It’s Friday in New Jersey, where state voters and political donors seem to have little interest in Chris Christie’s presidential hopes. Meanwhile, drama still runs high in the races for the 38th and 2nd districts, and Democrats are benefiting from their support of public employees while Republicans are having trouble.
Quote of the Day: “Fundraising is hard work, end of story,” – Jon Hanson, co-chair of Christie’s New Jersey state financing committee.
Election Cycle Marred by Statewide Troubles for the GOP
This year the New Jersey Republican Party has been floundering.
This cycle has been marked by few funds raised in some of the more competitive districts, scandals that have seemingly crippled candidates and infighting due to a lack of perceived support from county officials.
Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNJ Read more
On PILOT Debacle, Mayor Guardian Cites Shifting Economic Tide for City and County
Fresh from a press conference kicking off the construction of a $43 million seawall and boardwalk construction project a few blocks from the barred and locked Revel casino, Atlantic City mayor Don Guardian talked this year’s Assembly race and his own disagreements with his fellow Republicans in the county, and with candidate Chris Brown.
JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more
Rutgers Poll: 67% of New Jerseyans Want Christie to End Prez Campaign
2016 Republican presidential candidate Gov. Chris Christie has plummeted among his own party’s preferences in his home state of New Jersey, according to today’s Rutgers-Eagleton Poll.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more
AG’s Office Denies Dems’ Effort to Prevent Voters from Having LD38 Cappola Option
Bergen County Democratic Committee Counsel Carmine Alampi today fired off a letter to judges in Bergen and Passaic counties requesting that the LD38 voting machine levers be locked to prevent general election voters from being able to record a vote for Anthony Cappola.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more
County Chairmen Lash Out Following LD2 Vote-By-Mail Decision
Following a decision from the Atlantic County Clerk’s Office to reject mail-in ballot applications from about 90 county residents who received partially filled-in forms from a pro-Democratic super PAC, the chairman of the county Democrats is calling the move “a contrived political stunt” by his Republican counterpart.
JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more
PAC TV Ad Goes After Still-Standing DiPisa in LD38
Left standing after his running mate got out – then by default – got back in the LD38 race, Republican Mark DiPisa now finds himself a lone target by association of his disgraced former (and current ballot-bracketed) running mate.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more
In Bergen Freeholder Race, Dems Raise Over Ten Times More Than GOP
According to ELEC reports filed by candidates running for Bergen County Freeholder, Bergen County’s Democrats are significantly outraising Republicans who are vying for spots on the freeholder board.
Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNJ Read more
Bramnick Reiterates debate Challenge to Prieto
Following Speaker Vincent Prieto’s (D-32) excoriation of the GOP leader over his stated willingness to give a home in his caucus to disgraced LD38 challenger Anthony Cappola, Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-21) doubled down on his challenge from earlier this year to Prieto to debate the issues with the Republicans.
Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJ Read more
Assembly Speaker Prieto Denounces Bramnick for Stance on Cappola
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) issued a statement Thursday speaking out against Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-21), who said during a press conference Wednesday that he would not be taking further steps to remove Assembly candidate Anthony Cappola from the ballot in the 38th district.
JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more
Democratic candidates see sizable return for stance on public pensions
The poor condition of New Jersey’s public-employee pension system may not be getting a ton of attention in key state Assembly contests this fall, but it’s an issue that nonetheless seems to be having a big influence on the 2015 elections.
John Reitmeyer, NJSpotlight Read more
Financial industry not abandoning Garrett
If U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett faced a backlash from his comments earlier this year about not supporting gay candidates, it didn’t come from the financial industry.
Jonathan D. Salant, NJ.com Read more
Christie campaign down to $1.4 million, will likely make last stand in N.H.
Struggling to keep pace with the feverish fundraising of more-established GOP candidates, Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign raised just $4.2 million in the third quarter ending Sept. 30, according to his campaign’s spokeswoman.
Claude Brodesser-Akner, NJ.com Read more
Jersey City Councilman ‘Chico’ Ramchal charged with stealing from county
The troubles that started when Jersey City Councilman Khemraj “Chico” Ramchal was charged with DWI in March continued today during a court appearance on theft charges related to an alleged “no show” county job.
Michaelangelo Conte, The Jersey Journal Read more
Sen. Menendez spent almost $730K on legal defense in past three months
Sen. Bob Menendez raised almost $471,000 for his legal defense fund between July and September, and the fund spent nearly $730,000 as his lawyers filed more than a dozen motions, nearly all of them rejected, that sought to have his corruption indictment thrown out.
Herb Jackson, The Record Read more
N.J. lottery ticket sales on track to meet budget projections
Increased sales mean New Jersey’s lottery contribution to the state budget is on track to meet its target for 2016 after falling short the first two years of a long-term contract with a private operator.
Dustin Racioppi, The Record Read more
Christie: Obama right to keep troops in Afghanistan
Gov. Chris Christie said President Barack Obama is doing “the right thing” by keeping thousands of troops in Afghanistan beyond 2016, abandoning his goal of removing all U.S. forces from the fragile nation before he leaves office.
Michael Symons, GannettNJ Read more
Federal appeals court to reconsider New Jersey sports betting case
Supporters of legalized sports betting in New Jersey won a victory Wednesday when an appeals court voted to reconsider an earlier ruling against the state.
David Porter, Associated Press Read more
