer's second spot of his campaign — will be unveiled hours before nine Democratic candidates square off in the first televised debate ahead of the June 24 primary that is co-sponsored by POLITICO and WNBC. Stringer is expected to make toughness part of his closing argument in the coming weeks. Stringer defines 'tough' in the spot as 'taking on party bosses to save rent stabilization laws, fighting corruption as comptroller and saying no to Cuomo's vicious budget cuts.' ''Tough' is putting New Yorkers first,' he says. As he did in his first spot, Stringer calls Trump a 'schmuck' and pledges to keep the Republican president out of the deep-blue city's affairs. Perceptions of mayoral toughness have been a common thread, dating back to John Lindsay calling the job 'the second toughest' in America behind being president. Stringer's ad follows campaign spots from other candidates who have also cast themselves as assertive figures. Lander, his successor in the comptroller's office, released an ad featuring him crushing Teslas in a junkyard — a reference to Trump pal Elon Musk. Another Lander video showed the candidate boxing. The perceived weakness of Cuomo's Democratic opponents has pushed them to show they can be tough. The frontrunning Cuomo has also positioned himself as a tough politician, but critics allege it's a front for bullying and poor behavior. Stringer has spent nearly $1.9 million on television ads since launching his race last year, according to media tracking firm AdImpact. An Emerson College poll last month showed him trailing Cuomo, Mamdani and Lander. The survey found he placed fourth in an 11-candidate field in the first round of the city's ranked-choice voting system. He received 9 percent of the vote and was eliminated by the eighth round with 13.2 percent.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Republicans brace for chaotic primary in competitive Iowa governor's race
Iowa Republicans are staring down a potentially contentious primary in the state's gubernatorial race as they look to prevent Democrats from winning control of the office. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R) became the most high-profile Republican to jump into the race, though a number of other notable figures are eyeing bids, including state Attorney General Brenna Bird. Former Iowa state Rep. Brad Sherman (R) also launched his gubernatorial campaign earlier this year. Meanwhile, it's unclear whether President Trump will weigh in. A fractious primary could stand to make the party more vulnerable in the race, which Cook Political Report rates as 'lean Republican.' 'In some form or fashion you're probably staring at a pretty competitive GOP primary when on the other hand you've got a Democrat who's pretty much got the nomination locked down already, has the ability to self-fund and is out there driving a pretty aggressive campaign in its infancy,' said one Republican strategist. Democrats seem thrilled with the idea of a Republican primary, with one national Democratic operative characterizing Gov. Kim Reynolds's (R ) announcement that she would not seek reelection as one that set the forming GOP field into 'chaos.' 'It seems like there is going to be a very crowded, messy, and expensive Republican primary,' the operative said. Feenstra officially filed to run for governor earlier this month, and has since rolled out an ad touting his conservative record. According to the ad tracking company AdImpact, Feenstra's campaign has reserved $294,000 in television ad reservations. Additionally, Feenstra said in the 24-hour period since he launched his exploratory committee for governor earlier this month that he raised $1.1 million. 'Randy's demonstrated an ability to raise money, which is obviously very important in a governor's race. It's going to be an expensive race,' said David Kochel, a veteran Iowa Republican strategist. Bird could also prove to be a formidable candidate if she decides to get in. In a statement to the Des Moines Register earlier this month, Bird said 'running for governor isn't a decision to be made lightly. We look forward to sharing our plans soon for an exciting 2026.' Bird can point to her 2022 attorney general win as proof she has the ability to win statewide. She also has experience in the state's political arena, having served as chief of staff to former Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). Feenstra defeated King, who served nine terms, in the 2020 Republican primary for the seat. One of Bird's greatest potential assets, should she get in, could be an endorsement from Trump. Bird has allied herself closely with Trump during her time as attorney general. Last year, she traveled to New York City for Trump's hush money trial and campaigned for him during the 2024 presidential race. While Feenstra has also touted his support for Trump, some Republicans say Bird would be the most likely to secure Trump's backing. Last week, Bird posted a video to X featuring clips of Trump speaking fondly of her. At one point in the compilation, Trump says 'she's going to be your governor someday, I predict.' The video is captioned 'someday,' with the eyes emoji. 