| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Wednesday morning! Since you subscribe to this newsletter, I'm not the first to tell you that the gubernatorial race is extraodinarily close , with Jack Ciattarelli leading Gov. Phil Murphy by about 1,700 votes at the time I put this newsletter to bed in the wee hours. But did you know that Senate President Steve Sweeney is in a tight race? Unless there's a large pot of still-uncounted ballots that swing in Democrats' favor — and maybe there is — this is a disaster for Democrats. There are plenty of shades of 2009, when Republican Chris Christie beat Jon Corzine. But worse for Democrats. Ciattarelli might have coattails. Sweeney and his incumbent Democratic running mates were in a close race last night to a Republican slate that reported raising all of $10,000 as of 11 days before the election. The AP had him leading last night by about five points, but those numbers don't square with what I took off the county clerk websites, which showed Durr leading . And both his running mates are trailing. State Sen. Vin Gopal, not considered particularly vulnerable, was narrowly trailing Republican Lori Annetta and his incumbent Assembly running mates were further behind. State Sen. Dawn Addiego's (D-Burlington) race hadn't been called, but she was way down to Republican Jean Stanfield. Republicans were last night on track to successfully defend a Senate seat in District 2, pick up that district's two Assembly seats, pick up two Assembly seats in District 11, two Assembly seats in District 16 and a Senate seat in District 8. If these hold, Republicans are threatening to make Democratic legislative majorities narrow. Even if mail-in ballots save the day for Murphy and the lawmakers, this election is still a wake up call for Democrats and pollsters and a big reality check for me and my fellow reporters. Everyone sensed an enthusiasm gap in Ciattarelli's favor, but it was hard to imagine them overcoming a million-voter massive registration advantage. And not even the most optimistic Republicans I spoke to predicted some of these potential legislative victories. What's clear is that the Democratic gains in the suburbs thanks to backlash to President Trump didn't hold for a state-level election. President Biden's not popular and it probably hurt Democrats, as evidenced from national trends. The energy we saw at school board meetings likely showed that those issues propelled votes. Taxes are perennially a huge issue in New Jersey, and Murphy's "If taxes are your issue, then New Jersey's probably not your state," comment from two years ago, played ad nauseam in Ciattarelli ads, must have hurt him. I wouldn't want to be a vulnerable New Jersey House Democrat in next year's midterms. As is usually the case for election night, I won't have extensive results for local races included here, as the press usually takes a while to get those online. If you need those results, the best way to go is to check your county clerk's website. WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule as of last night, but normally on Wednesdays he holds a coronavirus briefing. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I wanted to come out here tonight and tell you that we won. I'm here to tell you that's we're winning." — Jack Ciattarelli to supporters last night. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember John Catalano, Bergen County's Rocco Mazza TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com | 
POLITICO/Data from AP | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | POLLING PLACE PROBLEMS — "N.J. voters faced a new way to sign in. It didn't always go smoothly for poll workers or those casting ballots," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Counties for the first time were using electronic poll books instead of paper ones — a change mandated by the move to early voting in the state … But at a number of polling locations, election workers had issues connecting through the internet to the state database, which led to long lines in some places, and voters even being turned away from others. In Bernardsville, a voter said new machines for District 7 failed and voters had been turned away. In Raritan Township, a poll worker had the manual out while trying to help a voter sign in. In Hillsborough, another voter said people waiting in line ultimately walked away. And at the Christopher Hope Community Center in Paterson, voters were unable to cast ballots for an hour after polls were to open at 6 a.m. Alicia D'Alessandro, a spokeswoman for the state Division of Elections, said the problems were isolated and that most of the state's approximately 3,400 polling locations had no issues. "We are aware there were a small number of cases," she said. Technical issues aside, a year after the last election was mostly conducted through vote-by-mail ballots, Hunterdon County Elections Supervisor Beth Thompson said some voters were showing up to her office unaware that the polling locations were open this year." —Judge denies request to keep polls open until 9:30, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: A judge Tuesday evening refused a request by two advocacy groups to extend New Jersey's voting hours until 9:30 p.m. due to widely-reported problems at the polls, saying the evidence of voter disenfranchisement wasn't strong enough for a ruling that could cause "enormous disarray" with such short notice. "I can't find that anybody would be disenfranchised based on the evidence provided," ruled Superior Court Judge William Anklowitz, sitting in Mercer County, at about 7:40 p.m. — just 20 minutes before polls were scheduled to close. The New Jersey branches of the ACLU and League of Women Voters sought to keep polls open statewide until 9:30 p.m. to aid anyone who was unable to vote this morning due to the late-opening of a polling place or technological problems. "One voter in New Jersey not being able to cast their ballot is one voter too many. We've received many reports, so we think this is the only way to get to as many voters who were disenfranchised this morning as possible," said Elyla Huertas, an attorney for the ACLU. | 
