News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: N.J. Dems' big cash advantage

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: N.J. Dems' big cash advantage

Oct 19, 2022

Presented by Anbaric Development Partners

Good Wednesday morning!

It looked like a Republican wave year. Then, post Dobbs, it didn't. Now some polling indicates Republicans once again have the advantage.

But New Jersey's House candidate fundraising doesn't reflect the latter.

Democrats in the state's four most competitive House districts, all incumbents, have a 10-fold cash advantage over their Republican challengers. Democrats in those districts as of Oct. 1 had $23 million in the bank to Republicans' $2.3 million (Subtract the absurdly-large $14 million Josh Gottheimer has on-hand, it's more like a 4-1 Democratic cash advantage). And three of those Republicans have also loaned their campaigns about $2 million.

There are some big caveats. Incumbents, of course, have a huge fundraising advantage. And Open Secrets data shows Republican independent expenditures are bigger than Democratic ones. National Republican groups, for instance, are spending millions to boost Tom Kean Jr.'s campaign against Tom Malinowski, and Bob Healey's mom's super PAC has spent about $2.7 million to boost him.

But in two districts that were earlier in the cycle considered at least marginally-competitive, Republican fundraising hasn't caught on. Will Republican donors kick themselves if this does turn out to be a wave year and those districts were more winnable than they thought?

Read my analysis of fundraising data here .

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 255

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

WHERE'S MURPHY? — Utah, then Nevada

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'm happy for anybody to come and stand with me to deliver for voters in my district. The former president came to my district repeatedly to play golf." — Rep. Tom Malinowski on Meet the Press NOW on Tuesday, responding to a question about whether he would want President Biden to campaign with him.

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

EXXON LOOKS FORWARD TO SETTLING FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR IN 10 YEARS — New Jersey sues major oil companies, claiming they deceived public about climate change , by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: New Jersey on Tuesday became the latest state to sue major oil companies, alleging they deceive the public about climate change. … The case was filed in state Superior Court in Mercer County by the Attorney General's Office, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Consumer Affairs. … The lawsuit names Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and other the major oil companies, as well as the American Petroleum Institute, the industry trade group.

FLOODING — " NJ homeowners are using old flood data to protect their homes, putting 'lives at risk' ," by The Asbury Park Press' Amanda Oglesby: "Jersey Shore homeowners will find their homes — built based on old flood records — will be insufficiently protected from future storms as sea levels rise and storms grow in intensity, say flood hazard experts. And while promised new state rules could force new construction to build higher and outside of the flood zones, they remain mired in thorny disputes between homeowners, business groups and government, delaying their release indefinitely … Federal flood insurance rate maps are often the tools used to guide storm- and flood-resistant construction along the Jersey Shore. Yet numerous experts, and even New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection, say the data used in the maps is in many cases out of date and fails to consider rising water levels along the coast … Detailed regulation proposals focused on where to restrict new construction and how high the new building codes in flood zones will be in the future remain in discussion. Jennifer Coffey, executive director of the New Jersey Association of Environmental Commissions, a group that educates appointees who advise municipal officials on local environmental decisions, said she worked with the DEP to draft the proposed regulations and expressed frustration when they were not released earlier this summer. Without action, people will continue to live in harm's way, she said."

—" DEP drops 'emergency' plan in new public sessions on inland flood rule "

—" 10 years after Sandy, NJ eyes development rules that expect more flooding from climate change "

VALDES SPRINGS A LEAK — " Passaic County prosecutor must resign, state senator says ," by The Record's Steve Janoski: "A North Jersey state senator has called for Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes to resign after allegations that Valdes abused a staff member and refused to investigate a group of Paterson police officers who later admitted in federal court that they beat and robbed people in Paterson. State Sen. Kristin Corrado — a Totowa Republican and former Passaic County clerk who represents the state's 40th Legislative District — said in a Tuesday statement that she has a 'lengthy list of concerns' about the embattled prosecutor, whom Corrado said no longer has the trust of the public or law enforcement."

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THEATER NERD PRETENDS TO LIKE SPORTS — " Phil Murphy gets roasted on twitter for congratulating Eagles and Phillies for their victories while completely ignoring wins by Giants and Jets ," by Mediaite's Luke Kane: "Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ) received backlash on Twitter after he congratulated the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies on their wins — but not the teams that play in New Jersey … 'It was an unbelievable weekend for @Eagles and @Phillies sports fans in New Jersey. Congratulations to both teams on two incredible games!' the tweet read … Murphy's tweet did not sit well with some users who might look at the Giants or Jets as New Jersey's football team."

