News: Have you heard of this thing called 'the line'?

Friday, February 9, 2024

Have you heard of this thing called 'the line'?

Feb 09, 2024

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Good Friday morning!

With so few policy differences between Andy Kim and Tammy Murphy, the ballot benefit of the county line has dominated the race so far. Murphy is expected to have it in all but the more small-d democratic counties, where the decisions of political bosses don’t carry as much weight and candidates can genuinely compete for it.

On Thursday, Kim and two other candidates in the race — Patricia Campos Medina and Lawrence Hamm — sent letters to the 19 clerks and Democratic chairs of the counties that employ the line, asking them to instead set up their ballots with an “office block” design. Just two counties — Sussex and Salem — do not structure their ballots with the line.

“Party organizations will still be able to list the slogans of candidates, but the credibility of this primary necessitates your action to ensure that the election is seen as fair for all candidates – and for all voters – with a ballot that does not give any single candidate a state-conferred advantage by design,” read the letter to county clerks.

From what we’ve seen of this race so far, Tammy Murphy will need county lines. Kim has an early lead in the only public poll so far, and anyone paying attention can see he has a much more enthusiastic base of support.

In response, the Murphy campaign shot back that Kim was happy to accept the line in his congressional races. "All of the candidates in this race are actively seeking county lines and party support in this campaign by participating in screenings, forums, and earning votes at conventions,” Tammy Murphy spokesperson Alex Altman said. “Congressman Kim has also happily ran on county lines with party support in every single election he’s ever run in. Congressman Kim seems to be of the opinion that when he receives a county line it's OK, but when someone else does, it's not."

The candidates didn’t invite Murphy to sign on to the letter. But she’d been asked directly during a Morris County event a few weeks ago whether she would forgo it. She avoided answering the question directly. “We’ve got a great New Jersey primary system that is set up by statute. That’s what it is right now. If the statute should change, then we all operate under a different system,” she said.

My understanding is that the law on whether a county has to structure its ballots with the line is somewhat gray, though it can’t be too strict if two counties don’t do it. But a follow-up question at the Morris event made clear that Murphy could choose independently to disavow the line. And experts I spoke to — Rutgers Professor Julia Sass Rubin and Brett Pugach, the lead attorney on a lawsuit challenging the line’s constitutionality — agreed that’s the case.

“If all the Senate candidates decide none of us are going to bracket with anyone else, then you’re not going to have a county line as it pertains to those candidates,” he said.

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The plaintiff and her parents were told by the cashier that she would not serve their ‘white ass’” — A lawsuit that claims racial bias at an Atlantic City McDonalds in a 2019 incident. (Full disclosure: I have been to that McDonald’s and my white ass was indeed served)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — James Kennedy, Jeff Tittel, John Baldino, James Kennedy, Raphael Chavez-Fernandez, Steve Lieberman. Saturday for Phil Morin, Mark Bonamo, Kelly Redkoles. Sunday for Sam Beson, Samantha Marcus, Jermaine James . Missed Thursday: Mark Magyar, Lisa Jackson.

WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule

A message from McDonald's:

From 2021 to 2022, the McDonald’s System contributed over $830 million to New Jersey’s economy, supporting over 17,000 jobs statewide. McDonald’s presence in local communities throughout New Jersey generated nearly $150 million in federal, state and local tax revenue, providing funding for public schools, infrastructure, parks and more. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in New Jersey and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/nj.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

THOSE WHO CAN’T EXIST, TEACH — “Teachers still in short supply despite DOE efforts to repopulate classrooms,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Hannah Gross: “The New Jersey Department of Education shared a long list of what it says is being done to combat the ongoing teacher shortage at a State Board of Education meeting on Wednesday. But board members said the department needs to provide data to show whether the initiatives are moving the needle or if the current strategy needs rethinking. The shortage of teachers and other school staff has reached ‘crisis’ levels according to recent testimony from superintendents … ‘If we are investing these resources to these initiatives and they’re not having outcomes, certainly we ought to rethink the types of programs that we offer,’ board member Arcelio Aponte said. Aponte said this lack of data to back these assertions is part of a larger trend by the department in its presentations to the board.”

SHED A TEAR FOR THE ALPINE RESIDENT IN THE S CLASS — “New York’s $15 congestion pricing aims for mid-June start date,” by Bloomberg’s Chris Dolmetsch and Michelle Kaske: “New York could start charging drivers $15 to enter Manhattan as soon as mid-June, a lawyer for the state’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority told a judge at a hearing on New Jersey’s lawsuit to block the plan. The MTA may decide on the final tolling structure by the end of March, attorney Mark Chertok told Judge Leo Gordon during a status conference Tuesday in Newark. That would lead to several further steps in the approval process … While the MTA had said earlier that it could begin charging drivers as soon as late May or sometime in June, the lawyer’s comments in court Tuesday offer a clearer timeline. Gordon set oral arguments in New Jersey’s lawsuit for as soon as April 3, citing “the time pressures associated with this case.””

