One of the stories on primary filing day was what did not happen.
Ed Durr kept his truck in the yard.
Durr’s exit from the gubernatorial race was not surprising given the fact he had no chance of winning. Here was a man who spent two years in the state Senate and was denied reelection thinking he could be a viable candidate for governor. Really?
Durr endorsed Bill Spadea. That was no surprise either.
So the race is now moving in three lanes.
From left to right, or if you prefer from moderate to far-right, we have Jon Bramnick, Jack Ciattarelli and Spadea.
The few polls in the race say Ciattarelli’s lane is the widest and its width only can increase after his well-publicized photo with a smiling Donald Trump.
So you can expect Spadea to do what he just did after Durr withdrew – attack Ciattarelli as being (gasp) a RINO.
Or, as he put it in a social media post, “Jack has always been a tax-raising, cop-dissing, illegal supporting, Never-Trumper.”
Here’s the question.
Spadea’s core supporters will buy that line of attack, but how about a majority of Republican primary voters?
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On the Democratic side, no matter what happens with Steve Fulop’s campaign for governor, political junkies will watch how his Assembly candidates do.
For the last few months, Assembly candidates running with Team Fulop were announced in dribs and drabs. They are running under the slogan – Democrats for Change.
In all, there are 35 candidates running in 22 districts. That’s not a bad showing.
What will this mean?
Or in other words, will having a bunch of Assembly candidates in your corner mean more votes for Fulop’s gubernatorial bid?
The legislative candidates linked with Fulop share his disdain for county party endorsements. Fulop didn’t take part in county nominating conventions, although he often showed up to criticize the process.
At the Morris County convention, the District 25 Assembly hopefuls on Fulop’s team – Steve Pylypchuk and Marisa Sweeney – were introduced, but not formally endorsed. It did seem strange. No other Dems are running in the district.
Probably the most interesting race is in Hudson County – no stranger to interesting politics.
In District 32 covering parts of Jersey City and Hoboken, six Democrats are fighting for two nominations. Democratic nominations in Hudson are tantamount – as they say – to winning the general.
Fulop’s candidates are Jessica Ramirez, an incumbent, and Youseff Saleh.
The county Democratic organization is backing Jennie Pu and Crystal Fonseca.
And then there’s the team of Katie Brennan and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who are running under the slogan, Democrats for the People, which, one supposes, is more egalitarian sounding than Democrats for Change.
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One local race deserves some mention here.
County sheriffs tend to be popular and Morris County offers another example of that.
For the second election cycle in a row, Democrats didn’t file a candidate to challenge Republican Sheriff James Gannon.
Amalia Duarte, the county Dem chair, stressed the party’s “highly qualified” candidates for the board of commissioners.
Sheriffs have quite the longevity in Morris. There have been only three in the last 50 years.
John Fox served for 18 years and Ed Rochford for 24.
At this rate, Gannon, first elected in 2016, may top them.
After the filing deadline for candidates to run in the upcoming election has passed, Insider NJ hosted a series of post-filing day events to recap the day’s activities and provide insight into the candidates who will be vying for various political offices.
The events kicked off with a panel discussion featuring political analysts and experts who discussed the significance of the candidates who filed to run for office. They analyzed the diversity of the candidates, their backgrounds, and their platforms, providing valuable insights into the upcoming election.
Following the panel discussion, Insider NJ hosted a networking event where attendees had the opportunity to mingle with candidates, campaign staff, and other political insiders. This provided a unique opportunity for individuals to connect with those involved in the political process and gain a deeper understanding of the candidates running for office.
Throughout the events, Insider NJ also provided live updates on social media, sharing key information about the candidates who filed to run for office and highlighting any notable developments that occurred during filing day. This real-time coverage allowed individuals to stay informed and engaged with the political process.
Overall, Insider NJ’s post-filing day events provided a comprehensive recap of the candidates who filed to run for office and offered valuable insights into the upcoming election. By bringing together political experts, candidates, and attendees, Insider NJ facilitated important discussions and connections that will shape the political landscape in the months to come.