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy speaks to supporters during an election night party in Asbury Park, N.J., early Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. | Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Photo | DEMSASTER — Murphy, Ciattarelli wind down election night parties with election result still in doubt, by POLITICO's Daniel Han and Carly: Gov. Phil Murphy closed down his election night party early Wednesday morning with the outcome still in doubt, apologizing to supporters that "we're going to have to wait a little while longer than we'd hoped" as Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli made something just shy of a victory speech. From the Grand Arcade at the Pavilion in Asbury Park, Murphy addressed an enthusiastic but increasingly smaller crowd, while assuring them victory was still in sight. "We're all sorry that tonight could not yet be the celebration we wanted it to be," he said. "But as I said, when every vote is counted, and every vote will be counted, we hope to have a celebration." — Oliver reassures 'victory is ours,' Republicans gain confidence in too-close-to-call governor's race SPORTS BETTING — New Jersey's ban on in-state college sports betting appears poised to remain, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: The ban on betting on New Jersey college sports teams and in-state athletic events appeared to be upheld as tallies early Wednesday projected that voters would reject a ballot question that would expand the state's gambling laws. As of 1 a.m. Wednesday, the Associated Press reported 56.5 percent of voters opposed amending the state constitution to allow wagering on in-state college sports teams and 43.5 percent were in favor with 95 percent of precincts reporting. Sports betting is allowed in New Jersey, but betting on in-state college sports teams or collegiate-level athletic events has been banned. The referendum was not a sure passage — polling in recent weeks showed voters were divided on the issue. BILLS, BILLS, BILLS – "Governor expected to sign, veto more than 40 bills by Thursday," by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov: "A flurry of bill signings and vetoes is expected from Gov. Phil Murphy before noon on Thursday, when a procedural deadline could make dozens of bills law without his signature. In New Jersey, bills that sit on the governor's desk for more than 45 days become law when the chamber they originated in next meets for a quorum. Now, that rule could spawn new laws on police body cameras, lead plumbing, and dozens of other topics … An Assembly bill allowing police officers to review body camera footage before filing reports remains on the governor's desk. Advocates for police transparency have warned against the bill, charging it would allow police officers to conceal wrongdoing by tailoring reports to footage captured by body-worn cameras. It's not clear whether the governor will veto that bill. He declined to give indication of how he would handle any of the 86 bills and four resolutions on his desk Monday. But he is expected to veto at least one measure. Murphy appears poised to conditionally veto S2559, which would require insurers reimburse customers for telehealth services at the same rate as in-person visits and bar carriers from restricting telehealth coverage based on its medium of deliverance, among other things." —" NJ election: How Gov. Phil Murphy handled COVID drives many voters" | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | |
| | BIDEN TIME | | COMPROMISE PROPOSAL: LOOSEN SALT CAP BUT KEEP IT ON TO TRICK CONSTITUENTS INTO SPOILING THEIR DINNER — "SALT-cap suspension for five years emerges as leading option," by Bloomberg's Laura Davison: "House Democrats are considering a five-year suspension of the cap on the federal state and local tax deduction before it's reinstated in 2026, according to people familiar with the negotiations, a move that may let lawmakers argue expanding the tax break won't hurt revenue. That plan has become the leading option for dealing with the SALT deduction limit. It's one of several items still under negotiation for legislation to enact President Joe Biden's economic agenda as lawmakers from the Northeast and other high-tax areas push to suspend or significantly raise the cap.The cap would be suspended from 2021 to 2025 under this plan, according to a Ways and Means Committee aide. The $10,000 cap would then be reinstated from 2026 to 2030, the person said. Because the cap is currently scheduled to end in 2025, moving the restriction to a different five-year block within the 10-year budget window would let Democrats claim that the move doesn't add to the deficit. However, Democrats say they hope to repeal the cap completely by then, though there is no guarantee they'll have the majorities in Congress to do so." 30 DAYS FOR CAPITOL RIOT — " Prosecutors want jail time for N.J. woman who entered U.S. Capitol during