WESTFIELD – Amid the anger, the emotion, and hyper-velocity partisanship, state Senator Jon Bramnick (R-21) refuses to be a demagogue.
It’s not who he is.
He’s pragmatic, and unwilling to thrust an ideological chest out until he sizes up an issue, which he does with good humor, an agile mind, and the applied principles of law and character. Independent minds celebrate his eloquent and substantive resistance to Donald Trump. But this is a gubernatorial primary Bramnick runs in, not an integrity contest, and he seeks the Republican nomination of a party not led by Clifford Case or Tom Kean, Sr., but President Trump.
So, while two of his opponents, Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea all-but arm-wrestled last month to prove fealty to Trump at his Bedminster golf course (with Ciattarelli clearly getting the better of that tousle), Bramnick persists as the Team Trump alternative.
Not to be argumentative, but because it’s who he is, and he insists on being true to himself, and true to principles that can’t be pretzled for the sake of political popularity.
If he wins the GOP Primary – a big if – he thinks he can mop up in the general.
“I can win overwhelmingly and bring balance back to Trenton,” Bramnick told InsiderNJ. “People in New Jersey want balance and they want authenticity. My positions have always been clear and I’m the candidate they’re [Democrats] most concerned about. I want people to remember that for ten years I was there when every assembly person was reelected for a decade, when I served as the Republican leader. There is no doubt I come with my basic principles of law and order, fiscal conservatism, and standing strong against illegal immigration and overdevelopment.”
He obviously objects to the tag “moderate” on the substance of his record, which includes voting for the death penalty and always hard-nosed support for the police, but Bramnick recognizes that his “pro-choice” position contributes to his image as a thoughtful lawmaker, not an inflexible stormtrooper.
He wants people – voters, specifically Republican voters ahead of the June 10th election – to remember his career-long dedication to law and order, and the unique opportunity of his candidacy in a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly one million.
“On law and order I am extremely conservative,” said the senator, with a proven record of winning in a swing district repeatedly targeted by the opposition party. “You know exactly where I stand, and it will be difficult for another Republican to win. People know fewer and fewer perpetrators are going to jail because of less and less appetite for minimum mandatory sentences. But if there are no consequences, the bad guys know it. The gangs know juveniles are going to walk and police don’t believe government has their back. In Westfield, car thefts are frequent. And someone can steal a car three times and never go to jail. I believe in having minimum mandatory sentencing to make sure the cops know you have their backs. The problem is the legislature has lessened the ability for people to go to jail.”
The Democratic-dominant legislature has also used Mount Laurel to overdevelop the state and cram it with bumper-to-bumper traffic. “Here’s the silly law, the silly proposal by the Democrats, which is 100% partisan, and that is the theory that each town has to have a certain amount of affordable units. It’s eliminated certain towns from even complying on a regional basis to work with the developers and urban mayors. Judges have to make a determination about how many units go into each town and it is costly, and in many cases, impossible to determine the impact on infrastructure.”
As governor, Bramnick said he would fix that problem.
Maybe more than anyone in Trenton, he knows how to lead, to work with the opposition party to achieve consensus. But he doesn’t accept the inevitability of Democratic Party rule in the legislature when the dust clears in this year’s volatile election cycle (more on that in a minute).
“Empathy and being concerned for others and respecting other people’s opinions is important in a democracy,” said Bramnick. This ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality is detrimental to our future. Any true leader must be respected by all sides of the aisle. He’s setting a good example for the kids. They tell me I’m not angry enough, but I’m not doing that. I disagree with Democrats on their philosophy, on how they overtax, their positions on crime and development, especially development. The fact of the matter is you can do that without being arrogant.
“When I veto it,” he added with a smile, “I don’t have to be mean. There is a real desire out there for some unity and some mutual respect. At some point some leader is going to come along and bring this country together. Some leader will come along.”
Emphasizing consequences for bullies, for those who break the law, and assessing for a moment the international scene, the Republican candidate noted:
“I’m a strong supporter of Ukraine. I believe Russia is a threat to us and the international community. I don’t think that’s a change at all in terms of the world order. We should help Ukraine. The end to the conflict has to show you can’t invade a neighbor without consequences.”
Israel and the West Bank?
“What happened on Oct. 7th was so outrageous and violent, Israel had to stand up and crush Hamas. The 9/11 terrorists didn’t see the faces of the people they were killing – a horrendous act – but this is face-to-face. The reaction by Israel had to be overwhelming.”
The same tough first principles would apply come state budget time in terms of establishing rules, and lines he will not cross.