'Obviously, caucuses and primaries are different, but you saw the president's strength in the most recent caucus. I think in a primary electorate, it would have a pretty deep impact. Does that mean she's unbeatable? No,' said the unnamed GOP strategist. 'You have to turn out to be a great candidate to be able to carry that endorsement, or at least a good enough candidate and she'd have to prove that still.' There are other Republicans who could still jump into the race, including state Sen. Mike Bousselot (R), who launched an exploratory committee last month. Iowa state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R) and House Speaker Pat Grassley have not ruled out runs. But Republicans note that Feenstra's decision to get in early is a savvy strategy, allowing him to get a headstart ahead of other potentially strong Republican opponents. 'He's trying to lay the claim to force people that are otherwise thinking about it, to think he's too far ahead and dissuade him from getting in,' said the unnamed Republican strategist. 'He's trying to get out ahead because if [Bird] does get in you want to have as much of a head-start advantage over the Trump endorsement as possible. I think he's covering both bases by smartly getting out of the gate as quickly as possible.' On the Democratic side, Rob Sand is also seeking to get a head start. No other Democrats have jumped into the primary, and Sand is seen as a potentially formidable general election opponent. Sand is the only Iowa Democrat serving in a statewide office. In 2018, he defeated his Republican opponent by four points. Four years later, he won his reelection by less than 3,000 voters. The Cook Political Report moved the race's rating from 'solid Republican' to 'lean Republican' shortly after Sand entered the race, marking a 'double rating' shift. 'There's no doubt that Iowa's a challenging state, but we believe that there is a real path to victory for a strong Democratic nominee who fits the state well,' the national Democratic operative said. Any Democrat running statewide faces an uphill climb in a state that Trump won by 13 points, but Sand's campaign points to his approval ratings and fundraising prowess. In a memo released earlier this week, Sand's campaign cites a September 2024 poll showing Sand with a 53 percent approval rate, 'the highest approval rating among Iowa's statewide elected officials.' Sand's campaign also notes he raised $2.25 million within 24 hours of launching his gubernatorial campaign, touting it as a sign of strength. Sand's campaign noted that the haul does not include any self-funding or family donations and includes donations from all 99 counties in the state. Still, Republicans point out that last campaign finance reports from last year showed he raised $8 million during the off year in 2024, which included $7 million from family members and 28,000 smaller individual donations. 'He's got the resources, clearly,' said the unnamed Republican strategist. 'He's made a run in the past and made a real dent and so given the right environment and depending on who Republicans nominate, I think he's got a real shot, if not even seen as the odds-on favorite to be their next governor.' The strategist added, 'It's a real challenge. Some of it will be dependent on the environment, some of it will be dependent on who the Republicans ultimately nominate, and a lot of it will be dependent on how people feel about the president.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Republicans brace for chaotic primary in competitive Iowa governor's race
Iowa Republicans are staring down a potentially contentious primary in the state's gubernatorial race as they look to prevent Democrats from winning control of the office. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R) became the most high-profile Republican to jump into the race, though a number of other notable figures are eyeing bids, including state Attorney General Brenna Bird. Former Iowa state Rep. Brad Sherman (R) also launched his gubernatorial campaign earlier this year. Meanwhile, it's unclear whether President Trump will weigh in. A fractious primary could stand to make the party more vulnerable in the race, which Cook Political Report rates as 'lean Republican.' 'In some form or fashion you're probably staring at a pretty competitive GOP primary when on the other hand you've got a Democrat who's pretty much got the nomination locked down already, has the ability to self-fund and is out there driving a pretty aggressive campaign in its infancy,' said one Republican strategist. Democrats seem thrilled with the idea of a Republican primary, with one national Democratic operative characterizing Gov. Kim Reynolds's (R ) announcement that she would not seek reelection as one that set the forming GOP field into 'chaos.' 'It seems like there is going to be a very crowded, messy, and expensive Republican primary,' the operative said. Feenstra officially filed to run for governor earlier this month, and has since rolled out an ad touting his conservative record. According to the ad tracking company AdImpact, Feenstra's campaign has reserved $294,000 in television ad reservations. Additionally, Feenstra said in the 24-hour period since he launched his exploratory committee for governor earlier this month that he raised $1.1 million. 