riot," by NJ Advance Media's Kevin Shea : "Federal prosecutors have suggested 30 days of incarceration for an Essex County woman who's pleaded guilty to being at the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 of this year. In a sentencing memo filed in her case, a prosecutor also suggests a $500 fine for Rasha Abual-Ragheb. The Fairfield resident pleaded guilty in August to parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol - a misdemeanor. She is scheduled to be sentenced next week, in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Her lawyer will argue for no time behind bars." | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | LOCAL | | VAAD NEWS — "Ciattarelli wins Lakewood In Spite Of Murphy's Vaad endorsement," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: " Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli has won Lakewood, one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the state, over Gov. Phil Murphy in tonight's gubernatorial election. The fact that the township, which gave Donald Trump his highest percentage of the vote of any municipality in the state last year, voted for a Republican wouldn't be news – except that Murphy had the endorsement of the Vaad, a coalition of Orthodox Jewish leaders who have immense influence in the predominantly Jewish township." JERSEY CITY MAKE IT BEZOS' — " Amazon targets Jersey City for major office space expansion," by Bloomberg's Natalie Wong: "Amazon.com Inc. is looking to add office space in New Jersey as it expands in the New York City region. The e-commerce giant is close to a deal for roughly 400,000-square feet ... of space on the Jersey City waterfront, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. It's targeting a building called Harborside 1 at a Mack-Cali Realty Corp. complex. A representative for Mack-Cali declined to comment. Amazon didn't respond to a request for comment. Amazon has been expanding in New York despite the collapse of its plan to build a second headquarters in Queens in 2019 … Companies taking space at Harborside can access tax breaks, according to Mack-Cali's website. Jersey City had pitched itself for Amazon's second headquarters, offering as much as $5 billion in economic incentives." TRUTH DEFICIT — "State Education Department turns down Paterson schools' request for $28M in aid," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "The state Education Department has rejected the city schools' application for $28 million in so-called "stabilization aid," a one-time infusion of funding the school district hoped to use to eliminate overcrowding in as many as 800 classes. Facing criticism from the teachers' union over the rejection, district officials over the weekend issued a statement saying they knew along that they didn't meet the eligibility requirements for the education funding, saying Paterson Public Schools has "no structural deficit." But Paterson Schools Superintendent Eileen Shafer said otherwise in a Sept. 21 letter to the state Department of Education, asking for the $28 million in stabilization, citing what she called the district's "structural deficit" multiple times. Shafer said in that letter that the district would use the extra money to hire an additional 183 teachers because so many Paterson classes have more than 30 students enrolled. 'Due to the above reasons, and our ongoing structural deficit, the Paterson Public Schools is in urgent need and requests this stabilization aid to help offset expenditure increases that increase at a higher rate than additional revenues,' Shafer said in her September letter. After Paterson Press asked the district about the apparent contradiction between Shafer's letter and this past weekend's statement, officials removed the latter from the district's website and later replaced the statement with something that did not address the issue of the structural deficit at all." —"Joshi leads Hahn In Edison: Unofficial 2021 election results" —" Marlboro Republicans lead incumbent Democrats for three council seats" —"Hunterdon County is getting its first medical marijuana dispensary" —" Lacey voters narrowly reject cannabis businesses" —"Solar fields project to meet electricity needs for Camden firms" —" Tinton Falls 97-year-old Mayor Vito Perillo wins re-election" —"Red Bank rival Democrats win, voters OK commission to look at new government" | | EVERYTHING ELSE | | GET WELL SOON — "Actor Kristy Swanson hospitalized with COVID-related pneumonia in N.J.," by NJ Advance Media's Amy Kuperinsky: "Actor Kristy Swanson says she is being treated at a New Jersey hospital for COVID-19-related pneumonia. Swanson starred in the 1992 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' movie … Swanson, 51, went on to say she was at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly, and that she was 'at the tail end' of a COVID-19 diagnosis "when it jumped into my lungs … Swanson has spread misinformation about COVID-19 on social media … But Swanson denies being against the vaccine. "I have NEVER said I am anti-vax," she tweeted. It's unclear if she was vaccinated for COVID-19 before she developed complications. The actor has circulated conspiracy theories about Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases." —Boyer: "New statewide group created to reduce police role in mental health, overdose crisis | Opinion" —"Lifelong disability from prenatal injury led doctor to refuse COVID shot. Now he's fired" —"Philip Roth's work canceled? It shouldn't be. | Opinion"
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment