News : POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Great, another N.J. governor with national ambitions

Monday, July 18, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Great, another N.J. governor with national ambitions

Jul 18, 2022

Presented by Rise Light & Power

Good Monday morning!

New Jersey's governor is now the governor of governors. Well, not really. But Phil Murphy is now the chair of the National Governors Association, and given that there's not a whole lot of direct power that comes with the role, most of the coverage of his ascendancy is focused on what it means for his presidential ambitions. I don't think it will increase his visibility to the general public, but maybe a bit in national politics.

Despite what he says publicly , the governor's moves suggest he's at least holding out a presidential run as a possibility, and the people close to him don't deny it. He'll also be back in charge of the Democratic Governors Association soon, and he's got the super PAC and dark money group working for him.

But there's been at least some chatter about the national ambitions of every recent New Jersey governor — at least the elected ones. I had to look it up, but that's going back at least to Christie Whitman. It's kind of hard to imagine, but people even thought Gov. Jon Corzine had national ambitions. And there are, of course, Sens. Bill Bradley and Cory Booker.

But it's been 110 years since anyone who came up in New Jersey politics won a presidential election.

Former Gov. Chris Christie almost got the timing right. His rise coincided with a national popular interest in New Jersey, which South Park portrayed so well less than a year into Christie's governorship. But you don't need me to tell you about why that faded, and while the former governor is still teasing a 2024 run, he's not even an afterthought in the polls so far. Booker wasn't weighed down by the kind of baggage Christie was, but his 2020 campaign didn't resonate enough to even make it to Iowa.

New Jersey is often unfairly maligned. But when it comes to politics, I think its reputation is deserved. I wonder how much that cripples our politicians' presidential ambitions.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 152

WHERE'S MURPHY? Italy

WHERE'S OLIVER? In Atlantic City for a 1 p.m. discussion with the vice president and others

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The rules are designed to protect big companies, they're trying to protect people that have spent lots and lots of money on liquor licenses." — Jersey City Councilmember James Solomon on the restrictive new brewery rules from the state.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — State Sen. Ed Durr, Cooper's Susan Bass Levin

A message from Rise Light & Power:

The Clear Choice for NJ Clean Energy — What would advance New Jersey as a national leader in the fight against climate change and repurpose a decades-old brownfield? Transforming the site of a former coal plant into a gateway for offshore wind with strong community support. That's the Outerbridge Renewable Connector, an "extension cord" connecting clean offshore wind energy to New Jersey's power grid.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

BRING OUT THE HELM MAN — Murphy takes helm of NGA, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday took the helm of the National Governors Association, launching his term with a message of bipartisanship and commitment to address youth mental health issues. Murphy, a self-styled diplomatic progressive, has been steadily raising his national profile in recent months , fueling rumors that he could be a potential 2024 candidate should President Joe Biden decide not to seek a second term. Murphy's NGA speech on Friday in Portland, Maine, emphasized themes of bipartisanship and finding "common ground" between red states and blue states. "I do not expect that, over the course of the next year, any of us are going to take off our hats as either 'Democrats' or 'Republicans.' In fact, I know we each wear these hats, and the respective underlying ideals they espouse — with great pride," Murphy said, according to prepared remarks. "But I ask that we endeavor to look below these hats — and at each other's faces — and recognize that we are partisans third, governors second, and Americans first and foremost."

THE MANE EVENT — "Phil Murphy trolls Texas on abortion. Why not Florida?" by The Record's Charles Stile: "he chances of companies pulling up stakes, one corporate relocation expert told me, are slim, but that represents only a piece of what is at play here. The governor's op-ed and his accompanying letter-writing campaign is good for the evolving Murphy for President brand. Needling Texas — an easy right-wing foil — is part of a recent and steady 2024 rollout that has included campaign-style ads produced and financed by Murphy's dark money allies, his ascendancy to high-profile national governors' posts and Murphy's telegenic makeover showcasing his suddenly resurgent hair follicles. But it was also a tame bit of trolling. Compare it with Gavin Newsom, the California governor, who took aim at Gov. Ron DeSantis … In a 30-second spot aired in Florida television markets over the July Fourth weekend, a deceivingly disarming Newsom was a governor about to set his overly moussed hair on fire … Murphy is casting himself as an aggressive salesman for New Jersey. But Newsom understands that those in the aggrieved Democratic base don't want a salesman, knocking on doors and offering the welcome wagon. They want someone who is ready to kick down the doors."

