Latest news with #Bramnick
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP candidates for governor spar over anti-abortion bona fides
Antiabortion advocates march in Trenton in 2024. The Republican candidates for governor are largely opposed to abortion, though that hasn't stopped it from being a campaign issue. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Former radio show host Bill Spadea, a Republican who's running for governor, raised eyebrows earlier this month when he told supporters during a campaign stop that abortion would not be an issue in the general election. His campaign rivals swarmed, challenging his anti-abortion bona fides. Spadea, though, told the New Jersey Monitor in a recent interview that he merely meant that abortion is a 'distraction' Democrats likely will use to draw attention away from Jersey-specific issues that matter more to voters, like the high cost of living, crime, transportation woes, and immigration enforcement. 'I think the Democrats would love to make it an issue, because they think they can win by painting a false narrative that somehow pro-life candidates are anti-women,' Spadea said. 'I do not think it's going to be a top issue. And if the Democrats try to make it one, which I believe they will, especially if Mikie Sherrill is their nominee, it will serve as a distraction on the issues that New Jerseyans are really talking about.' His GOP rivals, including former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, state Sen. Jon Bramnick, and former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, disagree. 'This is always going to be an issue because of the deep passion on both sides,' Bramnick said. Kranjac saw Spadea's comments about abortion as unacceptably dismissive for a candidate who landed endorsements from the national and state Right to Life groups. 'I will make it an issue every day,' Kranjac said. 'It's really important to change our culture of death and get New Jersey out of the abortion business.' Republicans are hoping they can win the seat now held by Gov. Phil Murphy, a two-term Democrat who cannot seek a third term in November. But first they must make it through the June 10 primary to win their party's nomination. Bramnick proclaims himself pro-choice. When Ciattarelli ran for governor in 2021, he said he would sign a bill protecting abortion rights if the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade (it did the following year). Both Bramnick and Ciattarelli say getting an abortion should be a decision that's between a woman, her family, her doctors, and her faith. All the leading GOP candidates oppose or have qualms with a law Murphy signed in 2022 to codify abortion rights in New Jersey, largely over an aversion to late-term abortions. 'I think they went farther than Roe v. Wade, and that's why I abstained on that codification,' Bramnick said. Ciattarelli would ban elective abortions after 20 weeks, while Bramnick said he opposes late-term abortions except in cases of medical emergencies. Kranjac said he would ban abortions after 20 weeks without exception during his first year in office, with the ban creeping earlier in pregnancy over time in line with his goal of 'protecting life from conception to natural death.' Spadea didn't draw the line at any specific week, but said: 'I am in line with mainstream America, which is: Late-term and up-to-birth abortion is abhorrent, and it will be very positive to see that limitation put in New Jersey.' A 2022 Pew Research Center poll found that most Americans support abortion rights, but opposition grows at later stages of pregnancy. All the leading GOP candidates for governor back requiring parental notification for minors who seek abortions, with Spadea supporting exceptions for rape and incest. 'The fact that a 16-year-old in New Jersey needs her parents' permission to get her ears pierced, but not get an abortion is absurd,' Ciattarelli's campaign website says. Kranjac would appoint anti-abortion judges as part of his strategy on the issue. Ciattarelli, Spadea, and Kranjac want to cut public funding for abortion, with Spadea and Kranjac saying they would cut funding for Planned Parenthood and send that support instead to anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers, which the Murphy administration has labeled deceptive. 'As governor, I'm going to work very hard to empower pregnancy resource centers (for) young women, especially these young women who go to these centers that are from abusive relationships, don't have any resources, they're scared to death, they may be unsure of who exactly the father is, the dad's left the scene,' Spadea said. 'Just terrible circumstances for these young women, and they're not given any choice.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
An anti-Trump Republican for governor tries to defy gravity in New Jersey's primary
