“Democratic grassroots versus the establishment” was the overriding theme of a Forward United-sponsored gubernatorial forum held at the Westwood Community Center in Bergen County Wednesday evening. Ruth Dugan, a Democratic activist and 2021 challenger to State Senator Holly Schepisi, said that six Democratic gubernatorial candidates had been invited, but only Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop came, the others declining, either unavailable or uninterested. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill had asked LD-27 State Senator John McKeon to represent her at the forum, as he said she was in Washington DC at the time. The audience, which filled the assembly room of the Westwood Community Center, was disappointed the other candidates did not appear, but the reduction of competition at the microphone gave Fulop and McKeon more time to make their case (or their candidate’s case, for McKeon) and answer questions in depth.
Before the discussion was underway, Dugan made her introduction and took the opportunity to take a crack at the Democratic party machine. “Democrats keep losing—why?” Dugan asked in her introduction. The reason for low-voter turn-out, she said, was due to people feeling that their voices were not being heard. Dugan said that the county chairs were “acting like there is still a county line” and zinged Juliano in particular. “[Bergen County] is in a silo,” she said, “because we have a chairman who won’t let people gather.” Juliano had endorsed CD-5 Congressman Josh Gottheimer, so the congressman’s absence from the forum, organized by individuals less-than-friendly toward the chairman, might not come as a shock to the politically attuned. Democrats in the audience, however, seemed annoyed to have been snubbed, whether by design or if the candidates simply couldn’t accommodate the invitation.
“Enough is enough,” Dugan said, “Democrats can’t win if we don’t talk and meet each other.” She did express her gratitude, however, to Mayor Fulop and Sen. McKeon for attending and representing Sherrill.
While Senator Andy Kim was not mentioned at all during the forum, Kim’s successful path to succeed disgraced Senator Bob Menendez was also blazed by a grassroots effort with little enthusiasm from the state’s political lever-pullers. The benefits of well-funded and supportive party organizations cannot be downplayed for a candidate seeking office, providing connections and resources for their campaign. Nevertheless, the court ruling that led to the disestablishment of the ballot configuration to a design in line with other states had taken one of the strongest perks county political organizations had to offer their endorsed candidates. Andy Kim’s name on that lawsuit will always be a part of his legacy as far as New Jersey state politics are concerned.
Much of the conversation that would follow in the two-and-a-half hour discussion would focus on the candidates’ backgrounds and experience, and taking questions from the audience. An experienced hand, McKeon’s approach was down-to-earth, keeping the discourse relaxed—even affable—but he nevertheless spoke as a staunch advocate for the congresswoman. Fulop was well-practiced and polished with his delivery. He has attended four to five town halls a week, he said, and emphasized that his candidacy stands alone in offering detailed, specific platforms about specific issues, whereas other candidates who enjoy broader machine support, tend to be vague. More than once, he encouraged would-be voters to go to the websites of every gubernatorial candidate, Democrat or Republican, and compare the messaging and specificity of their platforms.
In short, he was trying to make his case that he’s a candidate with some answers, whether one agrees or not, but at least he is offering something concrete. Other candidates might have disagreed, but they were not there. For McKeon, he had the uncomfortable position of trying to speak on behalf of someone else, so he drew off his own experiences with Sherrill, her track-record in congress and on the New Jersey campaign trail, and their own aligned Democratic values.
Sherrill, of Montclair, enjoys widespread support as she contends with two other Essex County candidates, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and former Montclair mayor Sean Spiller. On March 10, Sherrill won Essex County’s recommendation to be endorsed at the convention Saturday.
Fulop downplayed the value of political endorsements in favor of grassroots support. He recalled his own mayoral campaign in Jersey City, when NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Cory Booker, and even Barack Obama had weighed in to support the incumbent mayor, Jerramiah Healy, albeit unsuccessfully.
As Fulop went on the offensive, he charged that Gottheimer and Sherrill, both members of Congress, had “fall backs” if they don’t win the governor’s seat, but he does not.
When asked by a member of the audience how they could defeat the Republican nominee, Jack Ciattarelli named specifically, McKeon said that Sherrill has a proven track record of defeating strong Republican challengers and that Fulop, for his part, had only beaten other Democratic contenders. Sherrill successfully flipped CD-11 from blue to red in her 2018 race against Jay Webber. Fulop countered, contending that Rodney Frelinghuysen’s departure left a weaker Republican opposition, and that subsequent redistricting strengthened CD-11’s Democratic base at the expense of CD-7’s Rep. Tom Malinowski, who lost to Tom Kean, Jr. in 2022.
Taking a firm position on issues is at the heart of Democratic discontent, Fulop suggested, asserting that New Jersey is still in fact a “blue state” rather than a “purple state.” Democrats who have attempted to cater more and more to the right sacrifice needed enthusiasm and support from the younger wing of the party. Registered Democrats do significantly outnumber Republicans, but apathy is deep-seated among the base. He said that Jon Corzine had been a poor communicator, looking to implement unpopular Turnpike toll hikes, and Chris Christie was far more skilled and charismatic, but even then, Christie’s victory was not a major one. In 2009, Christie and Guadagno took 48.5% of the vote to Corzine and Weinberg’s 44.9%.
The mayor also said that any future Republican nominee will assuredly try to brand the Democratic nominee as “another four years of Phil Murphy” and that such a label would be a “deadly thing” for a candidate. He expressed his respect for the governor, but added, “I’ve never met a warrior for Phil Murphy.” He warned that a “Republican-lite” Democratic nominee would ensure low voter turnout again, giving the GOP a huge advantage.
McKeon expressed his appreciation for Governor Murphy, in particular some of his environmental policies, ones he himself supported and advocated. Fulop agreed, but took issue with New Jersey’s lack of leadership, nationally, as far as progressive values and policies. “I don’t think Phil Murphy has been bold enough at all.”
In the world of Westwood politics, things are heating up as key players make bold moves and statements. From criticism to challenges to advocacy, the political landscape in this New Jersey town is anything but quiet.
One of the most notable developments in recent weeks has been the public criticism of Mayor Juliano by Councilman Dugan. Dugan, a longtime political rival of Juliano, has not been shy about voicing his disapproval of the mayor’s leadership style and decisions. In a recent interview with Insider NJ, Dugan accused Juliano of being out of touch with the needs of Westwood residents and failing to prioritize important issues such as infrastructure and public safety.
On the other side of the political spectrum, Mayor Fulop has been making waves by challenging the party establishment in Westwood. Fulop, a rising star in the Democratic Party, has been vocal about his desire to shake up the status quo and bring fresh ideas to the table. In a recent speech at a local fundraiser, Fulop called for greater transparency and accountability in local government, signaling his intention to run for higher office in the future.
Meanwhile, Assemblyman McKeon has been advocating for Congresswoman Sherrill in her bid for re-election. McKeon, a longtime ally of Sherrill, has been crisscrossing the district to drum up support for her campaign. In a recent op-ed in the Westwood Gazette, McKeon praised Sherrill’s record on healthcare and environmental issues, urging voters to give her another term in office.
As the political landscape in Westwood continues to evolve, one thing is clear: change is on the horizon. Whether it’s through criticism, challenges, or advocacy, local leaders are making their voices heard and pushing for a better future for the town and its residents. Stay tuned for more updates as the political drama unfolds in Westwood.
