| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Tuesday morning! I told you Monday we’d find out this week whether national Democrats will put money into the 7th District to help Democrat Sue Altman against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr.. And here’s the answer: Yes. The House Majority PAC plans to spend $4 million (0.44 mastros) — $3.6 million on TV and $400,000 on digital ads — during the final two weeks of the election. The NJEA is chipping in $500,000 toward the buy. “New Jersey residents in CD7 deserve a representative who will proudly stand up for New Jersey values, not someone who hides from constituents and cowers before Donald Trump. Sue Altman is proud of her pro-choice record, proud to stand with working families and proud to push back against the hate and harm of Project 2025,” NJEA President Sean Spiller, a Democratic candidate for governor in 2025, said in a statement. Her opponent is hiding from voters because he knows the Trump agenda is not what voters in CD7 want but he’s too scared to stand up for them. That’s why we are proud to partner with the House Majority PAC to help make sure CD7 elects Sue Altman.” While there’s been a lot of consternation online from progressives about the national party’s lack of involvement to this point, I doubt Democrats’ congressional super PAC would commit millions to a race just to shut the critics up. They appear to think it’s a winnable race. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Jon Boguchwal, Hank Kalet. Missed yesterday: Jane Asselta QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Somerville has been very good to my family and me.” — John F. Kennedy WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule
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THE END OF THE LINE — “The county line is dead. So why is the Legislature revisiting NJ ballots?” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Now that the county line is headed to the dustbin of state history, leaders of the Assembly have created a bipartisan committee that will explore new ways to design ballots for New Jersey primaries. The Legislature, which often operates with dead-of-night efficiency, now wants to hear from everybody — election experts, good government advocates who have led the crusade against the antiquated county line ballot and ‘hardworking professionals who ensure we have fair elections.’ The lawmakers want to do their homework on this one, it seems. … That sounds all well and good, but it's hard to puff up with pride and admiration for a Legislature that was anything but transparent in the past two years, ramming through a ‘transparency’ reform that opened the spigots of campaign cash for their own benefit, while closing the door earlier this year on public access to government records — a vital tool for the public and the press to keep tabs on the way state and local governments operate and spend and waste taxpayer money.”
LESSONS FROM AUSTRIA: YOU ARE 16 GOING ON 17. BABY, IT’S TIME TO VOTE — “ What happens when the voting age is lowered?” by NJ Spotlight News’ Hannah Gross: “While Newark’s school board elections in April will be the first time anyone under 18 can vote in New Jersey, 16- and 17-year-olds are able to vote in local elections in about a dozen U.S. cities and in all elections in some other countries. Their stories can provide a glimpse of what a lower voting age might mean for New Jersey’s elections … ‘The biggest lesson is probably it does not harm. Therefore, you can lower the voting age and there are no negative consequences that quite some people thought might arise,’ said Sylvia Kritzinger, a professor at Universität Wien in Vienna, who studies elections and voting behavior in Austria. Austria lowered the voting age in all elections from 18 to 16 in 2007, and almost two decades later, Kritzinger said there is widespread agreement that it was the right move.” —“New Jersey will require an average of 150 new affordable homes per town” —“There’s an odd connection between Ciattarelli campaign, his super PAC, and an America First group” —“ N.J. schools could be required to teach Hispanic and Latino history” —“New Jersey added 19,200 jobs in September” —“NTSB to issue report in fatal NJ Transit River Line crash next month” —“ Lawmakers seek regular review of state’s police use-of-force policy” —Opinion: “ To protect our workers and planet, we must implement heat standards now”
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THE TOM TOM CLUB — “Malinowski jumps feet first into CD-7 in support of Altman,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “Tom Malinowski knows something about CD-7 and it’s not all good. He was elected there in 2018 and won again in 2020 against Republican Tom Kean Jr. But he lost to Kean in 2022. There were two things of note in 2022. One was that redistricting made the district more Republican-leaning. The other was that probably because of that, national Democratic organizations failed to give Malinowski, who was an incumbent after all, the financial help he really needed. Now, Sue Altman is challenging Kean and polls show the race within two points. And the same thing is happening – or not happening – regarding financial assistance. … ‘He’s a national joke – literally,” Malinowski told about 100 people gathered in a downtown plaza. Malinowski said the only national attention Kean has gotten in Washington has been for standing silent in an elevator when a reporter tried to ask him questions.’”