—“Port Authority OKs $210M in engineering, planning work on new NYC bus terminal”

—“Scutari picks Farias for top Senate staff post”

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BIDEN TIME

SHE’S CLEARLY GIVEN DEEP CONSIDERATION TO THE ISSUES — “MAGA Senate candidate scrubs entire campaign website after plagiarism,” by The New Republic’s Tori Otten: “Christine Serrano Glassner, a New Jersey mayor with ties to Donald Trump, announced her campaign in September. On her website, her platform covered multiple popular Republican talking points, including federal spending, the southern U.S. border, and Covid-19 policies. The thing is, almost the whole section was lifted word for word from Ohio Senator J.D. Vance’s website … When asked by The New Republic if she could explain the similarities, Serrano Glassner blamed a campaign worker. ‘While we are big fans of J.D. Vance and his America First policies, we would never intentionally replicate content from his or any website. That was the work of a campaign volunteer who posted some Vance issues content onto our website without proper approvals,’ Serrano Glassner’s campaign said in a statement … Immediately after responding to TNR, Serrano Glassner’s team deleted all the copied sections from her website, leaving up just three issues that Vance had not discussed.”

— State Sen. Jon Bramnick, who’s staked on an anti-Trump position as a candidate for governor in 2025, nevertheless backs pro-MAGA Glassner and introduced her at the Union County GOP convention Thursday night. “She’s a personal friend of mine. I agreed many, many months ago to support her, and I do,” Bramnick told me. ‘Some of my best friends are 100 percent Trumpers. I play golf with them, talk with them. That doesn’t mean we agree on how Trump handles things.”

—"Union County GOP Goes For Serrano Glassner"

THE POLITICS OF EXCLUSION — “What happened to moderate Tom Kean Jr.? On immigration deal, he went full MAGA,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “It was only a few short years ago that Tom Kean Jr., a Republican candidate for Congress, hit the airwaves striding through a supermarket in a plaid shirt, promising to bring a sober style of bipartisan governance to Washington … But … Kean-the-moderate-voice was spouting MAGA talking points as he defended his vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for failing to halt the historic flow of immigrants across the U.S. border with Mexico … ‘I believe [Mayorkas’] actions, from the very moment he took office, were a willful and systemic refusal to comply with federal law and a clear breach of public trust,’ Kean wrote in a statement, recycling language used Tuesday by other Republicans … It’s just the kind of environment that the freshman Kean vowed to resist with reason and compromise. But here was Kean, a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, supporting the agenda of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the chief MAGA flamethrower.”

ENGENDERING CONTROVERSY — “In Senate race, gender sparks debate about abortion rights,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “In primary contests where candidates often align on the issues, races can be won or lost on who crafts the more effective social identity. First Lady Tammy Murphy tried to do just that last weekend, when she said her gender makes her a better abortion rights crusader than Rep. Andy Kim. ‘I don’t think a man is going to put a priority on abortion and getting, codifying that at the federal level,’ Murphy told Monmouth County Democrats at a U.S. Senate candidate forum on Saturday. ‘That’s going to take a female who is worried about the next shoe dropping, and that’s me.’ But framing can be a tricky thing, as Murphy quickly learned when her comments rankled political observers on social media … It was a surprising approach for a candidate whose male spouse, Gov. Phil Murphy, so prioritizes abortion rights that he codified them in New Jersey and is reviled by antiabortion activists as ‘truly obsessed with abortion.’”

—“Previewing the high-stakes Monmouth County Democratic convention”

—“Schoengood announces campaign team in NJ-3”

A message from McDonald's:

LOCAL

AGGRIEVEDY — “McGreevey hosts first Jersey City Town Hall, which ends with an inconvenient Truth,” by Hudson County View’ John Heinis: “Former Gov. Jim McGreevey hosted his first Jersey City Town Hall yesterday as part of his campaign for mayor, and while it was a pleasant, civil discussion for two hours, it ended with a YouTuber raining on his parade just before the event concluded … After running just past 8 p.m., it appeared that the event had gone off without a hitch, productive at best and uneventful at worst. However, Leonard Filipowski, better known as Leroy Truth Investigations, had other plans, as he asked McGreevey if he would kick Justin Mercado, the Union City Board of Education secretary, off of his campaign after he allegedly assaulted him … ‘This has to do with the integrity of Mr. McGreevey’s campaign,' Filipowski said. Shortly thereafter, Heights resident and McGreevey team member David Cruz briefly got members of the crowd to chant 'McGreevey’ as the situation escalated, with attendees circling Filipowski to try to get the microphone as he told them to back off. 'Don’t even give him any attention!' another attendee shouted.”