“One party rule doesn’t work, especially when it’s Democrats and pork and Christmas tree items,” said Bramnick. “You need an adult in the room who will say to the spenders, ‘the party’s over. When you go back to the caucus, tell them the party’s over.’ If you don’t support my budget, we’ll shut down the state.”
On the gubernatorial campaign trail, the candidate said he learns every day.
“For 20 years, I basically had the same towns and around the state you’re walking in as the assembly leader or senator when you know nobody and you have to start proving yourself again,” he said. “In some of these towns, you’re a new face and you need to tell them who you are and what you stand for. You have 45 minutes to an hour and you work one voter at a time. In our shore communities, people are very concerned about offshore wind, and with good reason. People everywhere are concerned about schools funding, which can be fixed with supplemental aid, not allowing schools to lose money. The school formula has to do with the value of real estate, but you can’t eliminate the human factor.”
In conversation, Bramnick doubles back on his general election viability.
“I will have massive coattails because the image of the Republican Party would be the image of Tom Kean, Sr. – respectful of the other side and strong in principle. In the midst of the polarization that we have, voters will see that they can elect someone who’s not just throwing red meat to the Republican base. My point is if you hate Democrats so much, I don’t know how you’re doing business and keeping your family together. As long as you work and pay taxes, you do whatever you want. My position on people’s personal lives is almost that of a libertarian and it causes people in my own campaign to say, ‘You’re much more conservative than you think you are.’ Fine.
“But there are two ways to win over the Republican base. One is saying exactly what everyone wants to hear. The other is being yourself and showing them your conservative credentials, but not by mimicking what they want to hear. I know what the soundbites are. I watch the same channels they do. But what they need to know about me is I’m fiscally conservative and I’m watching their money. I’m respecting police officers and law and order and making sure people who commit crimes get punished. I’m not spending people’s money unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’m not over legislating. That’s conservative. Democrats over legislate. They don’t understand that you can’t fix every problem by passing a law. Less government is the best government. We’re not going to solve every problem. You don’t want to make things worse by legislating. Schools that are successful, for example, leave them alone. That’s the essence of what conservative ideals are about. Leave people alone in their lifestyle. Sometimes we want to over legislate people’s lifestyle. It’s a mistake.
“That’s not conservatism,” Bramnick added.
“I can’t say I’m the most conservative candidate because I don’t know where everyone else stands but if being pro-choice is not being conservative, then I’m not conservative on that issue. But I’m conservative when it comes to the environment because I want to conserve the environment. It’s a pretty good argument. Too many of these broad statements dominate out there. My question is, ‘What’s the issue? What is the issue, then I’ll tell you what the answer is. I don’t like the fact when we had COVID, for example, that [Governor] Phil Murphy didn’t have public hearings. I don’t deny the science but when we got months past the initial crisis, have some debates. Have some experts come in on that issue. If it means you don’t believe in science, then I’m not conversative, because I believe in science.
“The bottom line is if Republicans want to win, and they want their basic principles heard, they should vote for me,” he added. “I will bring those basic principles to Trenton, where there will no longer be one party rule, which is very important for the state and for the future, where the issue should be ‘How is that good for our kids?'”
Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick has reportedly threatened to push for a state shutdown if the upcoming budget is not supported, according to Insider NJ. This bold move comes as tensions rise in New Jersey over the state’s financial situation and how to best allocate resources.
Bramnick, a Republican who represents parts of Union, Morris, and Somerset counties, has been vocal about his concerns regarding the budget proposed by Governor Phil Murphy. He believes that the budget does not adequately address the needs of New Jersey residents and does not provide enough funding for essential services.
In a statement to Insider NJ, Bramnick expressed his frustration with the current budget proposal, stating that it “does not reflect the priorities of New Jersey residents.” He went on to say that if the budget is not revised to better serve the needs of the state, he will push for a shutdown in order to force lawmakers to come to a consensus on a more suitable budget.
A state shutdown would have far-reaching consequences for New Jersey residents, as essential services such as public transportation, education, and healthcare could be disrupted. It would also have a negative impact on the state’s economy, potentially leading to job losses and decreased revenue.
While Bramnick’s threat of a state shutdown may seem extreme, it underscores the seriousness of the budget impasse in New Jersey. Lawmakers must come together to find a solution that meets the needs of all residents and ensures that essential services are adequately funded.
As the deadline for passing the budget approaches, all eyes will be on Trenton to see if a compromise can be reached. If not, New Jersey residents may be facing a state shutdown that could have lasting repercussions for the state’s economy and its residents.
