Latest news with #Fulop
Politico
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Are Fulop and McGreevey patching things up?
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and former Gov. Jim McGreevey were allies when Fulop was first elected in 2013. Then they fell out very publicly. But is rapprochement in the works as McGreevey runs to succeed Fulop as mayor? 'This is smart,' Fulop tweeted last week, referring to McGreevey's transportation plan that includes a proposed bus rapid transit route along Kennedy Boulevard. '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.' For the significance of this, we have to go to ancient New Jersey political history: The year 2013. Back then, Fulop had just been elected mayor of Jersey City and quickly tapped McGreevey to lead the Jersey City Employment and Training Commission. And with Chris Christie a shoo-in for reelection, the conventional wisdom was that the 2017 Democratic gubernatorial race would be between Fulop and Steve Sweeney. Fulop and Sweeney seemed to think so as well. And by 2015 rumors about McGreevey running for Jersey City mayor following Fulop's planned win of the governorship were out in the open. Obviously that did not happen. But the friendship didn't last: Fulop accused McGreevey of mismanaging the commission and began appointing his allies to its board to oust him, which they eventually did. Ironically, one of those board members who helped oust McGreevey and then led the commission, Sudhan Thomas, wound up embezzling funds from it. So considering how messy that all was, this seems significant. Fulop said his tweet wasn't meant to be a McGreevey endorsement. 'But the other candidates are just not making their case with any vision or ideas, and are simultaneously getting out-maneuvered,' Fulop texted me. Fulop did say he plans to endorse in the event of a runoff. 'Few people understand and appreciate the dedication and persistence required to pursue the role of mayor in Jersey City as deeply as Mayor Fulop does,' McGreevey texted me. The Jersey City mayoral field is big, but I read Fulop's criticism of McGreevey's rivals as directed especially at one candidate in particular: Councilmember James Solomon. (F Like Fulop before him, Solomon represents Ward E, which is most of the city's gentrified downtown. Also like Fulop when he was on council, Solomon has been a critic of the mayoral administration he's serving under. Fulop told me that one year ago it was Solomon's to lose, but 'he just hasn't found a coherent, consistent, believable message or purpose to the campaign beyond jumping to the issue of the week.' 'Voters are looking for changes in Jersey City and James is the only one offering that,' Solomon campaign manager Stu Thomas said in a statement. 'Tweets are just noise that distract from the mission of delivering an affordable Jersey City.' It's classic Hudson County politics, where intense political alliances and feuds get buried next to Gov. Byrne's body and the skeletons Bob Menendez spoke of, are exhumed, then buried again. FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ SHOW ME THE WAY: Acting Gov. Tahesha Way has no public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'They're going to have to have a quorum call at the county jail.' — Professor Micah Rasmussen, on the three Paterson councilmembers currently facing separate criminal charges, all of whom are running for mayor or considering it HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Emy Quispe, Sal Rizzo, Julio Marenco. Saturday for Christine O'Brien, Karen Jezierny, Barry Brendel, Braxton Plummer. Sunday for Maya Rao, Mike Linhorst, Edward Correa WHAT TRENTON MADE GARG ORDER — Murphy hires a pair of legal allies for Habba's immigration investigation, by POLITICO's Dustin Racioppi: A former state attorney general and onetime senior administration lawyer are representing Gov. Phil Murphy in an investigation launched by the U.S. Attorney's Office earlier this year over the state's immigration policies, according to records obtained by POLITICO. The Democratic governor has retained Christopher Porrino, who was attorney general under Murphy's Republican predecessor, and Parimal Garg, Murphy's former chief counsel. They both work at the Roseland-based law firm Lowenstein Sandler and will be paid $450 an hour, public records show. Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said earlier this year her office would investigate Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin over immigration, calling it 'a warning for everybody' who does not cooperate with federal authorities. Murphy and Platkin, the governor's chief counsel before Garg, have embraced sanctuary policies that limit law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, with some exceptions. In February, when the Trump administration began ramping up deportations, Murphy found himself the subject of Republican scrutiny following comments he made about immigration. KILLER TROOPER — 'Top cops in Hunterdon town where NJ state trooper killed two sidelined: 'serious concerns',' by MyCentralJersey's Mike Deak: 'In the wake of the double homicide when a lieutenant in the New Jersey State Police killed his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at her Franklin Township home, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson announced Aug. 7, effective immediately, that her office has taken control of the Franklin Township Police Department. Franklin Police Chief Timothy Snyder and Sgt. Kevin Bollaro are being