'Randy's demonstrated an ability to raise money, which is obviously very important in a governor's race. It's going to be an expensive race,' said David Kochel, a veteran Iowa Republican strategist. Bird could also prove to be a formidable candidate if she decides to get in. In a statement to the Des Moines Register earlier this month, Bird said 'running for governor isn't a decision to be made lightly. We look forward to sharing our plans soon for an exciting 2026.' Bird can point to her 2022 attorney general win as proof she has the ability to win statewide. She also has experience in the state's political arena, having served as chief of staff to former Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). Feenstra defeated King, who served nine terms, in the 2020 Republican primary for the seat. One of Bird's greatest potential assets, should she get in, could be an endorsement from Trump. Bird has allied herself closely with Trump during her time as attorney general. Last year, she traveled to New York City for Trump's hush money trial and campaigned for him during the 2024 presidential race. While Feenstra has also touted his support for Trump, some Republicans say Bird would be the most likely to secure Trump's backing. Last week, Bird posted a video to X featuring clips of Trump speaking fondly of her. At one point in the compilation, Trump says 'she's going to be your governor someday, I predict.' The video is captioned 'someday,' with the eyes emoji. 'Obviously, caucuses and primaries are different, but you saw the president's strength in the most recent caucus. I think in a primary electorate, it would have a pretty deep impact. Does that mean she's unbeatable? No,' said the unnamed GOP strategist. 'You have to turn out to be a great candidate to be able to carry that endorsement, or at least a good enough candidate and she'd have to prove that still.' There are other Republicans who could still jump into the race, including state Sen. Mike Bousselot (R), who launched an exploratory committee last month. Iowa state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R) and House Speaker Pat Grassley have not ruled out runs. But Republicans note that Feenstra's decision to get in early is a savvy strategy, allowing him to get a headstart ahead of other potentially strong Republican opponents. 'He's trying to lay the claim to force people that are otherwise thinking about it, to think he's too far ahead and dissuade him from getting in,' said the unnamed Republican strategist. 'He's trying to get out ahead because if [Bird] does get in you want to have as much of a head-start advantage over the Trump endorsement as possible. I think he's covering both bases by smartly getting out of the gate as quickly as possible.' On the Democratic side, Rob Sand is also seeking to get a head start. No other Democrats have jumped into the primary, and Sand is seen as a potentially formidable general election opponent. Sand is the only Iowa Democrat serving in a statewide office. In 2018, he defeated his Republican opponent by four points. Four years later, he won his reelection by less than 3,000 voters. The Cook Political Report moved the race's rating from 'solid Republican' to 'lean Republican' shortly after Sand entered the race, marking a 'double rating' shift. 'There's no doubt that Iowa's a challenging state, but we believe that there is a real path to victory for a strong Democratic nominee who fits the state well,' the national Democratic operative said. Any Democrat running statewide faces an uphill climb in a state that Trump won by 13 points, but Sand's campaign points to his approval ratings and fundraising prowess. In a memo released earlier this week, Sand's campaign cites a September 2024 poll showing Sand with a 53 percent approval rate, 'the highest approval rating among Iowa's statewide elected officials.' Sand's campaign also notes he raised $2.25 million within 24 hours of launching his gubernatorial campaign, touting it as a sign of strength. Sand's campaign noted that the haul does not include any self-funding or family donations and includes donations from all 99 counties in the state. Still, Republicans point out that last campaign finance reports from last year showed he raised $8 million during the off year in 2024, which included $7 million from family members and 28,000 smaller individual donations. 'He's got the resources, clearly,' said the unnamed Republican strategist. 'He's made a run in the past and made a real dent and so given the right environment and depending on who Republicans nominate, I think he's got a real shot, if not even seen as the odds-on favorite to be their next governor.' The strategist added, 'It's a real challenge. Some of it will be dependent on the environment, some of it will be dependent on who the Republicans ultimately nominate, and a lot of it will be dependent on how people feel about the president.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Conservative groups unleash spending blitz to pass Trump's ‘big, beautiful bill'
