WHO’S UP
John Currie
The Passaic County Democratic Committee Chairman stared down his old rival, former Sheriff Jerry Speziale, in another chapter of a political career crammed with all the twists and turns of five seasons of Miami Vice, where the principals drive Chevrolets instead of Ferraris and run around by the Greats Falls instead of Jungle Island.
Kevin McCabe
The Middlesex County Democratic Committee won the key contest of Perth Amboy, helping to restore incumbent Mayor Helmin Caba to the throne of power.
Herb Conaway
The brainy assemblyman – an improbable player in Jersey politics, given his competence – won the Democratic Primary in CD-3, becoming the favorite to succeed U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, who won the Democrats’ primary for U.S. Senate. A great night for a distinguished public servant. In addition, the party organizations that backed him (Burlington, Monmouth, and Mercer) could likewise spike the football in the face of agitators anticipating that the end of the line would tomahawk the establishment.
Curtis Bashaw
He looked great out there, senatorial even, defying Trump’s preference for the U.S. Senate seat. Nice job. A credit, too, to the Ocean and Monmouth County GOP organizations. But having slapped Trump, now he gets saddled with Trump. Dreadful. And it’s a shame. If Bashaw didn’t have a convicted felon on top of him, and the task of backing him in the name of party unity, he might have made it a real race against Andy Kim. But the grimy manhole cover of the GOP nominee for prez will bottle up Bashaw, no matter what he says or does. Maybe he should follow Kim’s lead and break up the party line in time for the general election. Then he might have a shot.
LeRoy Jones
The organization won in Bloomfield, the race that was supposed to give the establishment fits, and just as importantly, the Essex County Democratic chair who doubles as the state Democratic Party chair, could shrug off all the pre-election drama as noise, and lean into a mission critical mindset for the general election.
Jon Bramnick
Bashaw’s GOP Primary repudiation of Trump demonstrates the possibility of life in the NJ Republican Party for a principled leader like the senator from the 21st Legislative District, a 2025 candidate for governor.
WHO’S DOWN
Donald Trump
Freshly convicted on 34 felony counts of falsified business records, the TV personality-politician who exhorted a mob to march to the Capitol to overturn the results of the 2020 election so that he could remain as president and overturn the will of the American people, had a terrible night in New Jersey. Apparently trying to vindictively go toe-to-toe with Chris Christie, Trump picked Christine Serrano Glassner in the GOP Primary for the United States Senate over businessman Curtis Bashaw. Trump’s candidate lost, 36-43%. It was a bad look for Trump, who’s already woefully staggering toward a general election showdown with President Joe Biden.
Bob Menendez
He made a lot of Democrats sweat out there in the lead-up to the election and continues to mildly wreak havoc with plans to run in the general election, doing his best to offset the appearance that Trump has the corner market on a wretched candidacy. The difference, for all their considerable deficits, is that establishment Democrats ditched Menendez as a reelection option, while the Republican Party wants Trump to be president, apparently in the name of showing our kids that they should be rewarded for breaking the law. That, and, oh, yeah, Menendez hasn’t been convicted.
Christine Serrano Glassner
Message to the Mayor of Mendham Borough: maybe now you and your supporters won’t get excited the next time a convicted felon issues a ringing endorsement. In the inimitable words of Officer Malone, “Here endeth the lesson.”
Ravi Bhalla
There was a lot of talk that he was going to do great. He didn’t. Sweaty allies of the Hoboken mayor referred to polling that showed him beating Rob – not Bob – Menendez for the 8th District congressional seat. It wasn’t close. Supposedly challenged by “the perfect storm” of no line, a dad twisting in a corruption trial, and a progressive-friendly face in Andy Kim, the young Menendez handled Bhalla with no problem in another win for the party machine and, in this case, Union City Powerhouse Mayor Brian P. Stack.
Jerry Speziale
He made it fun. It was brutal, sure, but he got in there and rode the bucking mechanical bull that is Passaic County politics. Thrown, but not forgotten, and only after making the bleachers shake with terror. Just as filmgoers never demanded that John Travolta make a sequel to Urban Cowboy, voters in Passaic decided they didn’t need – at least nit right now – Bruce Springsteen with a badge. Thanks for the memories, Jerry.
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The New Jersey primary elections took place last week, and the results have left many political analysts and insiders buzzing about the winners and losers of the week. With several key races on the ballot, including the highly contested gubernatorial race, there were plenty of surprises and upsets to go around.
One of the biggest winners of the week was incumbent Governor Phil Murphy, who easily secured the Democratic nomination for a second term. Despite facing criticism from some within his own party over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy’s strong fundraising and support from key Democratic leaders helped him sail to victory in the primary. With a clear path to reelection, Murphy is now focusing on uniting the party and building momentum for the general election in November.
On the Republican side, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli emerged as the winner of the gubernatorial primary, beating out a crowded field of challengers. Ciattarelli’s moderate stance on key issues like taxes and education reform helped him appeal to a broad base of voters, and his strong showing in the primary has positioned him as a serious contender in the general election. With Murphy’s approval ratings slipping in recent months, Ciattarelli is hoping to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction and make a strong push for the governor’s mansion in November.
In other races, there were a mix of winners and losers across the state. In the hotly contested race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Cory Booker, progressive challenger Lawrence Hamm pulled off a surprising upset over establishment favorite Frank Pallone. Hamm’s grassroots campaign and focus on issues like racial justice and income inequality resonated with voters, giving him a narrow victory in the primary. With Booker widely expected to win reelection in November, Hamm’s victory is seen as a sign of growing progressive influence within the Democratic Party.
On the flip side, there were several high-profile losers in last week’s primary. State Senator Steve Sweeney, a powerful Democratic leader and close ally of Governor Murphy, was defeated by political newcomer Edward Durr in a stunning upset. Sweeney’s loss has sent shockwaves through the state’s political establishment, raising questions about the future direction of the Democratic Party in New Jersey.
Overall, the results of the New Jersey primary have set the stage for an exciting and unpredictable general election in November. With key races still up for grabs and voter sentiment shifting rapidly, candidates on both sides of the aisle will need to work hard to secure victory in what promises to be a closely watched and highly competitive election season.
