The money on the line

Jul 23, 2024

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Good Tuesday morning!

Looks like we now know the big money source behind the effort earlier this year to keep the “county line” in the Senate primary.

As Matt Friedman reports, Gov. Phil Murphy and first lady Tammy Murphy poured $150,000 into Middlesex County Democrats’ account through their respective blind trusts days after the party hired the high-powered Washington lawyer Neal Katyal, whose reported hourly rate is about $2,500.

It obviously didn’t pay off. Tammy Murphy ended her Senate campaign that had been reliant on the line and a federal judge ordered office block ballots for Democrats’ June primary. Rep. Andy Kim, who led the federal lawsuit and then won the primary, called the ruling a victory for those who “saw an undemocratic system marginalizing the voices of voters.”

It comes as no surprise that the Murphys would help bankroll a defense of the line given their wealth and that the governor’s political success in 2017 is largely owed to it.

The big question is what comes next for this one-of-a-kind ballot design system after such a heated and consequential moment — because that’s all it is, for now. The judge’s ruling didn’t apply to future elections, and the original lawsuit against the line, filed three years ago, appears nowhere near resolution. The latest court filing says a trial date is “TBD.”

As that case drags out, it seems the only other option for potential change is in the hands of lawmakers — the same ones who’ve benefited from the line for years. Legislative leaders have promised to address the line through a “public process on ballot design in New Jersey.”

So far, we’ve seen no movement on that front. But if there is one thing we’ve learned the past year, the Legislature can move rather quickly on complex policy when it wants to — notably overhauling campaign finance rules and weakening the Open Public Records Act.

Except those recent moves have been roundly condemned as anti-good government measures that contradict Democrats’ rhetoric about transparency and opening up democracy. Changing ballot design in New Jersey to something like an office block, like the 49 other states use, would level the playing field for candidates while undermining the very systems that empower legislative leaders and their allies.

Phil Murphy may be a lame duck next year, but he’ll have bipartisan support — and therefore influence — fighting the changes people like Andy Kim say is long overdue.

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It was a large group of people. We all kind of just waited. Everyone looks exasperated. I just thought it was really strange to have a place super close to Manhattan that’s like known to be really accessible to Manhattan and not have regular running trains on a Friday night.” — Carol Chen, a 23-year-old Canadian living in Jersey City who started a petition for the Port Authority to increase PATH trains on weekends.

WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Pennington for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, then traveling to Washington, D.C.

A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

To make New Jersey a healthier, more equitable place to live, we must end structural racism. The most effective way to change unfair systems and harmful policies is for affected communities to build power through collective action. When communities act together to voice their needs and hopes, they can hold decisionmakers accountable and drive change. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has a plan to harness community power to increase access to health. Explore the roadmap.

MENENDEZ CORRUPTION TRIAL

WHAT TO DO ABOUT BOB — Next in Menendez ethics, by POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna: The Senate Ethics Committee said Monday it would begin an "adjudicatory review" of alleged violations committed by convicted felon Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a process that it said is necessary "when the Committee considers disciplinary actions, such as expulsion or censure." The panel's leaders — Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) — said in a joint statement that the review would be finished "promptly." Afterward, the committee would "move expeditiously to submit a written report to the Senate including specific findings and any recommendations for disciplinary action."

THANK YOU, NEXT — “‘Close the chapter, move on,’ Latinos say after Sen. Menendez’s bribery conviction,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “New Jersey Latinos revered Sen. Bob Menendez, praising the Democrat for his outspoken support of the immigrant community and commending his office for helping people obtain citizenship. But now that Menendez has been found guilty of all counts in his federal corruption trial, Latino leaders say it’s time to find new voices for the community in Congress.”

— “This is Loretta Weinberg's message for Bob Menendez: Make like Biden and leave”

— “Names circulate for Finance panel seat if Menendez leaves”

Breaking News Briefing: How Kamala Harris’ Policies Could Differ from Joe Biden’s — Where does Vice President Kamala Harris stand on key policy issues? Where does she differ from President Biden? Join POLITICO Pro’s specialist reporters for a detailed discussion of what her track record as vice president, U.S. senator and attorney general of California tells us about her policy instincts and allies. REGISTER HERE.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

A SIGH OF DEBT RELIEF — Murphy signs bill to limit burdens of medical debt, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday signed into law a bill aimed at limiting the burdens of medical debt for residents in the state. The bill — known as the Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act — was named after a 25-year-old Murphy aide who died in January and worked on health policy. “Though our hearts remain broken that she is no longer with us, this law … will always stand as a testament to the indispensable role that she played in transforming New Jersey's health care system for the better,” Murphy said at a press conference, which included Carman’s family in attendance.