As President Donald Trump works to muscle his sweeping tax and spending cuts package through Congress, a network of conservative groups has undertaken a multimillion-dollar advertising blitz to spread his message to voters and pressure recalcitrant lawmakers to get in line. The outside spending to pass the 'big, beautiful bill' at the center of Trump's domestic agenda also offers a preview of the campaigns GOP lawmakers could face in the months to come, urging them to back the president's moves or face potential political consequences in next year's midterm elections. A collection of roughly half a dozen groups has spent more than $8 million booking ad time since the start of the month, according to data from the ad tracking firm AdImpact, promoting the massive bill Republicans are racing to get through the House before next week's Memorial Day recess. One of the big early spenders is Securing American Greatness, part of the president's political orbit and a beneficiary of the unprecedented fundraising Trump has undertaken as a term-limited president. That group – the nonprofit arm of Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC – has booked more than $6 million worth of ad time since the start of the month. And it has already spent more than $2 million on a 30-second spot that blames Democratic leaders, including former President Joe Biden, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, for economic challenges that it argues Trump 'is fixing' with his proposals. 'They've ruined our economy; President Trump is fixing it,' the ad begins. 'Trump's plan: middle class tax cuts, job creating tax cuts, tariffs that bring home American jobs, slashing waste, fraud and abuse, increasing American energy production, bringing down prices.' Corry Bliss, a Republican consultant, said the ad blitz from Trump allies is an early show of strength and a smart strategy. 'This big beautiful bill is the president's agenda,' he said. 'He ran on this agenda. He won on this agenda. And now he needs to deliver this agenda.' 'His well-funded political operation makes clear that Trump is saying ahead of the 2026 midterms, 'I will support the candidates who help my message,'' Bliss added. A constellation of other organizations is also pushing for the package. For instance, Americans for Prosperity, affiliated with Kansas billionaire and sometime-Trump nemesis Charles Koch, has run more than $1 million worth of advertising already, and is promising to spend $20 million altogether on its Protect Prosperity campaign, aimed at extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts that are the heart of the draft legislation. 'Voters didn't send Republicans to Washington to raise taxes. They sent them to cut spending and protect their paychecks,' says one of AFP's ads, which began airing last week. 'Tell the politicians we need tax relief, not tax hikes.' Despite backing Trump rival Nikki Haley in last year's presidential primary, extending the president's tax cuts 'is our number one priority,' said AFP spokesman Bill Riggs. In addition to its advertising, AFP is lobbying members on Capitol Hill and dispatching its standing army of activists to talk to voters in key congressional districts. 'Lawmakers should know AFP is going to be there every step of the way to help get it done, and after it is, we'll be there to make sure voters understand the benefits,' Riggs said. Other groups with ties to the administration and GOP congressional leadership have also launched waves of advertisements, aimed at both shoring up Republican votes and targeting some Democrats. For example, the Club For Growth, an influential conservative organization, went up with an ad last week aimed at GOP Rep. Mike Lawler from New York's battleground 17th Congressional District, urging his constituents to call and 'tell him to extend and expand Trump's tax cuts.' Lawler is among several Republicans from high-tax states who have pushed for a higher cap on the amount of local and state taxes his constituents are allowed to deduct from their federal income taxes. A new Club for Growth commercial released this week takes aim at another New York Republican, second-term Rep. Nick LaLota, who campaigned last year on repealing the cap on the state and local tax deduction that Trump signed into law in his first term. The Club's president David McIntosh recently told reporters that he anticipated a seven-figure campaign from the group to pass the Trump bill but did not release a more specific budget. Another group called 'Unleash Prosperity Now,' co-founded by former Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore, is running an ad targeting several Democrats, including the representative from New York's highly competitive 19th Congressional District, Josh Riley.'What do you think about your Democratic congressman, Josh Riley, voting to let the Trump tax cuts expire, raising your family tax bill?' the ad says. Other advertising reflects lobbying to secure specific outcomes – as competing factions in the GOP House conference push their own priorities. A group called the American Job Creation Alliance, founded by veteran GOP operative Dan Conston for the legislative battle, launched a $750,000 ad campaign this week, targeting members of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Earlier in the debate over the bill, some Republicans in the House weighed limiting or eliminating state and local tax deductions for corporations, known as C-SALT, in their search for additional revenue to offset the bill's broader costs. The alliance is fighting to keep the deductions in place, saying that ending them would amount to an across-the-board increase in corporate taxes. 