—" Get your head out of your app! Snarky overhead signs debut on N.J. roadways "

—" 'I've never seen this happen': NJ spends $20M to help manufacturers buy equipment "

—" Environmentalists say NJ Transit's plan to add 550 diesel buses will make air pollution worse in cities "

—" NJ Transit plans to fix five stations for disability compliance. Here's where and why "

—" State tax collections are on an upswing through first quarter of fiscal year "

BIDEN TIME

THAT WOULD ONLY MAKE HIM STRONGER — " Carol Murphy calls DeSantis a human trafficker, asks Assembly to condemn him ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Assembly Majority Whip Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel) wants the legislature to condemn Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for sending migrant to Martha's Vineyard, saying the potential Republican presidential candidate is guilty of human trafficking when he put 50 asylum seekers on a plane and sent them to Massachusetts to protest the number of migrants living in his state. 'The actions taken by Governor DeSantis violates federal law, our collective American spirt, morality and even reaches the criminality of human trafficking as defined by The Department of Homeland Security,' Murphy stated. 'The politically-motivated exploitation of these individuals, who are already facing the direst of circumstances, should never be tolerated and the despicable actions of Governor DeSantis are shamefully unpatriotic to the core.'"

A message from Anbaric Development Partners:

LOCAL

HIS BALLOT SLOGAN IS 'STOP THE WOKENESS' — " Ex-Cranford cop, current school board candidate, abused woman: lawsuit ," by Patch: "A 2014 lawsuit against former Cranford Police Officer and current candidate for Board of Education Brian Lopez obtained by Patch accuses him of abusing a woman after she was arrested by police in 2012. The lawsuit filed by a Cranford woman accuses Lopez of threatening to strip search her and brutally beating her in February 2012. According to reports and the Cranford Police Department, the lawsuit ended in a large settlement for the woman in 2015 … Lopez previously ran for Board of Education in 2019. Cranford Police announced Lopez's retirement from the department in May of 2018 and congratulated him on 24 years of service."

WHEN YOU ADMIT TO TAKING A BRIBE AND KEEP YOUR PUBLIC JOB — " Former arson investigator and aide to public safety director pleads guilty to assault ," by The Jersey City Times' Aaron Morrill: "Michael Manzo, a former Jersey City arson investigator, City Council candidate, aide to Public Safety Director James Shea, and 'Operation Bid Rig' figure, has pled guilty to assaulting a man on Sip Avenue in 2020. According to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, Manzo and his son-in-law Kevin Fernandez, who participated in the assault, pled guilty in Friday to third degree Aggravated Assault. As part of the plea agreement, both men will be permitted to enter pretrial intervention at their sentencing in December, thus avoiding a jail sentence … In 2009, Manzo was one of 44 public figures arrested in the infamous Operation Bid Rig case, pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion. He admitted that he had accepted $5,000 from Solomon Dwek, a federal informant posing as a developer, in exchange for the promise of future help with a development on Garfield Avenue. At the time, Manzo was a candidate for Jersey City Council, a race he ultimately lost. Charges against Manzo were dropped when a court determined that the charges applied only to elected officials."

WU TANG FANS FORM 'PROTECTA YA TEANECK' SLATE — " Teaneck school race attracts 12 for 5 seats. Only 2 have children in the district ," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz: "At least four things stand out in the 12-candidate race for five seats on the township's nine-member school board next month. First, candidates indicate they are focused on post-pandemic priorities, especially restoring educational skill levels that lagged during COVID. There was no comment on the board's yearlong conflict with the district's superintendent who departed in June. Only Williams said "help in the transition of a new superintendent" as a priority. Second, candidates are eager to increase the board's transparency with the public, particularly on budget issues. Third, 10 of the 12 candidates support the state's mandates on the new health and sex education curriculum, and the board's right to set vaccine and mask requirements. Fourth, only two of the 12 have children in the public school system."

DENNY DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A GRAND SLAM — " Atlantic County faces steep hike in health insurance costs ," by The Press of Atlantic City's Michelle Brunetti Post: "Atlantic County government is facing a $4.2 million hike in health insurance costs in its next budget, due to the 22.8% premium increase imposed last month by the State Health Benefits Plan Commission, County Executive Dennis Levinson said Monday. The increase will translate to a county tax hike of about 1.17 cents per $100 valuation to cover current employees, and about 1.77 cents per $100 if all open positions are filled, according to Levinson. For a house valued at $300,000, the tax increase just to cover the health insurance hike would be $35 to $53. Particularly vexing to Levinson, the county's ranking elected official, was the late notice of the steep rate hike, which gave the county no time to adapt in time for its 2023 budget."