— “Baraka wants equity to be the ‘north star’ of state budget, proposes tax cuts for poor and middle class, huge tax hikes for wealthiest N.J. residents”

— “Violence prevention groups left waiting for help”

— “Gottheimer teams up with Scutari, Stack to fight for food security”

— “New Jersey Senior Freeze checks distributed. Did you get it?”

A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

BIDEN TIME

TIME TO CHANGE THIS SECTION'S NAME? — Kamala Harris has enough verbal commitments to secure Democratic nomination, by POLITICO's Dustin Gardiner, Lisa Kashinsky, Emily Ngo, Ry Rivard and Shia Kapos: California’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention voted Monday to back Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee, giving her enough verbal commitments to clinch the nomination, allies say.

State delegations moved in rapid succession to back Harris over the first 36 hours after President Joe Biden announced Sunday he was stepping aside and supporting the vice president instead. Delegations in more than a dozen states held meetings since then to formalize their support — including in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Nebraska, Alaska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Indiana, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

In New Jersey, where Gov. Phil Murphy urged delegates to speak with “one voice” at the convention, delegates overwhelmingly backed Harris after more than an hour of discussion.

DOOR DASHER PHIL IS ON THE WAY — Gov. Phil Murphy to Harris: 'We'll do whatever it takes,’ by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday said he promised Vice President Kamala Harris directly he'd help in any way to get her elected to the presidency this fall. Murphy, a Democrat, spoke with Harris briefly over the phone just before an unrelated event Monday afternoon. “Whether it's politics, money, picking up lunch, we'll do whatever it takes,” Murphy told reporters following the event.

AMERICAN FIRST — Murphy met with Trump after assassination attempt, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Gov. Phil Murphy met with former President Donald Trump over the weekend, a spokesperson for the governor confirmed to POLITICO … “Governor Murphy and the First Lady reached out to former President Trump immediately after last weekend’s assassination attempt to say that they were keeping him in their prayers,” Mahen Gunaratna said in a statement. “While the former President is recuperating at his residence in New Jersey, they had an opportunity to wish him well in person this past Saturday. The Governor is an American first and believes an issue as serious as the safety of current and former presidents transcends partisan politics.”

— “Democratic leaders knew 'all along' that Joe Biden had this problem: Rep. Jeff Van Drew”

— “Sherrill Ahead of the Game”

LOCAL

FEAR AND LOATHING IN UNION CITY — “Gonzo journalist sues Union City mayor, police over arrest at meeting, other ‘false, malicious’ complaints,” by the Jersey Journal’s Ron Zeitlinger: “An independent journalist who has antagonized Union City Mayor Brian Stack for the past six months has sued the mayor, the city board of commissioners and the police department, claiming his First Amendment rights were violated and he was wrongfully arrested at last week’s meeting. Leonard Filipowski, known as 'Leroy Truth' on his YouTube channel, was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct Tuesday when he refused to stand behind the podium when he spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting.”

— “Norcross details growth plan for Cooper in Cape May, Atlantic counties”

— “Vaules drops challenge in Ocean City Council race”

— “Bridgewater budget increases township spending by 8.6%. What does it mean for taxpayers?”

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EVERYTHING ELSE

RUCKER RUCKUS — “Paterson activist on police advisory group involved in bar assault,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: ”Ernest Rucker, a community activist and member of the Paterson Police Department’s advisory council, was involved in an assault late Friday night at the Elks Club bar on Ellison Street. Rucker, who is in his 60s, told Paterson Press he was defending himself against a Rochelle Park man who was threatening to sexually assault him at the bar. Rucker said the man later jumped him outside his home, knocked him unconscious, and kicked him while he was on the ground, breaking two of his ribs.”

A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

For New Jersey to be a place where everyone can achieve their healthiest life possible, we must acknowledge structural racism as a barrier to health equity and address it.

The most effective way to change unfair systems and harmful policies is for affected communities and people to build power through collective action. When communities act together to voice their needs and hopes for the future, they can hold decisionmakers accountable, drive change, and make health accessible for all.

A Policy Agenda for a Healthier, More Equitable New Jersey is a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that outlines how community power can become the engine that drives the changes needed to overcome inequity. Working together, communities can ensure equitable access to housing, support healthy births and maternal health, and improve public health infrastructure. See the plan.