'President Trump's historic tax cuts brought record prosperity to America,' says one of the group's ads, variations of which highlight a series of members on the House Ways & Means Committee, which oversees tax policy. 'That's why it's so important Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick is fighting to extend the tax cuts with C-SALT in place.' The advertising blitz comes at a critical moment for the GOP in Washington with deep divides remaining among key factions in the House Republican conference, which holds a paper-thin majority in the chamber. Underscoring the stakes, Trump traveled to Capitol Hill this week in an attempt to win over holdouts on the legislation. And he warned that House Republicans who oppose the bill could 'possibly' face primary challenges. Although Trump cannot seek a third term, he continues to build the financial firepower of his political operation and recently headlined fundraising dinners for his super PAC that came with a seven-figure price tag for each attendee. (Super PACs can raise unlimited sums, unlike candidate committees.) At issue is the balance of tax cuts, spending cuts, and deficit reduction that the legislative package will strike – with some of those priorities in tension with each other. And the prospect of painful cuts has already emerged as a Democratic attack line, which some of the new ads from GOP outside groups aim to rebut. 'There's a lot of misinformation out there trying to scare seniors. Trust me, Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is fighting to protect all of us,' says an ad from the American Action Network, a leading conservative non-profit aligned with House Republican leadership, which is aimed at boosting a Republican member in another highly competitive House district. 'He's supporting President Trump's common sense reforms to root out waste, fraud, and abuse,' it continues. Democrats, meanwhile, are already using some of the bill's controversial measures to target Republicans in off-year campaigns – providing a possible preview of the party's 2026 midterm messaging. For example, in New Jersey, where a crowded field of Democrats is competing for the chance to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, contenders' campaign ads are blasting Republican proposals in Washington. 'I'll fight Donald Trump's Medicaid cuts by using the state surplus,' says an ad from Jersey City Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial contender Steve Fulop, referring to potential cuts to the federal health insurance program weighed by GOP lawmakers as they search for ways to pay for Trump's landmark legislation. 'Mikie Sherrill will stop Trump from gutting Medicaid,' says another ad from a group supporting the Democratic congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate.
Politico
09-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
Fulop takes it to the limit
Presented by Good Friday morning! There's one month left in the gubernatorial primary, and Steven Fulop says he's not going to bust the $8.7 million spending cap for publicly-financed candidates. But he's cutting it really close. Fulop has spent about $8 million just on TV and digital advertising, according to AdImpact. That's not including various other campaign expenses, like staff, polling and event space rental that aren't among the few exceptions to the spending cap. And he had already spent about $530,000 on those costs as of January. . That leaves Fulop very little wiggle room on how to spend through next month, even with a skeleton campaign staff of four. 'Our campaign has been structured differently from the beginning,' Fulop said in a statement. 'Unlike the others, we don't have paid consultants, we don't have a campaign manager or field director or finance director or social media advisors or offices, and instead we have more than 1,500 volunteers that pitch in on every aspect of the campaign. This unique ground up structure that is based on volunteers impacted our spending decisions to front load TV.' Fulop's burn rate had been raised as a concern in 2023, when he kicked off his campaign more than two years before the primary. But of course, it doesn't mean the same as it used to. He's also got two super PACs behind him, one of which has already spent millions on his campaign but likely has millions more in the bank. But I don't want to constantly repeat myself about how super PACs have made so many campaign finance rules obsolete. So I won't. I didn't just then. FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY? In Newark at 10 a.m. for a park ribbon cutting ceremony QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'If I was trying to bribe someone, do you think I would put that (out) into the public? Do you think I would openly make that suggestion?' — Developer and former professional football player Kevin Johnson on offering $1 million to Bordentown schools if the town expedites approvals on two of his development projects HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Cassandra Gatelein, Barry Kaufman, Tom Wilson. Saturday for Ravi Bhalla, Nicole Sutterley, Jeremy Julis. Sunday for Brian Rumpf, Shannon Natale. WHAT TRENTON MADE TRUMP'S EARLY BUMP — President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his 'Complete and Total Endorsement' of Tom Kean Jr. for reelection. Kean represents New Jersey's only competitive district, the 7th, which also includes Trump's Bedminster golf club. Already a handful of Democrats have lined up to challenge Kean. On Truth Social, Trump called Kean a 'Tremendous Advocate of our America First Agenda' who 'is working tirelessly to Secure the Border, Stop Crime, Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes, Champion Small Business, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Support our Brave Military and Veterans, and Protect and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.' On X, Kean thanked Trump:'I am working every day to build a stronger America and a stronger New Jersey. We are making life more affordable for every family, safeguarding our communities, and working to achieve peace across the world. Thank you for your leadership, Mr. President. I will continue to deliver for a better future.' — Dustin Racioppi PAINTING A PICTURE FOR THE CANVASS — New Jersey's gov hopefuls signal for outside help in final weeks of primary, by POLITICO's Madison Fernandez: Democrats running for governor of New Jersey are posting guidance for voter outreach on their campaign websites — an increasingly common campaign tactic that can serve as a signal to outside groups of how to spend their resources in the leadup to the June primary. In a Thursday memo to 'interested parties,' Rep. Mikie Sherrill campaign manager Alex Ball wrote that the 'key factor down the stretch of this race will be face-to-face contact with voters' and outlined who the campaign views as its 'top targets.' That includes Hispanic and Asian voters, as well as white women, on the vote-by-mail list who voted in at least three of the last four Democratic primary elections. The Sherrill campaign's 'next targets' are Asian and white voters who haven't voted or voted one or two times out of the last four Democratic primary elections. The campaign even lists where these voters could be found, broken down by county and municipality. These public instructions come from a page accessed on Sherrill's campaign website found by clicking a tab at the bottom of the site called 'media.' … . Super PACs have an outsized role in the race for governor, giving candidates who have spending limits due to the state's public matching funds program an edge. Any outreach is critical in the closing days of the election, especially considering a large swath of the electorate has not even tuned in. A Rutgers-Eagleton poll released on Friday found that when respondents were asked when the next election in New Jersey will take place, 4 percent answered the June 10 primary, 20 percent said some time in June, while more than one-third said November. SOCKET TO ME — Speaker Coughlin on the 'real fight' over energy rates, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin has been paying a lot of attention to energy issues ahead of summer rate increases that will cause skyrocketing bills. 'It's a real fight because it's a big deal for so many people,' he said in an interview this week with POLITICO. To the Democratic speaker, the energy issues are the same kinds of affordability challenges he's been trying to solve by helping boost funding for senior property tax cuts and passing ANCHOR rebates for homeowners and renters. The rate hikes themselves are the result of a 'pretty simple economic problem,' Coughlin said. There's more demand for energy than supply. The solution isn't so easy. He said the state can't instantly create more supply. Instead, his immediate focus is on various kinds of rate relief, including money that Gov. Phil Murphy has set aside for rate assistance and plans the Board of Public Utilities asked utilities to come up with to help defer some of the higher prices. —'New Jersey taking a new look at nuclear power as electric rates soar and voters grumble' HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH IN HIS CAMPAIGN FUND — 'Gottheimer spent more than 10% of public-funded office budget on ads days after announcing run for New Jersey governor,' by Will Bredderman for The Jersey Vindicator: 'U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer followed up his New Jersey gubernatorial campaign launch last fall with a massive digital ad buy from his congressional office — a payment to a vendor linked to his political operation that Washington watchdogs say looks like a flagrant use of public funds to advance the Democrat's political ambitions. Days after Gottheimer kicked off his bid for Drumthwacket on Nov. 15, his House office paid $180,225.92 for 'advertisements' to an Iowa-based firm called Pinpoint Digital LLC, congressional disbursement records show. The figure vastly outstrips the amount any other representative spent on ads in the same period — and exceeds even the combined advertising expenditures of all 11 other members of the New Jersey delegation.' MON SOLO AND THE REBEL ALLIANCE — 'James Solomon backs Bhalla and Brennan for Assembly,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'James Soloman, the downtown Jersey City councilman and mayoral candidate who wields considerable influence among progressive voters, is taking sides in the 32nd district Democratic primary and endorsing Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and former Murphy administration official Katie Brennan for State Assembly. 