| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Wednesday morning! I’m skeptical that the 2nd Congressional District, where pro-Trump former Democrat Jeff Van Drew is seeking his fourth term, is actually competitive this year. But it is an interesting development that Democratic candidate in the district, Joe Salerno, has taken on Van Drew’s former campaign manager as an adviser. Salerno announced Ned Miller’s hiring Tuesday. “Back in 2018, Jeff Van Drew was elected as a pro-choice moderate who would fight for South Jersey,” Miller said in a press release. “Today, Rep. Van Drew is an extremist who celebrated the fall of abortion rights and puts Donald Trump ahead of all else, especially his constituents. Van Drew managed to beat Democrat Amy Kennedy by nearly 6 points in 2020. And running as a Democrat in a wave election in 2018, the Democrat Van Drew, who had established a strong brand in the district as a state legislator, only beat Republican Seth Grossman — who published fringe stuff on social media — by 7 points. The district has gotten slightly more Republican since then. Even an internal Salerno poll showed him trailing by 8 to Van Drew, and I haven’t seen any independent polling in the district. In a previous political world, Van Drew would have some political baggage. His support of Dobbs and anti-abortion votes could be a political problem. He voted to overturn the 2020 election and yet hired Craig Callaway, a notorious Democratic operative, to work on his campaign — work for which Callaway was later charged with ballot fraud. And he helped get Trump to commute the prison sentence for Ponzi schemer Eliyahu Weinstein, who then allegedly went right back to Ponzi scheming. I just think the congressional election will probably follow the top of ticket results closely, and despite his connections to most of the above issues, Trump seems popular there. Still, I’d love to see an independent poll. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Jamila Bremmer, Eric Richard, James Marsden, Emperor Trajan QUOTE OF THE DAY:’”I will turn it around, get SALT back, lower your Taxes, and so much more.” — Donald Trump, whose tax legislation capped the SALT deduction at $10,000 in 2017. REMINDER AND CORRECTION — Today is the special election in the 10th District, not yesterday. I’m just not used to having elections on a Wednesday. WHERE’S MURPHY? Rutgers-New Brunswick at 9:30 a.m. to speak at the Meal Recovery Coalition Launch Summit, then Newark at 10:45 a.m. for a NJPAC groundbreaking ceremony
| | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is developing the most economically, environmentally, and socially responsible renewable energy solutions for New Jersey. While a misinformation campaign is trying to muddy the waters, the reality is simple. The team is led by purpose-driven professionals with deep roots in environmental science who follow the data and place the environment first. Offshore wind is being developed responsibly, in a way that protects marine life and their habitats. Learn more. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
HIGHER ED — Rutgers president Holloway to step down next year, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway will leave his post after five years on the job, he announced Tuesday. “Serving as the university president has been an enormous privilege and responsibility,” Holloway said in a statement. He plans to leave next year. “I welcomed the opportunity to join the Rutgers community in July 2020 because I found inspiration in the possibilities that this institution represented: a belief that cutting-edge research could thrive in a university that was deeply committed to making education as accessible as possible to a profoundly diverse student population," he said. "The reality behind this inspiration has been reaffirmed time and again during my tenure.”
