| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Tuesday morning! The Hudson is “the river that flows both ways.” Hudson County Democrats are the party that flows many ways. The party that under different leadership initially pledged allegiance to Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop’s 2025 campaign, then under its current leadership dropped Fulop for Josh Gottheimer, appears poised to drop Gottheimer in favor of Mikie Sherrill. For now, at least. This has been reported by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein and Hudson County View’s John Heinis, and it’s obvious in Hudson Dems’ behavior, namely County Executive/Party Chair Craig Guy attending Sherrill’s party at the League in Atlantic City. Then Sherrill attended Union City Mayor/state Sen. Brian Stack’s turkey giveaway. It’s not an official endorsement for Sherrill, but these public appearances are clearly intended to suggest support. This is a big blow to Gottheimer, who like Sherrill is courting the Democratic machines, even if that won’t come with the benefit of the county line. But why would Hudson come out for Gottheimer, then abruptly drop him? That’s not an easy question to answer, since politics — especially in New Jersey — is mostly played out under the table. But Fulop — who started as a reformer, turned into one of the major Democratic machine players in Hudson County and is now in burn-it-all-down mode — has some theories. Stack, arguably the most influential single figure in Hudson County right now, gets a massive amount of state aid for Union City. “The point is that nothing’s changed with [Gottheimer]. He’s the same. They just realized for their self-preservation they need to coalesce around one candidate, who’s going to be whoever the machine candidate is. They ‘ve chosen Mikie Sherrill because she’s someone they believe they can ultimately control,” Fulop said. I reached out to Sherrill’s campaign, who sent me a statement by the Laborers’ Mike Hellstrom, whose union is backing her. "We’re with Mikie and there is momentum across the state because they see the type of leader she is and how she stands up for working New Jerseyans,” he said. “Steve Fulop has been running for governor for more than a decade and over that time most folks have taken a look and moved on. It's sad to see him spend the twilight of his elected career alone on Twitter, thirsting for engagement, and angry that his campaign has not inspired people around a forward-looking vision for New Jersey." And as long as we’re speculating, I wonder if this Gottheimer snub will get him involved in Jersey City’s mayoral race, where Stack is the biggest backer of former Gov. Jim McGreevey. TIPS? FEEDBACK Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “My question is, why are you still in the race when you know the Republican party is more aligned with Trump than ever?” — Union County Republican Committee Treasurer Joe Sarno on Jon Bramnick’s gubernatorial run HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Carol Murphy, Phil Rivo WHERE’S MURPHY? “Ask Governor Murphy” at 4 p.m. on News 12. Also: Lt. Gov. Way will pardon a turkey in Clifton at 11 a.m. even though she has no authority to issue pardons while the governor is in the state. Millions of other turkeys have already been killed for the holiday and not even the expansive powers of the office of lieutenant governor can bring them back. PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off for Thanksgiving this Thursday and Friday but back to our normal schedule on Monday. | | | | A message from Johnson & Johnson: We’re restoring the true meaning of healthcare— Championing and supporting nurses on the frontline of delivering quality patient care. See how we’re connecting the best of Health&Care for every patient and provider. Learn more. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
MAKE SYCOPHANCY GREAT AGAIN — How Trump could reshape New Jersey’s GOP primary for governor, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han and Matt Friedman: Shortly before holding a May rally on the Jersey Shore, Donald Trump called into a local talk radio station to chat with conservative talk show host Bill Spadea. He didn’t hesitate to weigh in on state politics. “I think he made some pretty big mistakes. You know who I’m talking about,” Trump said of Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican who came within three points of ousting Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021. “This guy never came to ask for my support. And you know what? When MAGA sees that, they don’t like it and they didn’t vote for him.” … Now, with Ciattarelli running for governor again and Spadea jumping in as his biggest rival, the race is on to see who can win Trump’s backing ahead of the June primary. They’ll face a pro-MAGA former state senator and an anti-Trump moderate state senator in a primary that’s likely to be a free-for-all following the collapse of the state’s “county line” balloting system, which gave advantage to candidates backed by local party leaders. Support from establishment Republicans will matter in the race even without the county line, political observers in the state say. But with the elimination of the influential ballot design and with Trump’s grip over the GOP, the president-elect could play kingmaker in the primary — and coming across as an authentic Trump supporter will be key.
— Stile: “NJ governor's race: Republicans must decide between Trumpism and moderation” DOES MASTRO STILL GET PAID? — Murphy administration eyes agency cuts, hiring limits, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: The Murphy administration is asking state agencies to cut their proposed budgets by 5 percent for the upcoming fiscal year — and is open to rolling back programs even if they are written into law — in the clearest sign yet of financial belt-fastening headed into the governor's final budget. The request was made to state cabinet members and agency heads in an Oct. 15 letter viewed by POLITICO sent from a senior Treasury official. In an email from last week viewed by POLITICO, Tim Hillmann, Gov. Phil Murphy's chief of staff, told senior administration officials that “effective immediately and with limited exception” the state will pause discretionary salary increases, including current requests. Exceptions to the freeze are raises “required by law, court order, legal settlement, or collective bargaining agreement.” Hillmann also requested that new hires for state agencies be limited to staffers who are “mission critical.” The email didn't explain what that means. | | | | REGISTER NOW: As the 118th Congress ends, major decisions loom, including healthcare appropriations. Key focus: site neutrality. Can aligning hospital and clinic costs cut federal spending, reflect physician costs, and lower patient expenses? Join policymakers and providers to discuss. | | | | |
ATLAS SUED — “The future of online privacy hinges on thousands of New Jersey cops,” by Wired’s Paresh Dave: “Today, current and former judges, cops, prosecutors, and others working in criminal justice can have their household’s address and phone numbers withheld from government records in the state. They also can demand that the data be removed from any website … That provision is being put to a consequential test … In a pile of lawsuits in New Jersey — drummed up by a 41-year-old serial entrepreneur named Matt Adkisson and five law firms, including two of the nation’s most prominent — about 20,000 workers, retirees, and their relatives are suing 150 companies and counting for allegedly failing to honor requests to have their personal information removed under Daniel’s Law. These companies, which Adkisson estimates generate $150 billion annually in sales, may now be on the hook for $8 billion in penalties. But what’s more important to him is the hope that this narrow New Jersey law could act as a wedge to force data brokers to stop publishing sensitive data about people of all professions nationwide.”
HOMELESSNESS — “N.J. homeless population up 24%, survey says. See county-by-county numbers,” by NJ Advance Media’s Nyah Marshall: “New Jersey’s homeless population grew to over 12,000 this year, with children making up more than one-fifth of the total, according to a newly-released survey. NJCounts — a one day 'point-in-time tally' conducted on Jan. 23 — found 12,680 people identified as homeless across New Jersey that day, according to Monarch Housing Associates, the nonprofit group that organizes the annual survey. That is a nearly 24% increase in the statewide homeless population compared to last year, the new report said.” — “Ex-lawmaker can remain judge in COVID-19 benefits case, court rules” — Hale: “New Jersey is not a swing state. How Democrats can win the governor's race” — “Fulop taps three more Assembly candidates” — “Gov. Phil Murphy signs law making outdoor dining permanent in New Jersey” | | | | A message from Johnson & Johnson:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
NO ADEEL — “Federal judge position won't be filled by this NJ attorney who went to Harvard. Here's why,” by The Record’s Hannan Adely: “New Jersey litigator Adeel Mangi’s bid to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit effectively ended last week when he was left out of a bipartisan deal to advance court nominees. Mangi, who would have been the first Muslim American to sit on a federal appeals court, faced questioning during the confirmation process that critics decried as bigoted and Islamophobic. Lawmakers asked Mangi if he condemned terrorism and if he celebrated 9/11. They also scrutinized his work on advisory groups serving organizations that they alleged were anti-Israel and anti-police. Senate Democrats and Republicans reached the deal late Wednesday that cleared the way for votes on a group of President Joe Biden's nominees for federal trial courts. In exchange, the Democrats dropped four nominees to appellate courts, including Mangi, leaving vacancies that Republican President-elect Donald Trump can fill. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Mangi and the other three withdrawn from consideration didn't have the votes to get confirmed.”
— “N.J. House members chosen for caucus leadership positions” — “ICE plans to bulk up detection facilities in N.J., ACLU learns. Congresswoman is ‘furious’” | | | | Want to know what's really happening with Congress's make-or-break spending fights? Get daily insider analysis of Hill negotiations, funding deadlines, and breaking developments—free in your inbox with Inside Congress. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | LOCAL | |
A BLIGHT IDEA — “N.J. city is buying back a vacant downtown hotel with hopes of giving it a new life,” by Kevin Shea for NJ.com: “The City of Trenton is getting back into the hotel business, sort of. The state has awarded the city a $4 million grant to buy the one-time, city-owned Marriott hotel on West Lafayette Street that nearly 25 years ago was pegged as the crown jewel of downtown redevelopment, but later fell into vacancy … Mayor Reed Gusciora’s administration is going to buy it back, but they do not want to be in the hostel business. The city plans to take possession, pay off creditors, and when the final bond debts — currently about $2.5 million — are also paid off, sell it to a developer. The city has planned a formal announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The grant was awarded by the state Economic Development Authority. Gusciora stressed Monday that the city buying the building is only to help drive it toward development. The hotel is privately owned and when the city has tried to attract developers, they’re scared away by the price of buying, then having to renovate, Gusciora said … The mayor sees a likely $1 resale to a developer, allowing the city to basically flip the property. It will also allow the city to control the redevelopment, like requiring the building be used as a hotel, and have a restaurant and entertainment.”
— “Trenton NAACP demands police director’s resignation following federal report on unconstitutional behavior by officers” OUT OF THE WOODS — “Toms River homeless emptying out of woods, and this is why their lawyer credits the mayor,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jean Mikle: “A lawyer representing homeless people who had been living deep in the woods of Winding River Park has praised Mayor Daniel Rodrick and the NJ Coalition to End Homelessness for helping to find places for all the unhoused people to stay. ‘In a great example of government and private sector teamwork, as of today, every one of these men and women have been offered an opportunity to get out of the woods, and into guaranteed and safe indoor housing for no less than half a year,’ said Jeff Wild, a lawyer and partner with the firm of Lowenstein Sandler LLP who has been representing the Winding River Park homeless residents free of charge … In October, the Township Council approved the mayor's plan to use up to $250,000 in unallocated American Rescue Plan funds to provide six months of housing to about 32 individuals who have been living in camps in the woods. Rodrick said his administration had 'found' about $2 million in unallocated rescue plan funds.” RUNOFF IS NOT JUST A SEWER PROBLEM ANYMORE — “Mount Holly runoff question exposes flaws in N.J. election laws,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “The fourth-place finisher in a field of nine candidates for three Mount Holly Township Council seats, Sayke Reilley, will be back in court this week, arguing that an old runoff law was never repealed, and that the top six candidates must face off again. But the candidates who came out on top in the nonpartisan general election — Lew Brown, Chris Banks, and Rich DiFolco — say the runoff election was eliminated when they changed their municipal races from May to November. The municipal solicitor maintains that Mount Holly is not required to hold runoffs … Either way, the lawsuit points out a potentially fatal flaw in New Jersey’s election law: holding a December 3 runoff after a November 5 election is entirely unworkable. Late-arriving vote-by-mail ballots, a November 16 deadline to cure technical deficiencies, a November 30 deadline to certify elections — and even a December 7 deadline to file an election contest — make it impossible to hold a runoff less than a month after the general election. Among other things, the deadline for mailing vote-by-mail ballots is 45 days before an election. The runoff date was never changed after post-Election Day deadlines were extended.” — “Hoboken stirs controversy with Palestinian ‘flag-raising’ event at City Hall” — “Newark Board of Education Travel Budget Soars Above $1 Million” — “Bergen County school's toxic lead paint poisoned son, lawsuit says” — “Jersey City to settle crash lawsuit against hero police officer for $1.5 million” — “McGreevey picks Palisade Condo Assoc. President Baylock as Ward E running mate” — “After 33 years, [Fontoura] leads his final Thanksgiving food drive” — “Even more weed businesses on the way to Atlantic City” — “Yearslong fight over beach work in North Wildwood may soon end” — “South Jersey first grader assaulted by teacher during bus trip, lawsuit alleges” | | | | A message from Johnson & Johnson: At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured; treatments are smarter and less invasive; and solutions are personal. We are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow. We combine our science and technology with our determination to create a powerful force for care… and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more. | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
BRAWLINGTON COUNTY — “'You should be ashamed': Tempers flare amid probe of Rowan College president in Burlington,” by The Courier-Post’s Nick Butler: “Rowan College at Burlington County could soon see leadership changes amid friction between administration, board members and even faculty. College President Michael Cioce recently received a Rice Notice, which is issued when board officials are going to discuss someone's employment status … Additionally, board members have brought in a law firm to investigate Cioce for allegations that haven't been shared with the public. Faculty and support staff, however, have expressed solidarity with Cioce, and have instead given a no-confidence vote in board Chair Anthony Wright, the person who's believed to have initiated the investigation into Cioce … Tempers flared in the room as Wright made a motion to vote for an investigation by the college's independent lawyers, the Weiner Law Group LLC from Parsippany. Cioce argued that he should be able to speak about the Rice Notice and the allegations before a motion of this kind was made. ‘This board has broken protocol. In my seven years as president of this college, this has never been done before,’ Cioce said. ‘I am getting suspicious.’”
MERRY CRISIS — “Burnout, retirement, too few students: How NJ's nursing crisis will likely get worse,” by The Record’s Scott Fallon: “Nearly five years after the pandemic spurred droves of health care workers to take early retirement or move from bedside care to less intense jobs, staffing remains a chronic problem at hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities throughout the state. And it’s projected to get much worse. New Jersey will see a 25% shortage in the number of registered nurses to adequately care for its burgeoning older population by 2036, according to an analysis this year by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. In raw numbers, that would be a deficit of 24,450 nurses — ranking New Jersey fourth in the nation in nursing deficit. It comes at the worst possible time for New Jersey, as an exodus of health care workers and an increasingly older population converge to strain the system.” — “NJ casinos' luck was bad this summer with profits down 13.6%” — “Prudential Financial announces 108 layoffs, bringing total announced this year to 634” — “Will New Jersey's drought ruin 2025 for farmers, lawns? What a Drought Emergency will mean” | | | | 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 | | | | |