OCEAN COUNTY WILL VOTE TO MAKE ITS NAME LITERAL — “ Harris v Trump: Who will do better to tackle climate change in NJ and beyond?” by The Record’s Ricardo Kaulessar: “Rutgers University professor Robert Kopp offered his assessment comparing a future Harris presidency to a future Trump presidency on climate change policy: ‘The choices are quite stark.’ The Harris administration, he said, ‘will not be perfect, but is oriented toward a more resilient country and world that works to stabilize climate.’ The Trump administration, he said, ‘wants to undo the progress of the last four years, strike the legislation that Congress has already passed, and actually disassemble a system for providing us the information we need to make decisions on adapting to climate change.’ … Stefan Becker, professor of environmental science at Ramapo College, said New Jersey is also impacted by climate change in particular ways. He cited how New Jersey temperatures have risen four degrees Fahrenheit since 1900, about twice the average rise globally, which he blamed in part on increased urbanization, such as the erecting of more high-rise buildings in cities that turn them into "urban heat islands." He then pointed out the sea level along the New Jersey coastline has risen more than 18 inches since the early 20th century.” —“ Will long COVID sway the 2024 election? These Rutgers researchers think it could” —“ Kean versus Altman, the nailbiter among NJ congressional races” —Hennelly: “CD-2 flashpoint: Van Drew versus Salerno”
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G. GORDON PETTY — “Readington GOP primary loser, loser’s wife charged with secretly recording political rival,” by MyCentralJersey’s Mike Deak: “Two women, including an unsuccessful candidate for Township Committee and the wife of another unsuccessful candidate, were charged Monday in what could be Readington's version of Watergate. Jacqueline Hindle, 49, who lost in June's hotly contested Republican primary for two Township Committee seats, and Christina Albrecht, 45, the wife of the other unsuccessful candidate, Ben Smith, have been charged by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office with an alleged scheme to record a private conversation between Mayor Adam Mueller and Deputy Mayor Vincent Panico at The Rail restaurant in Whitehouse Station. The two were charged with violating sections of the New Jersey Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act. According to the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, on July 8, township police were notified that an audio recording device was discovered on a metal fence surrounding the patio at The Rail. The subsequent investigation by township police and the Prosecutor’s Office found that on July 1, Albrecht allegedly placed the recording device on the fence at The Rail which captured the conversation between Mueller and Panico.”
STACKING THE DWEK — “ Monmouth prosecutor ends Allenhurst election probe,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Widlstein: “An investigation into non-partisan municipal elections last May in Allenhurst is over after the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office found no evidence of election fraud. Law enforcement had opened a probe after election officials became concerned over a voter registration surge after the number of eligible voters increased by nearly 75% in about one year. The 597 registered voters are 26% higher than the borough’s population, which was 472 after the 2020 U.S. Census. ‘An MCPO investigation into allegations that certain individuals may have improperly registered to vote and/or voted in a previous election in Monmouth County has concluded without the recovery of evidence of criminal activity or the filing of criminal charges,’ said their spokesman, Mark Spivy. … In this year’s non-partisan municipal election in Allenhurst, Mayor David McLaughlin and his two running mates lost by a greater than 2-1 margin against challengers Frieda Adjmi, Theresa Manziano-Santoro, and Joseph R. Dweck. Turnout was at 60.5%,” SEA FIGHT — “ 6 lawsuits: Why Highlands, Sea Bright, Oceanport and Shore Regional are fighting,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Amanda Oglesby: “Six lawsuits underscore a protracted legal war over where Sea Bright students will go to school. Now the battle moves to a new stage at the ballot box, where Highlands and Sea Bright residents will cast their votes on an initiative that -- once decided -- could cost Shore Regional High School and Oceanport schools millions of dollars. On Nov. 5, Sea Bright and Highlands voters will be asked whether elected officials should continue with a plan to bring Sea Bright students into Henry Hudson Regional schools as a way to lower taxes. Henry Hudson Regional