—“Rutgers President Holloway says toxic politics drove decision to leave,” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “The man can’t appear in public without a police escort these days. For a period, he was directed by police to enter buildings by the back door to avoid ambush. He worries about the safety of his wife and kids, ever since protesters besieged his home at 7:30 a.m. one day during last year’s strike. So, it came as no surprise to those who know Holloway best that he’s decided to call it quits when his five-year contract ends at the close of this school year. He’ll take a paid sabbatical for a year after that, and expects to return as a history teacher, yielding the presidency to someone with the stomach for it. ‘I’ve moved the needle as far as I can move it,’ he said during an exclusive interview Monday, embargoed until the announcement. ‘I haven’t talked about this until now…I don’t want to be in an environment where I need, where my family needs, protection. That’s the part I didn’t bargain for.’” THE BUCK STOPS OVER THERE — “2024 marked NJ Transit’s second-worst summer under Gov. Murphy,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “NJ Transit faced the second worst “summer of hell” of Gov. Phil Murphy’s tenure this year, with its more than 1,800 train cancellations driven mostly by mechanical issues, Amtrak, and a rising number of unpreventable stoppages, according to agency performance data. The 1,820 cancellations NJ Transit reported between June 1 and Aug. 31 outnumber those in the same three-month period of every year of Murphy’s time in office except the summer of 2020, when damage from a tropical storm entirely stopped trains on multiple NJ Transit rail lines, in some cases for days. NJ Transit spokesman Jim Smith acknowledged Amtrak as a major source of cancellations and noted factors outside the agency’s control — like weather and utility problems — had helped drive summer disruptions, but pointed to Gov. Chris Christie’s administration to explain rising mechanical failures. ‘In terms of our rail equipment, we can’t speak to decisions made during the previous administration,’ Smith said.” SECRETARIAT OF STATE — “NJ will give $20M in taxpayer money each year to subsidize horse racing purses,” by The Record’s Daniel Munoz: “Twenty million dollars in taxpayer money will go to subsidize horse racing in New Jersey each year through 2029 — $100 million in total — under a law Gov. Phil Murphy signed last week. But the governor cautioned that the funds may not be available on a yearly basis. Proponents of the law said it will help preserve thousands of jobs and funnel money into the local economy, meaning millions of dollars in tax revenue coming from the racetracks in Monmouth County and the Meadowlands.” WHO WILL HE ENDORSE FOR GOVERNOR? — “Star witness in Menendez trial will now be sentenced in April 2025. Here's why,” by The Record’s Kristie Cattafi: “The star witness in former Sen. Bob Menendez's federal corruption trial will now be sentenced next year as the senator's wife still awaits a trial date. Jose Uribe, one of the three New Jersey businessmen who was originally indicted alongside Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, had been due to be sentenced Oct. 29. Given the delayed start of Arslanian Menendez's trial, he will now be sentenced in April 2025.” —“25 N.J. landlords are facing hefty fines for considering tenants’ criminal records” —“Gopal, Lesniak: N.J. must expand its recovery high school network | Opinion” —“Free nurse-visitation program for new mothers, babies set to expand” —“A focus on ‘housing first’ approach to homelessness in NJ” —“Ciattarelli and Kim Crisscross Competitive Morris County”
| | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
ALTMAN: KEAN SCREENS HIS TELETOWNHALLS, NO MATTER MATTER MATTER MATTER WHO CALLS — Altman starts town hall tour needling Kean over availability, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Altman starts town hall tour needling Kean over availabDemocratic Congressional candidate Sue Altman on Monday held her first in-person town hall, trying to draw a contrast with her mild-mannered — and more low key — opponent, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.). She also separated herself somewhat from Democratic leadership. At the same time she accused Kean of not being available to constituents in unscripted forums, she acknowledged she has disagreements with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Altman invited the press to attend the event in her hometown of Clinton and took several unscreened questions. Kean’s availability to taking questions has been a consistent theme from the Altman campaign in the race to represent New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. … At one point Altman got into an exchange with someone who appeared to be averse to Harris’ proposal to raise the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent, asking if Altman supported it. “I don't agree with everything vice president Harris stands for,” Altman said. “But on this one I don't know the answer to the question. I don't know what that optimal amount is and I think it would be different depending on the size of the corporation and the profitability of the sector that they're in.”
—“As Republicans vote against access to IVF, a reporter shares her journey” —Labor unrest threatens to upend Harris’ economic pitch —“[Sherrill] ignites right wing by saying assassination attempt stemmed from GOP rhetoric, ‘availability of assault rifles’”
| | | | A message from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is developing the most economically, environmentally, and socially responsible renewable energy solutions for New Jersey.
While a misinformation campaign is trying to muddy the waters, the reality is simple.
Atlantic Shores is led by a team of purpose-driven professionals with deep roots in environmental science who believe how the work is done is as important as the work itself. The team knows that progress toward New Jersey's energy future is made by following the data and placing the environment first.
The truth is that offshore wind is being developed responsibly, in a way that supports fishing and fisheries and protects marine life and their habitats. To ensure harmony with the environment, science drives every decision.