placed on administrative leave by the Franklin Township Committee. Robeson said that her office will supervise the day-to-day operations of the six-member police department until further notice. Robeson said the takeover became necessary after 'serious concerns' were raised following the double murder about the police department's operations and effectiveness … Although [murder victim Lauren] Semanchik inquired about getting a restraining order earlier this year, she never did after not hearing back from authorities, the sisters said.' NEW JACKRUSALEM— GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is headed to Israel on Sunday to meet with business, cultural and political leaders, according to his campaign. Cittarelli has been a strong supporter of Israel and visited the country during his 2021 campaign for governor. He has courted Jewish voters, especially in orthodox communities like Lakewood, and has promised to put into place a state definition of anti-semitism. He will return on Aug. 15. — Daniel Han — 'Civil liberties advocates warn of privacy risks with new digital ID law' — 'Poll finds NJ is split on who to blame for rising electricity rates' — 'Few prisoners benefit from NJ's compassionate release law' — 'Archer law firm launches Political Law group' — 'N.J. activists call for new voter protections on 60th anniversary of Voting Rights Act' TRUMP ERA APPRAISING GRACE — 'A prosecutor took on MS-13 and violent crime. Trump fired her anyway,' by The New York Times' Jonah E. Bromwich: 'It was early March and a Newark police detective had just been shot. Desiree Leigh Grace, then the criminal division chief at the U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey, went straight to the hospital. She spent the night there, sitting on the floor outside the detective's room, figuring out how to charge the suspect, a 14-year-old, with a federal crime …. By pursuing the teenager in federal court, Ms. Grace could aim for a penalty far more severe than he would have faced at the state level. But she would not have the chance to oversee the case. Last month, she was abruptly fired, a casualty of the struggle between a White House intent on keeping a loyalist, Alina Habba, in charge of the U.S. attorney's office and a panel of federal judges who had appointed Ms. Grace to take her place … The firing of Ms. Grace provides a vivid illustration of a Justice Department where loyalty to allies and belligerence toward adversaries — in this case, the district judges — can supersede even the department's own policy goals, which include a strong emphasis on combating violent crime.' THE POLITICAL CLIMATE — 7th District Democratic field gets even more crowded with climate scientist's entrance, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: A climate scientist who until recently worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced her candidacy for Congress in the 7th District on Thursday, joining an extremely crowded field of Democrats hoping to take on Republican Rep. Tom Kean next year. Megan O'Rourke, who grew up in Blairstown and lives in Byram, was national science liaison for climate change at the department until recently, when she found herself stripped of duties and opted for the deferred resignation program — the Trump administration program that allowed federal workers to resign while continuing to receive pay and benefits through September. 'My entire career, I've fought to help put nutritious, affordable food on the table and to combat climate change for families in New Jersey, and the Trump Administration is working to undermine and devastate those efforts on a daily basis,' O'Rourke said. OCEAN COUNTY — 'Illegal immigrant had high level of alcohol in his system during deadly crash: prosecutor,' by the Asbury Park Press' Ken Serrano: 'An immigrant in the country illegally and now in custody faces stiffer penalties in an alcohol-fueled crash that claimed the lives of a Lakewood mother and her 11-year-old daughter. Raul Luna Perez, 43, of Red Bank, was charged Thursday with two counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of strict liability vehicular homicide in the head-on crash in Lakewood on July 26, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a statement. He was previously charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of assault by auto. But then tests on his blood drawn at the crash scene after first responders detected signs of impairment showed that he had a blood-alcohol concentration of .19, Billhimer said. The legal threshold for intoxication in New Jersey is .08 … During a detention hearing in state Superior Court in Toms River on July 31, Luna Perez was ordered released on the condition of strict home confinement, which includes an electronic monitoring bracelet, authorities said. But before he was let go, he was transferred that same day to an Immigration Customs and Enforcement detention center in Elizabeth, officials said. Following the upgraded charges issued Thursday, detectives from the prosecutor's office and Lakewood returned Luna Perez to Ocean County Jail.' — 'NJ warns of 'reckless' federal funding cuts for license plate readers that track criminals' — 'NJ's Cory Booker can be Ted Lasso. He can also be angry. Do Democrats need both? | Opinion' LOCAL NO BUCHS GIVEN — 'The return of Lakewood schools' $6 million man. Board approves new bid by ousted lawyer,' by the Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: 'In a remarkable turn of events, controversial former school