WHO’S UP
Kamala Harris
The polls show a close race, but Harris continues to shine as a dignified and strong presidential candidate dedicated to the needs of ordinary Americans – and to American interests abroad. Her appearance this week beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky underscored Harris’ foreign policy strength in contrast to a Putin-bootlicking alternative. “There are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality, and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations,” the vice president said. “These proposals are the same as those of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable,” she added. That’s American leadership rhetoric right there backed up the ongoing pro-NATO work of the Biden-Harris Administration. Thank you, Madame Vice President.
Sue Altman
The CD-7 Democratic challenger aggressively and visibly makes the rounds in New Jersey’s only proper battleground district this year, arguing her advantages over the incumbent as a champion of women’s reproductive freedoms, and as a corruption fighter who bucked her own party in defiance of the now-indicted George Norcross III, and called for the resignation of Bob Menendez before most other Democrats. Unlike U.S. Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., Altman in her take-every-question town hall tour is showing sustained leadership – and genuine respect for the voters of the 7th District.
People are taking notice.
Jon Bramnick
The Republican state senator from the 21st District held a packed fundraiser this week, demonstrating a deep reservoir of goodwill from allies who have known him for years and intend to put together a robust fundraising effort on his behalf toward his 2025 gubernatorial campaign.
Andre Sayegh
Paterson Mayor Sayegh, alongside labor union leaders, announced today the adoption of the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) ordinance, a transformative measure that will regulate public works construction projects exceeding $5,000,000. The ordinance is designed to create local employment opportunities, establish high construction quality standards, and promote workforce development in Paterson. “This is a monumental step forward for our city,” said Sayegh. “The Project Labor Agreement ordinance will provide our residents with greater employment opportunities and ensure that public works projects are completed with integrity, safety, and quality. It is a win for both the local workforce and Paterson.”
George Helmy
It’s good to see someone using the bully pulpit to make a mark even with limited time on the clock. Since getting sworn into the United States Senate, Helmy has made his presence known as a serious and focused lawmaker. We especially liked his recognition of the problem of youth mental health in his maiden speech to the United States Senate. “There has been an unprecedented shift in how our young people are spending time with each other and alone,” said the Senator. “Over half of U.S. teenagers spend at least four hours per day on social media. Frequent users of social media are twice as likely to experience mental health challenges, including suicidal ideations. The isolation forced upon our youth from the pandemic and then compounded by social media has further exacerbated stress in their lives and on their families. And the daily beat of news stories practically every teen sees almost every minute on their phones — school shootings, climate change, political division and animosity, the opioid and fentanyl epidemic, anti-Arab rhetoric and antisemitism, and on and on — has only aided in creating a hopelessness feedback loop.”
WHO’S DOWN
Donald Trump
It’s just an embarrassment listening to this childlike hate monger stand at a podium ranting on in that lisping little tone. Someone told me last week that he’s pro-Bible. Yes, if your reading of the Bible means making Nebuchadnezzar the hero of the story. Wake up, people. This is a close election. Voters in battleground states – that means you, beloved neighbor Pennsylvania – don’t saddle us again with this whining, self-pitying huckster who never grew up and can’t handle the basic demands of an average grown man. Likening disgraced North Carolina Republican candidate Mark Robinson to “better than Martin Luther King” prior to Robinson’s crackup demonstrates the ignorance about our country cravenly expressed by this golf-playing narcissist. If someone’s obsequious around this guy, that person’s in the running for sainthood. Great stuff.
Tom Kean, Jr.
Let’s just call it like it is. His detachment is too dreadful. From Ben Hulac on X: “I’m a reporter who covers New Jersey’s delegation to Congress. Almost daily, I am on Capitol Hill, interviewing New Jersey lawmakers for the public. Despite many attempts, Tom Kean has never spoken with me. This video I took yesterday shows how things typically go.” https://t.co/RHbshw12Vr” /X https://x.com/benhulac/status/1838962877132165566 New Jersey’s political insiders crafted a map to give Kean a comfortable 17K to 20K registration advantage, but his obstinate remoteness coupled with Donald Trump’s disastrous top-of-the-ticket presence in an educated district like New Jersey’s CD-7 add up to a lot of fixed attention. While Altman – a former professional athlete – plays from behind like she can win, Kean looks anemic and entitled.
Eric Adams
The feds this week indicted the New York City Mayor on five federal charges related to bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, according to a 57-page indictment unsealed Thursday morning. The indictment alleges illegal actions stretching back to 2014, from when he was Brooklyn Borough president. “For nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him,” the indictment reads.
Mark Robinson
The exodus of staffers away from the Republican nominee for governor of North Carolina destabilizes the GOP in a battleground state. Resisting entreaties from leaders in his own party to get out of the race, Robinson defiantly digs in despite making a series of inflammatory comments on a pornography website’s message board more than a decade ago, in which he referred to himself as a “black NAZI!” and expressed support for reinstating slavery, a CNN KFile investigation found.
Virtua Health
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced this week that they filed a complaint in Superior Court against Virtual Health, Inc. (Virtua), and the network of hospitals it runs in Voorhees, Mount Holly, and Camden, New Jersey. The complaint alleges that Virtua has discriminated against patients based on pregnancy and sex in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), and that Virtua has violated patients’ fundamental right to privacy and New Jersey state law by not obtaining informed consent prior to subjecting them to mandatory drug testing.
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InsiderNJ’s Weekly Political Rankings for the Week of September 23rd have been released, giving us a glimpse into the current state of politics in New Jersey. These rankings are compiled by a team of political experts who analyze the latest developments and trends in the state’s political landscape.
One of the key takeaways from this week’s rankings is the continued dominance of Governor Phil Murphy. Despite facing some challenges in recent months, including criticism over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy remains a strong leader in the eyes of many New Jersey residents. His approval ratings have remained relatively stable, and he continues to push forward with his progressive agenda.
Another notable figure in this week’s rankings is Senate President Steve Sweeney. Sweeney has been a powerful force in New Jersey politics for many years, but he is facing a tough re-election battle this year. His ranking has slipped slightly in recent weeks as he works to shore up support among voters in his district.
On the flip side, some politicians have seen their rankings rise in recent weeks. Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who is running for governor against Murphy in the upcoming election, has seen a boost in his ranking as he gains momentum on the campaign trail. Ciattarelli has been gaining support from voters who are looking for a change in leadership in New Jersey.
Overall, the InsiderNJ’s Weekly Political Rankings for the Week of September 23rd paint a complex picture of the political landscape in New Jersey. While some politicians are holding steady or gaining ground, others are facing challenges as they navigate a rapidly changing political environment. As we head into the final stretch of the election season, it will be interesting to see how these rankings evolve and what impact they will have on the outcome of key races in the state.