—Quigley: " No sympathy here for Bobby J "

—Parker:" Mercer Medical Center is a ghost of a healthy Trenton "

—" Upper Saddle River names acting mayor after Minichetti resigns "

—" Ex [Atlantic County] high school teacher had inappropriate relations with students, authorities allege "

—" 59-home Brick development faces stiff opposition, residents call it 'hugely destructive' "

—" In reversal, Paterson school board approves pay hikes for top brass "

—" Has Rochelle Park's school board race become more partisan? It could signal a larger trend "

—" Jersey City Cannabis Control Board approves 3 dispensary applications, tables 2 "

—" Pickleball pro tournament coming to Avalon "

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 .

EVERYTHING ELSE

THIS CONTROVERSY HAS TAUGHT NEW JERSEYANS THAT THERE'S MORE TO FENCING THAN SELLING STOLEN GOODS — " Teacher sues N.J. Olympian for saying she pulled hijab off 7-year-old's head ," by NJ Advance Media's Anthony G. Attrino: "The New Jersey teacher who faced a criminal investigation after an Olympian repeated allegations she pulled a hijab off a child's head has filed a lawsuit claiming the social media-fueled firestorm ruined her teaching career and led to threats on her life. Tamar Herman, a veteran teacher with the South Orange-Maplewood School District, says in court papers she was placed on administrative leave, had to move out of her home and required police protection after Ibtihaj Muhammad wrote about the hijab accusation on social media. Muhammad, a 2016 Olympic medalist in fencing and a Maplewood resident, wrote on social media in October 2021 that a teacher at Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood 'forcibly removed the hijab of a second-grade student,' according to court documents. Through her attorneys, Herman has steadfastly denied she pulled a hijab off a student's head."

ANOTHER KIND OF PAYWALL — " Study by six Gannett unions finds racial and gender pay inequities ," by Poynter's Angela Fu: "The median salary for journalists of color at six Atlantic-region Gannett shops is $11,500 less than that of their white counterparts, according to a NewsGuild pay study released Tuesday. That study, which covers roughly 200 reporters at nearly a dozen unionized papers, also found gender pay gaps of more than $8,000. The units representing those journalists — the Atlantic DOT Guild, APP-MCJ Guild, Hudson Valley News Guild, The Record Guild, Newspaper Guild of Rochester and Utica News Guild — put together the pay study after receiving employee salary and demographic data from Gannett in August. 'Gannett claims it is a beacon for diversity in the workplace. Our numbers prove otherwise,' the units write. 'If journalists of color stay at these Gannett papers, their pay plateaus. If female journalists stay, they can expect to be paid less than their male counterparts.'"

SOMEONE SHOULD MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THIS — " Stowaway! Garden snake removed from United Airlines flight at Newark Liberty ," by News 12 NJ: "There was an unwelcome passenger aboard a United Airlines Flight at Newark Liberty International Airport Monday afternoon. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirms that a garter snake was found on United Airlines flight 2038 which landed in Newark around 1:15 p.m. A passenger on that flight told News 12 New Jersey that as the plane was taxiing on the runway, passengers in business class started shrieking and pulling their feet up."

—" NJ casino, sports betting, online revenue up 7% in September "

—" Where's 'Stargirl'? Why Verizon Fios customers lost Channel 11 WPIX CW Network "

—" Historic N.J. funeral home — where Tony mourned his mom on 'The Sopranos' — could be demolished "

—" COVID-19 documents with patient names improperly discarded at N.J. hospital "

CORRECTION TO CORRECTION: In yesterday's edition correcting my earlier misspelling of Eatontown, I misspelled it as Eatentown. I'm sick of that town.

A message from Anbaric Development Partners:

Anbaric's Boardwalk Power Portfolio is strategically designed to deliver what's needed, when it's needed. As the state continues to expand its offshore wind target, implementing a planned transmission system to scale the delivery of energy from offshore wind to shore becomes increasingly critical to the success of the state's goals.

Our projects have been thoughtfully developed to move forward on day one in collaboration with the communities in which we will operate. Anbaric's Boardwalk Power Link leverages an ideal onshore location, significant permitting advantages, and unique partnerships to deliver energy from offshore wind turbines to shore and into the heart of New Jersey, via a route buried in the public right of way. Our planned transmission vision is ready to be made reality—to support industry growth and protect New Jersey's ratepayers and environment.

Read more about how Anbaric's experience as a planned transmission advocate sets our project apart.