board attorney Michael Inzelbuch, who was ousted just over a month ago over his excessive legal bills to the district, will be getting his old job back. Despite submitting the highest hourly rate bid among six candidates, Inzelbuch got the nod from the Lakewood Board of Education on Aug. 6 after the board quietly added an item to its meeting agenda and accepted his bid without discussion or comment. Instead of making $475 per hour for litigation work as he had for the past few years, Inzelbuch will be paid $350 per hour, which was the highest bid submitted among candidates in a recent open search. But Inzelbuch was also one of only two candidates who did not request a monthly retainer, a key component of his previous contract that drove up the cost to the district … When the Asbury Park Press asked for a timeline of the eventual hiring and contract review for Inzelbuch, board members Meir Grunhut, Moshe Raitzik, Aaron Chase, Shlomie Stern, Eliyahu Greenwald, and Heriberto Rodriguez, and Superintendent Laura Winters, sat silent, offering no answer.' THE FISCAL CLIFTON — 'Clifton City Council rejects municipal budget again. Will state have to step in?' by The Record's Matt Fagan: 'Clifton's City Council rejected a proposed 10-point tax increase for its 2025 municipal budget at the Aug. 6 meeting. Already months late to meet the state's deadline to adopt the budget, the city council was cautioned by its auditor that continued failure to adopt a budget may require the state to step in at some point. If that happens, the state could set a tax rate which could be higher than the budget put forth by City Manager Gary DeMarzo. While DeMarzo looked at the possibility of reducing the tax increase to eight tax points, he recommended that the council adopt the full proposed 10 points, which will maintain services. 'If you want nice things, you have pay for it,' DeMarzo told the council.' — 'Newark Board of Education will consider extending Superintendent Roger León's contract this month' — 'This [Newark] high school teacher is fighting to bring the 'missing pages' of Black history to N.J. classrooms' — 'Camden line expansion: Pitman residents to vote on Election Day train service initiative' — 'Bart Blatstein's latest big thing for Atlantic City is a massive outdoor gym and club on the Boardwalk. It hasn't opened yet' — 'Family sues after man, 21, drowns at the Jersey Shore with lifeguards on duty' — 'Jersey Shore drawbridge is finally reopening after frustrating summer closure' EVERYTHING ELSE FRANCONI'S PIZZA IS PROUD TO OFFER THE WHITE SUPREME PIE — 'Nazi stickers on wall of Wildwood pizza shop lead to online calls for boycott,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: 'A Boardwalk pizzeria is facing online anger after an image posted on Reddit of a decorated wall in the shop showed two stickers associated with Nazis … A Reddit user's post over the weekend of a shop wall at Franconi's Pizza showed two SS symbols used by the Nazis who operated death camps during the Holocaust, amid multiple other images … Owner Tony Franconi declined to comment Wednesday, saying whatever he said could be misconstrued or misrepresented. Instead, he said anyone is welcome to visit the Boardwalk restaurant and draw their own conclusions. Since the original post that sparked the anger at the shop, the stickers have been removed from the wall adjacent to the grill, along with other stickers related to American politics.' BOND. MISSED BOND — 'Another bond payment of $287M missed on American Dream financing,' by The Record's Daniel Munoz: 'The semiannual $287 million interest payment due Aug. 1 on some of the municipal bonds used to finance the $5 billion American Dream megamall in East Rutherford was not made due to insufficient funds, according to a notice to bondholders by U.S. Bank, the bond trustee. That's despite an unexplained $12.1 million payment from the state to U.S. Bank, which would in turn be paid out to investors. And it comes after a previous payment of $287 million was missed in February. The bonds are tied to state sales tax collections at the 3-million-square-foot shopping and entertainment complex and backed by grants from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.' WHAT A TURN OFF — 'Garden State Parkway drivers lose their 'best-kept secret' shortcut to avoid toll,' by NJ 101.5's Dan Alexander: 'As the saying goes, 'if you know, you know.' For years, savvy local Garden State Parkway travelers heading south knew how to avoid paying the toll at the Watchung Avenue exit in Bloomfield by getting off at the Connie Chung rest stop and heading for the rear, where they could leave (for free) via Broad Street. 'To my knowledge, this local access to Broad Street has been around for decades. It was one of the best-kept shortcuts and secrets until now,' New Jersey Fast Traffic reporter Bob Williams said … [Turnpike spokesperson Tom] Feeney said a traffic analysis showed a large number of drivers were using the service area as a shortcut. In May, the roadway from the service area onto Broad Street was coned off, forcing drivers to exit via the Parkway and pay a toll. 'That was not just a toll revenue issue but also a safety issue. The parking lot and driveway in the service area are not designed to serve as a Parkway exit ramp. The additional traffic put pedestrians at risk,' Feeney said.' R.I.P. — 'WWII NJ veteran cut cake with Army general, bowled a perfect game before he died' — 'Six-figure settlements reached in case of Brooklyn bishop accused of abuse in Jersey City'