CAUSING INDIGESTION IN TUMS RIVER — “Toms River mayor: I don't need council vote, I cut police captain jobs myself,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “Mayor Daniel Rodrick said he has rescinded promotions in the township's police department, and has instructed police Chief Mitch Little to create "a new table of organization based on the current staffing level of one captain and one deputy chief." The mayor said that his action eliminates the need for the police department's staffing to be addressed by the Township Council's adoption of a controversial ordinance, although he said the council may still choose to vote on it anyway … The elimination of the two captains' jobs will help the township save about $700,000 in salaries, pension payments and health benefits, money that will be used to hire eight new emergency medical technicians … Two demonstrations against the ordinance were held last week, and a petition drive aimed at either repealing the measure if it is adopted, or placing it on the ballot as a referendum question, is ongoing in town.”

PATERSON COPS — “18 Paterson cops suspended in 2023 as discipline rises under NJ attorney general's watch,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “The New Jersey attorney general’s takeover of the Paterson Police Department brought a dramatic increase in discipline imposed on city cops during 2023, according to internal affairs reports. The number of officers suspended without pay jumped from one during 2022 to 18 in 2023, sustained complaints against Paterson cops soared from two to 47, and violations filed by the department against its own members rose from 16 to 43. The overall rate for sustained complaints went from 3% in 2022 to 20% last year, the IA reports show … … A spokesperson for the department said Paterson IA has broadened its investigative approach since the state intervention.”

NOT THAT DIFRANCESCO — “Sources: DiFrancesco making calls to run for Somerset GOP chair,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “Vice-Chairwoman Tracy DiFrancesco is making calls to run against sitting Somerset GOP Chair Tim Howes, sources tell InsiderNJ. DiFrancesco is the daughter of former Governor Donald DiFrancesco. In 2022 Howes’ colleagues gave him a second term as Somerset County Republican chairman. But it’s been bumpy. Members of the Somerset County Republican Organization at a special meeting in June passed a resolution expressing “no confidence” in Chairman Howes. Now, DiFrancesco is following up on division in the ranks, and seeking to hear people concerned about fundraising and filing woes within the organization”

—“Source: Speziale putting out feelers on a return to the sheriff’s saddle”

—“Judges uphold $1.5M award to Sea Girt ex-cop who claimed anti-military bias”

—“Paterson cop Kevin Patino takes misdemeanor plea deal in two assaults”

—“[Egg Harbor City] looks to repair statue of peace activist, possibly damaged by vandalism”

—“Vineland school board votes to repeal transgender student policy”

—“Megan Moench might run for Somerset County commissioner”

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EVERYTHING ELSE

WE KNOW WHERE ELMO LIVES — “Remember Elmo’s viral tweets? They were fueled by this [Hoboken] woman,” by NJ Advance Media’s Saleah Blancaflor: “Remember a few weeks ago when Elmo went viral for checking in with folks on X (formerly Twitter) and the users trauma dumped on the beloved red puppet? If you don’t here’s a refresher: Elmo posted on his account at the end of January, ‘Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?’ only to be met with a slate of responses from users who addressed financial struggles amid the current economy, existential crises, battle with mental and physical health issues and much more … The woman behind the account is Christina Vittas, 25, from Hoboken, who has worked for ‘Sesame Workshop’ since 2019.”

—“Ricardo, the runaway NJ Transit bull, is coming back to Jersey. Here’s how to welcome him home”

—“International Sumo League comes to NJ, led by Clifton's 'Great Sandstorm'”

—“'It's humiliating:' NJ's Seeing Eye pushes back as more businesses turn away service dogs”

—“Driver who killed 2 in crash during Wildwood H2oi car rally sentenced to 25 years in prison”

A message from McDonald's:

McDonald’s is an economic engine for the state of New Jersey, contributing over $830 million to our state’s economy, directly employing nearly 13,800 New Jerseyans and supporting an additional 3,200 jobs statewide. It’s also an engine of opportunity: 1 in 8 independent McDonald’s operators in New Jersey began their careers as restaurant crew members, generating wealth for their families and local communities. We are proud to support New Jersey through public schools, parks and more from the nearly $150 million in federal, state and local tax revenue generated by the McDonald’s System’s activities. And thanks to the generosity of McDonald’s customers and owner/operators, the $660,000 raised through Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2022 provided over 6,600 overnight stays for families with children receiving medical care in New Jersey. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in New Jersey and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/nj.