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WHAT ABOUT BOB? — "From Jack to Sweeney to ... Tammy Murphy? Our way-too-early list of potential 2025 candidates for N.J. governor," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson and Matt Arco: "ROBERT MENENDEZ: This one's a wild card. The U.S. senator hasn't shown public interest in a gubernatorial bid, but there has been chatter. He carries baggage, of course, having faced corruption charges that the U.S. Justice Department later dropped. Still, he's a household name in New Jersey, having won multiple statewide elections. And he's a powerful figure in Washington, chairing the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee. One source said Menendez would "clear the field" if he ran for the Democratic nomination. TAMMY MURPHY This one is a wild card. But, again, there has been talk. It's not out of the question. New Jersey's first lady has been a very visible presence the last five years, serving as a top adviser to her husband, often appearing alongside him at news conferences, delivering speeches of her own, and championing her own causes. The question is: If Phil Murphy is going to seek the presidency or any position in Washington or beyond, will Tammy Murphy want to stay in the Garden State?"

—"Panel may explore loosening mail-in ballot election challenge rule "

—"NY and NJ poured millions into new 988 mental health hotline — which could help out-of-staters, too."

—"Meeting across the river: How a sting at a trendy restaurant allegedly led to an ice cream bag full of cash"

—" Transgender woman who impregnated 2 inmates removed from N.J.'s female prison"

—"These major commuter hubs are part of NJ Transit's $814M overhaul plan "

—"How recreational marijuana impacted New Jersey's medical pot program"

—Brendan Gill: "To assure the integrity of our elections, New Jersey must mandate the use of paper ballots"

—Hennelly: " Murphy's paper thin climate change agenda"

—"N.J. breweries getting hammered by strict state rules, owners say"

A message from Rise Light & Power:

BIDEN TIME

2024 — "'Governors are the C.E.O.s': State leaders weigh their might," by The New York Times' Katie Glueck: "[P]rivately and to some degree publicly, Democrats are chattering about who else could succeed if Mr. Biden does not ultimately run again. A long list of governors — with varying degrees of youth — are among those mentioned, including Mr. Murphy, Mr. Pritzker, Mr. Newsom and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, if she wins her re-election. Some people around Mr. Cooper hope he will consider running if Mr. Biden does not. Pressed on whether that would interest him, Mr. Cooper replied, 'I'm for President Biden. I do not want to go there.' Indeed, all of those governors have stressed their support for Mr. Biden. But the poll this week threw into public view some of the conversations happening more quietly within the party."

—"Murphy takes over governors association amid tensions, feuds"

—" VP Harris to visit N.J. Monday to speak at NAACP national convention"

—Carino: " Navy SEALs 'Hell Week' could boost medical care thanks to Kyle Mullen's Manalapan mom"

—"In Atlantic City, NAACP leaders ready to fight the GOP in coming midterm elections"

LOCAL

WHEN IT COMES TO INSPIRING NO CONFIDENCE, THE PATERSON PD HAVE BECOME EXPERTS — "Police unions vote 'no confidence' in Passaic County Prosecutor, call for resignation ," by The Record's Steve Janoski: "In a stunning rebuke of Passaic County's top law enforcement officer, representatives of police unions throughout the county have lodged a vote of 'no confidence' in longtime prosecutor Camelia Valdes and demanded her immediate resignation, according to an open letter written by the county's PBA conference and obtained Friday by The Record and NorthJersey.com. In the two-page letter, conference members say Valdes has ineffectively staffed her office, devoted resources to investigating her own officers while neglecting actual criminal investigations and demonstrated 'little concern for the effective administration of her duties.' 'Her shocking lack of insight and judgment into her own actions renders her ill-suited for this crucial leadership position,' the letter says … Valdes' staffing choices have left prosecutors and other county officers inaccessible to outside agencies when they are needed, the letter said. It also accused her of prioritizing internal investigations over criminal investigations."

RETURN OF THE MACK — " Critics wonder if congresswoman's family helped Ralphiel Mack land Mercer County Parks job," by The Asbury Park Press' Isaac Avilucea : "Crime doesn't pay but having political connections does. Convicted briber Ralphiel Mack found that out firsthand after landing a $60K gig as an administrative assistant for the Mercer County Park Commission, months after he was canned by the Department of Community Affairs when news broke that the state agency had quietly hired him. In his new role with the county, Mack is working in the same department headed by Park Commission Executive Director Aaron Watson, the brother of Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Keeping it all in the family, sources told The Trentonian that the brother of former Trenton Mayor Tony Mack was once married to Heather Watson, the daughter of the congresswoman's brother, Bill, a local political powerbroker who was once chief of staff to ex-Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer."

HOUSING — "How Jersey suburbs have created a housing crisis," by The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran: "A classic case is unfolding now in Englewood Cliffs, where a developer wants to replace an enormous vacant office building, once a headquarters for Unilever, with 450 units of housing, 20 percent of which would be set aside for lower-income families. It's zoned for commercial use only, and for seven years, the borough has fought like a cornered wildcat to keep it that way, even vacant. Englewood Cliffs had not built a single unit of affordable housing in 50 years … The happy news is that Englewood Cliffs keeps losing in court, under the daffy direction of its crazed mayor, Mario Kranjac, who was once censured by his council for threatening to punch the borough attorney. He resists all compromise, fumes about 'socialism,' and hurls insults at council members during meetings that can drag past midnight. The latest court decision came Friday, and it was a slam dunk. It was based on the state Supreme Court's Mt. Laurel rulings, which force suburbs to open their doors at least a crack. 'The time for delaying Constitutional compliance is over,' the Appellate Division found. 'The borough has no right of further appeal.' … Welcome as it is, the win in Englewood Cliffs amounts to one small victory in a town-by-town fight. If it takes seven years to win each battle over zoning, the war will be lost. Because the scale of the housing shortage is daunting and getting worse."

N.J. PLAYBOOK ANNOUNCES THE FORMATION OF A NEW GROUP CALLED NJSTRALIETSTAE: N.J. SOCIETY TO REDUCE ACRONYM LENGTH IN EFFORT TO SAVE TIME AND ENERGY — "Pleasantville school board, teachers reject social studies textbooks over diversity concerns," by The Press of Atlantic City's Chirstopher Doyle : "On Tuesday, the Pleasantville Board of Education voted down a resolution to purchase McGraw Hill social studies textbooks. The decision came after teachers and parents said the textbooks would fall short of the state diversity standards for education they were working to introduce into classrooms. Tamar LaSure-Owens, director of the district's Amistad, Holocaust and Latino heritage — or AMHOTINO — curriculum, spoke at the school board meeting against the textbooks. LaSure-Owens, who is responsible for implementing state standards for the district, said she did not have confidence the textbooks appropriately taught the histories of marginalized groups and that they would be incongruous with the district's broader curriculum."

—"Denville man charged with threatening congregants at Deal synagogue"

—Mulshine: " Hold that tiger - and those warehouses"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

SHOCKINGLY, CALLING EVERYONE YOU DISAGREE WITH A 'PEDO' TENDS TO ALIENATE THEM — "Some new college grads are ditching plans to become N.J. teachers. Here's why," by NJ Advance Media's Camille Furst: "Joely Torres comes from a family of teachers. Her aunt, cousin and older sister all teach in New Jersey public schools … But after spending time in classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic and witnessing nationwide controversies surrounding curriculum, Torres is abandoning her plans to become a teacher. 'When COVID first hit, everyone was praising teachers. And now we see this war on education,' said Torres, 23. 'And it just seems so thankless.' Torres is among a number of recent college graduates in New Jersey who studied education but have decided not to become teachers. Their reasons vary, but experts say some students are giving up on their plans to teach over concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, well-publicized fights over race and gender curriculum and a general lack of support for educators in the classroom. In New Jersey in recent months, teachers have had to face controversies over masking in schools, the implementation of the state's new sex education curriculum, complaints over how racial issues are taught in the classroom and campaigns to remove controversial books from school libraries. Torres said she's concerned that education has become 'hyper-politicized.'"

ENVIRONMENT — "Conservation group blasts offshore wind project," by NJ Spotlight News' Tom Johnson: "One of New Jersey's most prominent conservation organizations urged the federal government to hold off approving the state's first offshore wind farm, calling it a step toward massive industrialization of the ocean. Instead, representatives of Clean Ocean Action recommended a smaller pilot project be considered first before the state builds a large offshore wind farm capable of supplying more than a half-million people with electricity."

—" Nearly all residents moved from site of deadly COVID outbreak,"

—"Hear ye, hear ye: Medieval Times cast forms its first-ever union in NJ"

—"N.J. teen spends a month near war zone documenting 'Cost of War' to Ukrainian refugees"

A message from Rise Light & Power:

The Outerbridge Renewable Connector (Outerbridge) – a proposal before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities – would enable the state to harness offshore wind energy by repurposing an abandoned brownfield, revitalizing an industrial-zoned waterfront, and supporting the local and state economy without impacting our beaches.

Outerbridge, proposed by Rise Light & Power, would be an underground electrical transmission project functioning as an "extension cord" and connecting energy generated by offshore wind farms to New Jersey's power grid. Outerbridge would support New Jersey's economic growth and resilience strategy. It is projected to deliver clean energy to 1.4 million homes and generate more than $1 billion in economic activity.

The project would minimize community disruption, protect environmentally sensitive areas and repurpose the past to power the future. Outerbridge would play a key role addressing the health and economic dangers of climate change while protecting the Jersey Shore we know and love.