In a Republican primary for governor dominated by fealty to President Donald Trump, a moderate longshot is trying to make up for his anti-Trumpism by running to the right of his opponents on immigration. Jon Bramnick, a Republican state senator, is a two-decade Trenton insider with close ties to former Gov. Chris Christie, persona non-grata in Trump world. But Bramnick is trying something novel by fully embracing an element of Trumpism that is most popular in New Jersey. Even as he boasts his longtime criticism of the president will help him win a general election, Bramnick has put out an immigration platform that's even more conservative than what's offered by his higher-profile, pro-Trump rivals, Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea. 'The media always wants to say 'spoiler,' 'moderate' or 'never Trump.' How about just saying, 'Hey, listen, here's how the guy did over the last 25 years and evaluate it,'' Bramnick, who's from Union County, said in a phone interview. 'I just don't think you should come to conclusions until we get a lot closer to June 10. Just watch how things evolve.' Bramnick is touting a hard-line record on immigration and pushing in the Statehouse to crack down on undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. It could make Bramnick, who is moderate on most other issues, appealing to the more conservative members of his party. Public polling last year showed a majority of New Jersey voters have shifted to the right on immigration since 2022. Bramnick is far from the frontrunner, and he's still largely considered a longshot for the nomination. But his campaign has shown staying power that's surprised some Republicans. He's also proven to be able to win an election with a Democratic-leaning electorate. In 2023, Bramnick won his district by seven points. In 2024, Kamala Harris won it by 12. Trump's stronger than expected showing in New Jersey in November, where he lost by just six points, buoyed Republican hopes that the once solidly-blue state is turning purple. But recent polling shows Trump unpopular in the state. This year's race will test whether Trump's strong showing has a downstream effect within his party. Bramnick is betting it doesn't. And although he is against Trump, Bramnick is trying in campaign mailers and TV ads to appeal to the president's supporters on policy. One flyer, which calls Bramnick 'the only candidate for governor with a conservative record on immigration,' attacks Ciattarelli and Spadea for being 'shockingly liberal' on the issue, quoting Spadea as saying he believes in amnesty for undocumented immigrants and Ciattarelli's support for allowing them to get driver's licenses. The flyer highlights Bramnick's votes against New Jersey's 2019 legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses, and a 2013 law allowing undocumented students who went to high school in New Jersey to qualify for in-state college tuition. A Bramnick TV ad hits on the same issues and calls him 'the toughest candidate on immigration' and a 'tested conservative who can win.' Last week, Bramnick introduced the 'New Jersey Laken Riley Act,' NJ S4302, which would require undocumented immigrants charged with any indictable offenses be held in jail and allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Despite those long years as a politician — he was a councilmember in Plainfield in the 1980s and early 1990s and first entered the Legislature as an Assemblymember in 2003 — Bramnick's name recognition is wanting. A March 6 poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University found it at just 43 percent among Republicans — significantly under Ciattarelli's 78 percent and Spadea's 54 percent. But as Spadea and Ciattarelli have savaged each other in ads and on the debate stage, Bramnick has been left largely untouched, including vulnerable areas like his relationship with Christie— a political ally he backed for president against Trump. In a statement, Ciattarelli strategist Chris Russell didn't ignore Bramnick, instead calling him 'barely a Republican' and knocking him for hosting Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in the backyard of his home in 2021. At the time, Ciattarelli was running for the Republican primary to take on Murphy, which he would win before losing the general election by a surprisingly small three-point margin. 'He can't credibly run to the right of anyone on any issue,' Russell said. 'When Phil Murphy raised our taxes, exploded our budget, killed seniors in nursing homes and made us a sanctuary state, Jon Bramnick had him over for hot dogs and hamburgers.' On the debate stage in February, Bramnick openly criticized the president's pardon of violent January 6 rioters, drawing loud boos from the audience. 'Let me make this clear: Either we're the party of law and order or we're not,' Bramnick said in response. 'You can clap, you can boo if you want, but I will stand with police officers every time.' Ciattarelli and Spadea have taken the opposite approach, heaping praise on Trump at every opportunity and courting his endorsement. Just last month, Ciattarelli got a coveted meeting with Trump at his golf club in Bedminster, only to be followed by news that Spadea also enjoyed a brief meeting with the president the following day. 'Jon's not pretending, and I think that's resonating with people as he goes around the state,' said Mike DuHaime, a friend of Bramnick's who is working as a campaign consultant. 'He's not going to back away from who his friends are, who he's worked with in the past.' And though Bramnick's fundraising has not been stellar, it has been enough to keep him in the race. He's raised enough to qualify for matching funds from the state, getting nearly $2.8 million so far. Dan Cassino, director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, said Bramnick is trying to walk the line of not supporting Donald Trump while appealing to his voters. Instead of professing support for the president, as the other candidates are, Cassino said he's 'trying to reframe' the debate. 'Instead of being who's the most pro-Trump candidate, let's talk about an issue: Who's the most anti-undocumented immigrant candidate,' Cassino said. 'I think it's a perfectly reasonable strategy. The question is whether the other candidates will actually get drawn into the debate without just talking about Trump.'
Politico
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Politico
An anti-Trump Republican for governor tries to defy gravity in New Jersey's primary
In a Republican primary for governor dominated by fealty to President Donald Trump, a moderate longshot is trying to make up for his anti-Trumpism by running to the right of his opponents on immigration. Jon Bramnick, a Republican state senator, is a two-decade Trenton insider with close ties to former Gov. Chris Christie, persona non-grata in Trump world. But Bramnick is trying something novel by fully embracing an element of Trumpism that is most popular in New Jersey. Even as he boasts his longtime criticism of the president will help him win a general election, Bramnick has put out an immigration platform that's even more conservative than what's offered by his higher-profile, pro-Trump rivals, Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea. 'The media always wants to say 'spoiler,' 'moderate' or 'never Trump.' How about just saying, 'Hey, listen, here's how the guy did over the last 25 years and evaluate it,'' Bramnick, who's from Union County, said in a phone interview. 'I just don't think you should come to conclusions until we get a lot closer to June 10. Just watch how things evolve.' Bramnick is touting a hard-line record on immigration and pushing in the Statehouse to crack down on undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. It could make Bramnick, who is moderate on most other issues, appealing to the more conservative members of his party. Public polling last year showed a majority of New Jersey voters have shifted to the right on immigration since 2022. Bramnick is far from the frontrunner, and he's still largely considered a longshot for the nomination. But his campaign has shown staying power that's surprised some Republicans. He's also proven to be able to win an election with a Democratic-leaning electorate. In 2023, Bramnick won his district by seven points. In 2024, Kamala Harris won it by 12. Trump's stronger than expected showing in New Jersey in November, where he lost by just six points, buoyed Republican hopes that the once solidly-blue state is turning purple. But recent polling shows Trump unpopular in the state. This year's race will test whether Trump's strong showing has a downstream effect within his party. Bramnick is betting it doesn't. And although he is against Trump, Bramnick is trying in campaign mailers and TV ads to appeal to the president's supporters on policy. One flyer, which calls Bramnick 'the only candidate for governor with a conservative record on immigration,' attacks Ciattarelli and Spadea for being 'shockingly liberal' on the issue, quoting Spadea as saying he believes in amnesty for undocumented immigrants and Ciattarelli's support for allowing them to get driver's licenses. The flyer highlights Bramnick's votes against New Jersey's 2019 legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses, and a 2013 law allowing undocumented students who went to high school in New Jersey to qualify for in-state college tuition. A Bramnick TV ad hits on the same issues and calls him 'the toughest candidate on immigration' and a 'tested conservative who can win.' Last week, Bramnick introduced the 'New Jersey Laken Riley Act,' NJ S4302, which would require undocumented immigrants charged with any indictable offenses be held in jail and allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Despite those long years as a politician — he was a councilmember in Plainfield in the 1980s and early 1990s and first entered the Legislature as an Assemblymember in 2003 — Bramnick's name recognition is wanting. A March 6 poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University found it at just 43 percent among Republicans — significantly under Ciattarelli's 78 percent and Spadea's 54 percent. But as Spadea and Ciattarelli have savaged each other in ads and on the debate stage, Bramnick has been left largely untouched, including vulnerable areas like his relationship with Christie— a political ally he backed for president against Trump. In a statement, Ciattarelli strategist Chris Russell didn't ignore Bramnick, instead calling him 'barely a Republican' and knocking him for hosting Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in the backyard of his home in 2021. At the time, Ciattarelli was running for the Republican primary to take on Murphy, which he would win before losing the general election by a surprisingly small three-point margin. 'He can't credibly run to the right of anyone on any issue,' Russell said. 'When Phil Murphy raised our taxes, exploded our budget, killed seniors in nursing homes and made us a sanctuary state, Jon Bramnick had him over for hot dogs and hamburgers.' On the debate stage in February, Bramnick openly criticized the president's pardon of violent January 6 rioters, drawing loud boos from the audience. 'Let me make this clear: Either we're the party of law and order or we're not,' Bramnick said in response. 'You can clap, you can boo if you want, but I will stand with police officers every time.' Ciattarelli and Spadea have taken the opposite approach, heaping praise on Trump at every opportunity and courting his endorsement. Just last month, Ciattarelli got a coveted meeting with Trump at his golf club in Bedminster, only to be followed by news that Spadea also enjoyed a brief meeting with the president the following day. 'Jon's not pretending, and I think that's resonating with people as he goes around the state,' said Mike DuHaime, a friend of Bramnick's who is working as a campaign consultant. 'He's not going to back away from who his friends are, who he's worked with in the past.' And though Bramnick's fundraising has not been stellar, it has been enough to keep him in the race. He's raised enough to qualify for matching funds from the state, getting nearly $2.8 million so far . Dan Cassino, director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, said Bramnick is trying to walk the line of not supporting Donald Trump while appealing to his voters. Instead of professing support for the president, as the other candidates are, Cassino said he's 'trying to reframe' the debate. 'Instead of being who's the most pro-Trump candidate, let's talk about an issue: Who's the most anti-undocumented immigrant candidate,' Cassino said. 'I think it's a perfectly reasonable strategy. The question is whether the other candidates will actually get drawn into the debate without just talking about Trump.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Likely unpopular ‘Dracula bill' to allow people to pump their own gas introduced again in New Jersey
A state senator in New Jersey reintroduced a bill this week that would allow Garden State residents and visitors to pump their own gas — but even the author is dubious about its chances of making it past committee. The bill, proposed by Republican Sen. Jon Bramnick, would require gas stations in the state with four or more pumps to have both full and self-service options. An attendant would still be onsite to help anyone with a disability, but beyond that, people would be free to fill up their gas on their own. Full-service gas stations have become a hallmark of New Jersey as the last state standing that prohibits self-service fueling. Motorists pumping their own gas has been illegal in the state since 1949's Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act, which in part aimed to limit customer exposure to fuel because of its high flammability. In 2023, Oregon lifted its 72-year-old ban prohibiting people from pumping their own gas, relegating New Jersey to a league of its own. New Jerseyans aren't exactly up in arms about the matter, though. 'A, number 1, it's convenient when it's cold or it's raining. Number 2, it's convenient when it's hot. And number 3, we need jobs,' full-service hold-out Tina Giannini from Washington Township told CBS News. Bramnick is abundantly aware that his proposal is remarkably unpopular, even among his own constituents. Still, he thinks expanding fueling options would be more convenient for everyone, but he still respects the passion that full-service fans hold tight to. 'I get it because I've seen a few four-letter words in my legislative office on some emails. But I think it's the right thing to bring up the discussion again,' Bramnick told the station. A similar bipartisan bill was proposed in 2022, but it didn't even make it out of committee. Bramnick knows his bill's chances aren't the best, but he is holding on to hope. 'This could be a Dracula bill. It could never see the light of day. But I'm gonna give it a shot,' Bramnick said.
CBS News
28-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
New Jersey state senator reintroduces bill to allow people to pump their own gas
New Jersey's days as the last state in the U.S. where drivers are not allowed to pump their own gas could soon come to an end. Talk of gas-pumping in Garden State can really bring out the passions in people, especially when it comes to people pumping their gas . Just ask state Sen. Jon Bramnick. "I have heard from a lot of people who do not want to pump their own gas, I'll tell you that," Bramnick said. That passion didn't stop the Republican senator and gubernatorial candidate from reintroducing a bill this week that would give people in New Jersey the option to pump their own gas. Under the proposal, gas stations in the Garden State with four or more pumps would have to offer both full and self-service options . There would be a requirement to have an attendant on-site to help anyone with a disability fuel up. "The people who want to pump their own gas are a lot more quiet, right? It's almost like, 'Hey I like to pump my own gas,'" Bramnick said. "And then people go, 'I don't want to pump my own gas.' That's why we're going to have two lines." Bramnick says he sees it as an added convenience for people, similar to self-service checkouts at grocery stores. He thinks it's the right time to bring it up for discussion again as people get used to having those options, but he acknowledged the passion of people who like the system the way it is. "I get it because I've seen a few four-letter words in my legislative office on some emails," Bramnick said. "But I think it's the right thing to bring up the discussion again." It has been illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey since 1949 under the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act . The law cites safety as a concern, reading "Because of the fire hazards directly associated with dispensing fuel, it is in the public interest that gasoline operators have the control needed over that activity." In 2025, however, New Jersey is the only state in the nation where people are barred from pumping their own gas. Many people in the state see it as just part of Jersey culture. "I think it's a Jersey thing, too. You know what I mean?" one man said Friday at the Wawa in Bellmawr. It wasn't hard to find people willing to talk about the proposal at the Bellmawr Wawa. Most who spoke with CBS News Philadelphia like things the way they are — the top reasons were weather and jobs. "A, number 1, it's convenient when it's cold or it's raining," Tina Giannini from Washington Township said. "Number 2, it's convenient when it's hot. And number 3, we need jobs." "In Philly, you can't get it, pump your own gas. It's cold outside, too hot, you got to get out of your car," a man named Ron from Sicklerville said. "It's more convenient having it done in Jersey." On the job concerns, Bramnick notes gas stations would have to keep attendants on-staff, but acknowledged there could be some loss. "I don't think jobs in New Jersey depend on whether or not we have a few less attendants," he said. "I don't think that's going to change the job market." A similar bill was introduced in the state assembly in 2022, which didn't even make it out of committee. Still, some we spoke with were open to the proposal. "It's just as easy for me to jump out and pump it than waiting for somebody," George Thorp from Brooklawn said. "Sometimes the stations get busy (53) and you have to wait." "I like the thought of if we could do it both ways," Sharon Goldie from Bellmawr said. The proposal still has a long way to go before it could become law. It still has to get out of committee, be passed by both the State Senate and Assembly, and be signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. The governor's office did not comment on the proposal Friday. But Bramnick says it's at least worth having a conversation. "This could be a Dracula bill. It could never see the light of day," Bramnick said. "But I'm gonna give it a shot."