currently serves students from Atlantic Highlands and Highlands. To accomplish that, Sea Bright must first manage to break its educational arrangements with Oceanport School District and Shore Regional High School. Lawyers for the latter districts are working through the courts to stop any attempts by Sea Bright to secede.” NEPTUNE GOVERNMENT SUGGESTS DEMS’ PICKS BETTER SUITED FOR URANUS — “Neptune Township Committee spurn local Democrats' picks to replace former mayor ,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Charles Daye: “For the third time in less than 12 months, the Neptune Township Committee has a vacant seat following the resignation of committeeman and former mayor Keith Cafferty on Sept. 30, but the current mayor and committee did not like the replacement choices provided by local Democrats … James Mowczan, municipal chair of the Neptune Township Democrats, told the Asbury Park Press that there are no replacements. ‘We are at an impasse," Mowczan said. "We have had a rough year with Township Committee personnel (in Neptune). Unfortunately, it has been a tough year party-wise. It is usually not that turbulent.’” —“This year Asbury Park school chief was fired and 34 jobs were cut. What should voters do?” —“ Atlantic County Board of Elections votes for more security camera coverage” —“ Funeral for Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office detective killed in home invasion set for Saturday” —“N.J. administrative law judge calls for reinstatement of ex-Hoboken fire chief” —“Unions plan Hoboken rally Tuesday amid CarePoint Health restructuring talks” —“ [Millburn] headed to court again in battle over affordable housing” ‘ —Snowflack: “Fighting it out for a Unifying Randolph Downtown ” —“Hunterdon animal control officer charged with dog theft, official misconduct” —“[Demarest] DPW worker was left disabled after co-workers' assault, suit says” —“ Jersey City has ARRIVE and Seabrooks-Washington programs, but is mental health crisis response still lacking?” —“Atlantic County commissioners race tests new 2nd District ” | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
MATERNAL MORTALITY — “ Why did Dreeah Austin die?” by NJ Spotlight News’ Lilo H. Stainton: “ Dreeah Austin gave birth to a healthy baby girl in early July. Two weeks later Austin, a 30-year-old Black woman, was dead, the likely victim of a blood clot that became trapped in her lungs. Like 9 out of 10 women killed by a pregnancy-related cause in New Jersey, Austin did not have to die, according to multiple perinatal experts. Austin was healthy herself, her fiancé Saladeen Merritt said, and after delivering their child, she took medication daily to reduce the risk posed by the clot. Now Austin has become one of the roughly two dozen women this year who will die after falling through a gap in New Jersey’s maternal health system. Merritt, a first-time dad, faces the future alone with their baby Sevyn. ‘They took everything away from me,’ Merritt told NJ Spotlight News. ‘I don’t know how I’m supposed to explain all this to our daughter.’ … Black women in New Jersey are nearly seven times more likely to die from pregnancy-related death — and Hispanic women 3.5 times more likely — when compared to white mothers, an analysis of state data shows.”
‘HERE LIES’ IS TRUE FOR ALL POLITICIANS, LIVING OR DEAD — “ Jackson father and son duo visit every president's grave, and here's what they discovered,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jerry Carino: “In old Princeton Cemetery, you could walk right past the grave of the only U.S. president buried in New Jersey and not realize it. Grover Cleveland’s final resting place is an eight-foot-high stone marked by two small American flags and not much else. Henry Fallon has seen more impressive presidential gravesites, including the tomb of his favorite chief executive, Abraham Lincoln. ‘It was just so big, as tall as a tree,’ he said. ‘It shows how much people appreciated him.’ Though he just turned 11 years old, Fallon is somewhat of an expert on the subject. The fifth-grader from Jackson has visited all 40 presidential graves with his father T.J. Fallon, a historical gravesite enthusiast whose YouTube channel, ‘Dead History,’ has 20,000 subscribers.” —“She was kicked out of the National Honor Society when she got pregnant at 15. For her 80th birthday, she got reinstated” —“Drought conditions raise wildfire threat” ‚—“ On Burlington Island, human nature has been at odds with nature for 400 years. What’s next?” —“First week of NJ black bear hunt saw jump in number killed. What's next? ” —“NJ journalist Jeremy Loffredo, charged in Israel with 'aiding the enemy,' is free” —“Bruce Springsteen: I knew I’d be a musician. It was my only skill”
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