The current project is the first phase of a long-term commitment to New Jersey that will help set the standard for the offshore wind industry across the country. Learn more. | | | | | LOCAL | |
BAD, BAD, REALLY, REALLY, BAD — “3 Paterson council winners over 100 days late filing campaign finance forms,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “Three veteran members of the City Council — Michael Jackson, Shahin Khalique and Luis Velez — have failed to file campaign finance reports for the municipal spring elections, which were due more than 100 days ago. The finance reports are supposed to include lists of all contributors who gave the candidates more than $200 for their election campaigns, information often used by activists, rivals and the news media to evaluate whether political donations are connected to governmental decisions. … Jackson said he does not think his campaign exceeded the $5,800 fundraising threshold required for filing itemized reports with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. “I did not raise a great deal of money,” he said. Under New Jersey law, candidates are supposed to file affidavits attesting that they did not surpass that limit. Jackson said he has been having difficulty communicating with his campaign treasurer regarding his fundraising.”
CD10 — “McIver steps down as Newark City Council president, Crump steps up,” by TAPIntoNewark’s Matt Kadosh: “City Council President LaMonica McIver stepped down as council president on Tuesday morning. McIver, who is running for the District 10 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, remains the Central Ward councilperson. City Council appointed At-Large Councilman C. Lawrence Crump to council president to replace her. ‘We’re moving into a new era, I will say,’ Crump said. ‘I hope that as a full council, we can support and move the full agenda forward.’” THE ISLAND IS ACTUALLY GOVERNED BY A WILSON VOLLEYBALL — “Manager of uninhabited island drops suit over opponent’s residency,” by New Jersey Globe’s Zach Blackburn: “A candidate running to join a board that manages an uninhabited Burlington County island will remain on the ballot after a Superior Court judge allowed a competing candidate to withdraw his eligibility challenge. The uninhabited Burlington Island falls under the jurisdiction of Burlington City, which elects a board of island managers to offer educational opportunities and maintain the island. Current Burlington Island Manager Joseph Abate sued candidate Carter Patterson on the grounds that Patterson did not meet the one-year residency requirement to run for office in a given municipality — this being Burlington City.” —“CRDA approves 'road diet' settlement of lawsuit vs. Atlantic City” —“On second try, Jersey City awarded $2 million grant for mental health crisis response program” —“Sussex County looks to buy former bank building to use as Board of Elections office” —“Westfield councilwoman resigns” —“Richwood residents blame Gloucester County town’s leaders for enabling a 10-warehouse proposal ‘none of us want’” —“Fired Secaucus DPW laborer alleges he was told to ‘man the f*** up’ after work injuries” R.I.P. — “Union City’s Otis Davis, Olympic champion, dies at 92” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
YOU CAN SEE CHRISTIE ON THE BEACH — “Astronauts have taken 1,000 photos of NJ from space. Check out the stunning images,” by The Record’s Lori Comstock: “After New Jersey-born billionaire Jared Isaacman performed the first spacewalk by a private citizen early Thursday, and with future SpaceX missions capable of carrying astronauts between Earth, the moon and Mars, a question arises: What do astronauts see from space? Isaacman, who was raised in Far Hills and left high school to launch the payment processing firm Shift4 Payments, said as he emerged from the SpaceX Polaris Dawn Crew Dragon and soaked in the stunning view: ‘It's gorgeous. Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.’ … Astronauts on the International Space Station have been snapping photos of Earth for years and have compiled nearly 1,000 images of the beautiful Garden State. We have gathered and identified some of the photos here, with the entire collection accessible online.”
POLICE REPORT THAT THEY RAN, THEY RAN SO FAR AWAY — “Killers on the loose: Stafford police hunt for drivers who ran over flocks of seagulls,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Ken Serrano: “Drivers of two different vehicles were seen running over flocks of seagulls in the parking lot of Costco on Stafford Park Boulevard, killing several birds, authorities said. Now Stafford police are seeking help from the public in tracking down the people responsible. In two separate cases, witnesses reported that the suspects purposely drove through a flock of seagulls, killing some.” —“NJ ports have been slow to modernize. Will they take the leap to control costs?” —“Star-packed New Jersey Arts Icon Gala to honor Dionne Warwick in Holmdel”
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