'Katie and Ravi are proven leaders who will shake up Trenton. They're running to serve the people, not the party bosses,' Soliman stated … With the Jersey City non-partisan election not until November, Solomon pledged to put his own political organization behind the two Assembly candidates in the June 10 Democratic primary. That allows him to test his grassroots group five months before he needs them to perform. Solomon said that Bhalla's eight years as mayor of Hoboken is a model for a mayor who's not part of the Hudson Democratic clubhouse.' TEENS BEHAVING BADLY — 'Governor sends bill targeting pop-up parties back to lawmakers, citing constitutional concerns,' by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov: 'Gov. Phil Murphy, citing First Amendment concerns, has conditionally vetoed legislation intended to deter disruptive pop-up parties that have harried shore towns in recent summers. Murphy on Thursday said he supports the bill's intent but worries its language could chill free speech and peaceful protest, and he warned provisions could criminalize lawful mask wearing. Civil rights advocates had urged Murphy to veto the bill … The bill, which won unanimous votes in both legislative chambers in March, would have created new criminal charges of inciting a public brawl for those who 'engage' or 'promote' at least four others to engage in disorderly conduct. Murphy's conditional veto suggests lawmakers change the bill to say those who 'incite' or attempt to incite at least four others to such conduct could be charged with inciting a public brawl … The bill's chief Senate sponsor [Paul Moriarty] said legislators would take up the changes, which he viewed as largely technical.' —'As primary for governor's race nears, candidates share details of their finances' —'How would New Jersey's candidates for governor tackle affordability?' —'New Jersey may prohibit sweepstakes casinos, saying they are illegal gambling' TRUMP ERA KUSHNER IS QUALIFIED TO SEE FRANCE BECAUSE A HIDDEN CAMERA HELPED HIM SEE UNDERPANTS — 'Acknowledging 'very serious mistake,' Charles Kushner greenlit for ambassadorship by Senate committee,' by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: 'Charles Kushner – a New Jersey real estate titan whose conviction on federal charges in 2005 became an enduring New Jersey political scandal and helped facilitate Chris Christie's rise to prominence – is one step closer to a U.S. ambassadorship. Kushner, who is also the father of President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today to be U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco after being nominated by Trump for the role last year. He and several other ambassador nominees cleared the committee on a 12-0 vote, with only Republicans in attendance; every committee Democrat, among them Senator Cory Booker, skipped the meeting for reasons that weren't immediately clear.' —Trump ramps up plans for 2026 World Cup amid friction with neighbors: 'Tensions are a good thing' —'Trump cuts hit Morris County: Children's theater loses $10,000 federal grant' —'Trump's DEI cuts spark concern among students, faculty at N.J. universities' —'SALT caucus rejects tax-writing panel's offer of $30,000 deduction cap' —"Donald Norcross released from rehab facility' LOCAL TOMS RIVEN — 'This feud between Ocean County GOP boss, Toms River mayor is roiling local politics,' by The Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle: 'Nine candidates are competing for four Township Council seats in Toms River's GOP primary, but the biggest fight in this election is between Mayor Daniel Rodrick and his former ally — but current rival — Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore. To hear Rodrick tell it, the dispute centers on Gilmore's attempts to exert control over Toms River, New Jersey's largest municipality where Republicans hold all positions on the governing body. Gilmore instead says that Rodrick 'follows a slash-and-burn response,' attacking other Republicans when he does not get his way. Since taking over as mayor, Rodrick has engaged in public disputes with the police chief, closed the township animal shelter, and most recently proposed using eminent domain to knock down a church applying to add a homeless shelter and replace it with a park.' BOXER'S BRIEFS — 'Lakewood Schools paid its attorney $6 million. Plus hundreds of thousands more to outside firms,' by The Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: 'While the Lakewood Board of Education has paid board attorney Michael Inzelbuch more than $6 million since 2017, the district has also shelled out hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional legal work during the same period, an Asbury Park Press investigation has revealed. More than $600,000 of added legal work was farmed out to seven other attorneys, according to a review of documents and invoices obtained by the Press through an Open Public Records Act request. Among those lawyers is the high-profile criminal investigative attorney Matthew Boxer of Lowenstein Sadler, who charged $880 per hour for a stint in 2022. Boxer, a former federal prosecutor and, coincidentally a Lakewood High School graduate … It is unclear why Lakewood Schools required the expertise of such a high-priced lawyer, or what work he performed for the total cost of $47,656 over several weeks. Boxer and Lakewood School officials did not respond to repeated requests for comment and clarification.' SLAPP HAPPY KRANJAC — 'This N.J. town has to pay more than $200,000 for suing its own lawyers,' by The Record's Colleen Murphy: 'The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that municipalities are not exempt from sanctions for frivolous litigation, ordering Englewood Cliffs to pay over $200,000 in penalties. This decision comes after the court agreed with lower court rulings that Englewood Cliffs acted in bad faith when it filed a lawsuit against its former attorneys. Englewood Cliffs hired Thomas J. Trautner, Albert Wunsch, and Jeffrey R. Surenian to handle a legal matter related to affordable housing requirements. Despite the fact that the attorneys advised the town to settle due to the weaknesses in their case, Englewood Cliffs chose to go to trial and ultimately lost, according to court documents. A builder, 800 Sylvan Avenue, disagreed and wanted to build more. After losing that case, the borough settled with the builder. However, after political control of the borough changed hands, Englewood Cliffs filed a second lawsuit against their former attorneys and the builder. The court found that the borough had no valid reason for filing the lawsuit, determining that it was filed with malicious intent.' —''Serious event': Expect road closures during Mahwah Sheraton Crossroads hotel demolition' —'Wayne school district outsources after care program. Families to pay higher fees' —'N.J. student set Chromebook on fire for viral TikTok challenge, cops say' —'6 former students claim they were sexually abused by [Cherry Hill] teacher, and district didn't stop it' —'Andrew Washington's family rallies over no charges for [Jersey City] cop who fatally shot him' —'[Jersey City] school bus crash sends 4 students to hospital with minor injuries, officials say' EVERYTHING ELSE THE SECOND SEE — ''We never expected an American': NJ Catholics joyful for Pope Leo XIV's election,' by The Record's Deena Yellin: 'Shock and excitement reverberated around New Jersey and the country Thursday afternoon with the news that the cardinals had chosen an American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected by the college of cardinals on Thursday in Vatican City. A native of Chicago whose ministry took him to Peru and then to the Vatican, Prevost is a 1977 graduate of Villanova University … When Prevost came out on the balcony, Yates was overjoyed. Prevost, she knew, was born in Chicago, although he spent much of his career overseas. But his name wasn't on any short list. 'We never expected an American — we assumed that was out of the picture,' she said, adding that everyone she knows is thrilled with the choice .. Dugan McGinley, a professor of religion at Rutgers University said it's significant that the new pope chose the name Leo, because the last pontiff to take that name, Leo XIII, who was pope from 1878 to 1903, is considered one of the main figures in the modern Catholic social justice movement.' HUGIN'S HEROES — 'The price of remission,' by ProPublica's David Armstrong: 'A few hours after arriving at the emergency room, I heard my name. A doctor asked me to follow him to a private area, where he told me a scan had uncovered something 'concerning.' There were lesions, areas of bone destruction, on top of both of my hip bones and on my sternum. These were hallmarks of multiple myeloma. 'Cancer,' he said … That drug I take is called Revlimid. It is a derivative of thalidomide, a slightly tweaked version of the parent compound. Revlimid is now one of the bestselling pharmaceutical products of all time, with total sales of more than $100 billion. It has extended tens of thousands of lives — including my own. But Revlimid is also, I soon learned, extraordinarily expensive, costing nearly $1,000 for each daily pill. (Although, I later discovered, a capsule costs just 25 cents to make.) … I wanted to know how this drug came to cost so much — and why the price keeps going up. The price of Revlimid has been hiked 26 times since it launched. Some of what happened was reported at the time. But no one has pieced together the full account of what the drugmaker Celgene did, how federal regulators failed to rein it in and what the story reveals about unrestrained drug pricing in America. What I discovered astonished even me.' —'Here's where the Atlantic City casinos' money comes from (and half of it's not from gambling)'