CNBC
03-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
European renewable stocks to watch as Trump's megabill hangs in the balance
Among the myriad details stuffed within U.S. President Donald Trump's bumper "big beautiful bill," European investors have been keeping an eye on one in particular — renewable energy policy. Shares of the region's wind power firms gained on Wednesday after Senate lawmarkers narrowly approved a heavily amended version of the package . The move higher continued Thursday as the U.S. House began a final debate on the megabill — after a dramatic night of voting that was nearly derailed by Republican defections. Turbine manufacturer Vestas was 3.4% higher in early trade Thursday after gaining more than 10% in the previous session. Windfarm operator Orsted and turbine maker Nordex , meanwhile, built on Wednesday's gains to both trade over 2% higher early Thursday. The bill's current revisions are a relief to a sector already grappling with funding challenges, competition from China and tariff uncertainty. Among the key amendments to the bill is the removal of a tax on wind and solar projects that use components from "foreign entities of concern" — understood to primarily mean China — which analysts said could have a chilling effect on new orders in the sector more broadly. Another major revisions relevant to European renewables firms is the removal of a controversial cliff-edge deadline that would have required all projects benefiting from tax credits to be in service by the end of 2027. Now, all projects commencing before mid-2026 will be eligible, which analysts at Citi said was likely to spur a flurry of near-term activity, as all a project must do to "start" is spend 5% of capital. U.S. clean energy shares also rose on this news this week. If the bill is voted through in its current form, the change "will lay the foundation for a solid American onshore wind turbine market in the years after 2027 — and not an 'almost complete stop' in 2028, which the previous text has a high inherent risk of. This seems like a gigantic relief for the onshore wind market in the U.S.," Sydbank analysts said. U.S. importance Tancrede Fulop, senior equity analyst and renewables expert at Morningstar, said the bill amendments, along with a resumption of construction work on Equinor's Empire Wind project off the New York coast, "suggests that the worst-case scenario for the renewables sector under the Trump administration may not materialize." The U.S. market plays a pivotal role for Europe's largest renewable developers such as RWE , EDPR and Iberdrola , according to Morningstar's Fulop. It accounts for around 50% of the installed renewable capacity of the former two, and around 40% of the latter. However, while wind developers could potentially offset any phase out of tax credits by selling power at higher prices or pressuring manufacturers to cut their prices, manufacturers such as Vestas — which has 35% of its onshore wind backlog in the U.S. — and Siemens Energy are more vulnerable, Fulop said. Pierre-Alexandre Ramondenc, equity research analyst for utilities and renewables at AlphaValue, told CNBC that the positive market reaction reflected the fact that the Senate's amendments were broadly good news for the sector. But overall, Trump's bill "largely dismantles the core mechanisms supporting clean energy" under President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, he said. Rather than fully repealing provisions that have been established and generated business activity under the IRA, the new megabill puts fresh constraints on the sector. The primary blow is to the U.S.' efforts to modernize its grid infrastructure and lead in decarbonization efforts, he continued. In Europe, the market has already been revising down its expectations for U.S. renewables since Trump's election, Ramondenc noted, with the main risk now being the cancellation of projects already under construction. European utilities also have "flexibility in deploying capex across different technologies and geographies," he added. — CNBC's Erin Doherty contributed to this report.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mikie Sherrill wins Democratic primary in New Jersey governor's race
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) has won the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey, coming out on top of a crowded field, according to Decision Desk HQ. Sherrill defeated five other major candidates for the nomination in a hotly contested primary to succeed two-term Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who is term limited. She entered the primary on Tuesday as the favorite given her polling lead that she's maintained in public and internal polls, including those from other candidates' campaigns. She also had the backing of most of the county parties in North Jersey, home to most of the state's population. County endorsements aren't quite as influential as they used to be with the state's 'county line' ballot system no longer in use, but they still carry some weight. The primary was an early test of political power in New Jersey without the county line, which a federal judge struck down last year on the grounds that it gave county-endorsed candidates favorable positioning on the ballot. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop had railed against the county line and sat out county nominating conventions as he sought to advance a grassroots, outsider campaign. Sherrill will face Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who was also the 2021 GOP nominee, in the general election. Ciattarelli has the endorsement of President Trump. Fulop was hoping to tap into antiestablishment sentiment seen in the state last year with the line going away and Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) managing to hold off New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy in the Democratic primary for Senate, running a similar grassroots campaign. As part of his wider efforts to reshape the state's politics, he backed a range of progressive candidates for state Assembly, including some incumbents and some primary challengers. He laid out extensive policy proposals and slammed Sherrill, accusing her positions of being vague and too moderate. But Fulop ultimately fell short to Sherrill, a fourth-term House member. Despite Sherrill's polling advantage, multiple candidates seemed like they could pull off an upset win. Most of the candidates in the race placed second in at least one poll and had paths to victory in what was expected to be a divided primary electorate. The candidates all brought extensive resumes and agreed on many issues, pushing to lower the cost of living, increase affordable housing and invest in renewable energy and education. But they tried to stand out in various ways to gain the advantage. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka ran as a progressive and received widespread attention for his arrest at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility last month while he was trying to observe conditions there. The charges against him were eventually dropped. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) focused much of his campaign on vows to lower costs and taxes in what is one of the most expensive states to live in the country. New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller touted his support from teachers, having led the large teachers union for a few years. Former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, the only candidate from South Jersey, emphasized his longtime experience in state politics and his institutional knowledge to get things done. Sherrill focused on her 'affordability agenda,' calling for incentives for developing new housing, streamlining the approval process for energy projects and expanding tax credits. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin congratulated Sherrill on her victory, saying the DNC will work 'all hands on deck' to ensure she wins the general election. 'In 2025, Democrats have overwhelmingly won and overperformed in special and off-year elections,' he said. 'We'll continue that trend in New Jersey by organizing in every corner of the state, investing strategically, and working with our allies on the ground to elect more Democrats who will stand up to the Trump disaster and deliver for working families.' She will face a challenge from Ciattarelli as he hopes to build on his narrow loss four years ago. He surprised many by only losing by 3 points to Murphy, and Republicans made significant improvements in the 2024 election in November in the Garden State. But Sherrill will start out as the favorite in the still left-leaning state. A trend that may benefit her is that New Jersey has elected a governor from the opposite party of the president in each election for decades except 2021. If elected, Sherrill would be New Jersey's second female governor. Updated: 10:35 p.m. ET Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Mikie Sherrill wins Democratic primary in New Jersey governor's race
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) has won the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey, coming out on top of a crowded field, according to Decision Desk HQ. Sherrill defeated five other major candidates for the nomination in a hotly contested primary to succeed two-term Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who is term limited. She entered the primary on Tuesday as the favorite given her polling lead that she's maintained in public and internal polls, including those from other candidates' campaigns. She also had the backing of most of the county parties in North Jersey, home to most of the state's population. County endorsements aren't quite as influential as they used to be with the state's 'county line' ballot system no longer in use, but they still carry some weight. The primary was an early test of political power in New Jersey without the county line, which a federal judge struck down last year on the grounds that it gave county-endorsed candidates favorable positioning on the ballot. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop had railed against the county line and sat out county nominating conventions as he sought to advance a grassroots, outsider campaign. Sherrill will face Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who was also the 2021 GOP nominee, in the general election. Fulop was hoping to tap into antiestablishment sentiment seen in the state last year with the line going away and Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) managing to hold off New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy in the Democratic primary for Senate, running a similar grassroots campaign. As part of his wider efforts to reshape the state's politics, he backed a range of progressive candidates for state Assembly, including some incumbents and some primary challengers. He laid out extensive policy proposals and slammed Sherrill, accusing her positions of being vague and too moderate. But Fulop ultimately fell short to Sherrill, a fourth-term House member. Despite Sherrill's polling advantage, multiple candidates seemed like they could pull off an upset win. Most of the candidates in the race placed second in at least one poll and had paths to victory in what was expected to be a divided primary electorate. The candidates all brought extensive resumes and agreed on many issues, pushing to lower the cost of living, increase affordable housing and invest in renewable energy and education. But they tried to stand out in various ways to gain the advantage. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka ran as a progressive and received widespread attention for his arrest at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility last month while he was trying to observe conditions there. The charges against him were eventually dropped. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) focused much of his campaign on vows to lower costs and taxes in what is one of the most expensive states to live in the country. New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller touted his support from teachers, having led the large teachers union for a few years. Former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, the only candidate from South Jersey, emphasized his longtime experience in state politics and his institutional knowledge to get things done. Sherrill focused on her 'affordability agenda,' calling for incentives for developing new housing, streamlining the approval process for energy projects and expanding tax credits. She will face a challenge from Ciattarelli as he hopes to build on his narrow loss four years ago. He surprised many by only losing by 3 points to Murphy, and Republicans made significant improvements in the 2024 election in November in the Garden State. But Sherrill will start out as the favorite in the still left-leaning state. A trend that may benefit her is that New Jersey has elected a governor from the opposite party of the president in each election for decades except 2021. If elected, Sherrill would be New Jersey's second female governor.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Jersey primary election polls open
Voters will select which candidates will face off in November, when the governorship and all 80 seats in the Assembly come up for a vote. (Ed Murray for New Jersey Monitor) It's primary day in New Jersey. The Garden State's voters will select which candidates will face off in November, when term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy's seat and all 80 seats in the Legislature's lower chamber come up for a vote. This year's contests have seen a swell of candidacies. Six Democrats and five Republicans are seeking their parties' nods for governor, and more candidates are seeking seats in the Assembly than at any point since 1993. On the Republican side, contractor Justin Barbera, state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, ex-Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, and longtime radio host Bill Spadea hope to flip the governorship after eight years of Democratic rule. The Democratic contest includes Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, teachers union president Sean Spiller, and ex-state Sen. Steve Sweeney. They are hoping to win a third consecutive gubernatorial term for their party for the first time since Gov. Richard Hughes succeeded Gov. Robert Meyner more than half a century ago. Polls have shown Sherrill and Ciattarelli leading their respective races, though public surveys of both contests have been rare, and the sheer number of candidates makes the results unpredictable, particularly on the Democratic side. Twenty-five of the state's 40 legislative districts will play host to intraparty challenges Tuesday. Most of those come on the Democratic side and from candidates recruited by and aligned with Fulop, though Republicans face primaries in some districts too. It's likely some sitting lawmakers will see their tenures ended by Tuesday's results. In the 31st District, Assemblyman William Sampson (D-Hudson) and Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker face Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato (D-Hudson) and Bayonne Councilwoman Jacqueline Weimmer, who are running under Fulop's slogan. In the neighboring 32nd District, Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-Hudson) and Jersey City Councilman Yousef Saleh — both on Fulop's slate — face party-backed candidates Hoboken Public Library director Jennie Pu and Crystal Fonseca, division director of buildings and street maintenance in Jersey City. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and former state administrator Katie Brennan, whose accusations of sexual assault against a 2017 Murphy campaign staffer roiled Trenton, are also seeking the nod in the 32nd District. Close to half a million New Jerseyans had already voted by Monday morning. Statewide, 148,686 residents cast in-person ballots at early voting stations during the state's six days of early voting, said a spokesperson for the Department of State. Another 317,984 had returned mail-in ballots as of Monday morning. Election officials will accept mail ballots postmarked by Election Day for six days after polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Residents vote in person at their polling place on Tuesday or by delivering their vote-by-mail ballot to a secure ballot drop box or their county board of elections.
