| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Friday morning! The 2024 Democratic Senate primary was the one that killed the line. The 2025 gubernatorial primary for both parties will be the first primary truly held in a world without it. Trump’s endorsement in the 2024 Republican U.S. Senate primary didn’t win it for Christine Serrano Glassner, at least in part because of the line. Now, without the line, Trump is poised to be kingmaker in the Republican primary and probably indirectly the biggest undercurrent of the Democratic primary. On Wednesday, I wrote that “it seems like a good bet” that Trump would endorse Bill Spadea for governor. With my mind trying to comprehend so much at once, it seemed pretty obvious. Trump in May went on Spadea’s radio show and even trashed Ciattarelli over keeping his distance from Trump during the 2021 campaign, and called Spadea “fantastic.” But I should note that there’s a pro-Ciattarelli super PAC, “Kitchen Table Conservatives,” that’s run by New Jersey operatives with ties to Trump, like Kellyanne Conway and Larry Weitzner, that has sorted through the countless hours of Spadea’s radio program to find comments critical of Trump after the 2020 election. And if Trump’s first impulse may be to back Spadea, they will likely try to convince him that Spadea has little shot at winning the general election and wouldn’t he rather back the guy who does and get credit for winning? On the Democratic side, the Trump factor is indirect. While some candidates take a more traditional approach to courting party support, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is already blaming the Democratic establishment for being so “lazy” and “ineffective” that Trump got within five points here. But with that margin so striking, you have to wonder if the primary won’t just be a race to the left. And maybe Democratic voters will be more receptive to Democrats with wider appeal, which is where once-swing-district members of Congress like Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer come in. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “As we redesign New Jersey’s ballots, the question we should be asking ourselves is, ‘How can we be the most voter-friendly?’ Not, ‘What can we get away with?’” — Nuzhat Chowdhury of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, during Thursday's ballot design committee hearing. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Erik Simonsen, Sister Pat Codey,, A.J. Sabath, Victoria Mayer. Saturday for Jonathan Scharff, Nicole Brown, Balvir Singh, Beth Dohm, Lee Clark, Jan Bidwell, Chris Stark, Arthur Pazan, Howard Gowa. Sunday for Joe Vitale, Josh Margolin, Terrance Bankston, Harris Laufer, Ellen Simon WHERE’S MURPHY? In the UK for a trade mission | | | | A message from Uber: Uber Expands Safety Features For Drivers. Uber’s CEO met with drivers and couriers to unveil new updates to make their experience safer and fairer. Among them, Record My Ride lets drivers use their phones as a dashcam on trips. Uber also revamped its deactivation processes, enabling drivers to appeal decisions directly in the app. Learn more. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
OFF THE RAILS — “Will $16B Gateway Tunnel project stall under a new Trump administration?” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs : “In November 2016, when Donald Trump first won the presidency, concern was expressed about the impact on the Gateway Tunnel project to build two new rail tunnels under the Hudson River and rehabilitate the century-old existing tunnels. Eight years later, and the $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project is in a different, potentially more secure place from being stopped if the incoming second Trump administration changes its mind, officials and experts said. Three construction contracts are underway, one on the Manhattan coast, another in North Bergen and one in the Hudson River itself … ‘Funding for the tunnel is in place and obligated and construction has begun. I don’t think he (Trump) would jeopardize that,’ said Tom Wright, Regional Plan Association CEO. But Wright expressed concern for the future phases of Gateway, which includes building an annex next to Penn Station New York to park additional trains that use the tunnel and other transportation projects.”
ADVOCATES TO LAWMAKERS: GET INCUM BENT — “ Members of the public chime in on lawmakers’ push to redesign ballots,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “ Witnesses urged lawmakers on a special legislative committee regarding ballot design to adopt office-block ballots and cautioned against adding much information to the ballots at the panel’s second hearing Thursday … Lawmakers on Thursday asked whether ballots, and general election ballots in particular, should note whether a candidate is an incumbent, something critics said would improperly sway voters. Peter Chen, senior policy analyst at progressive think tank New Jersey Policy Perspective, said that noting incumbency on the ballot ‘hints this candidate is special, above other candidates.’ … Some witnesses urged against allowing for running mates for the same office — say, two people seeking two separate Assembly seats — to be grouped in a bracket on ballots. Such candidates should have their ballot placement decided individually in random draws for each of their voting districts, they said.” NJ TRANSIT — NTSB focusing on NJ Transit right-of-way maintenance , by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: “The National Transportation Safety Board is focusing its investigation of a fatal train crash last month on New Jersey Transit’s right-of-way maintenance and inspection practices, and dispatcher reporting procedures, as well as the crashworthiness of the railcar’s design. The NTSB on Thursday released a short report on its preliminary findings that provided some basic details around the Oct. 14 crash that killed a train operator and injured 23 passengers. The mention of the rights-of-way shows the probe will explore NJ Transit’s practices and inspection procedures. An attorney representing the family of the deceased train operator said immediately after the crash that there have been concerns about tree trimming along the train lines.” | | | BIDEN TIME | |
RED ALERT — “ Trump’s narrow loss in New Jersey signals a shift to the right,” by The New York Times’ Tracey Tully: “Mr. Trump garnered a nearly identical number of votes in New Jersey — 1.9 million — this year and in 2020, according to results tabulated by The Associated Press that are likely to change somewhat as mailed ballots are fully tallied. But the number of voters who cast ballots for the Democratic candidate fell precipitously, resulting in a stark rightward tilt in the margin. Ms. Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman to run as the nominee of the Democratic Party, got about 500,000 fewer votes than President Biden did in 2020 in New Jersey, one of the most ethnically and racially diverse states in the country … By Wednesday morning, Democrats and Republicans preparing for next year’s already heated race for governor had also begun assessing the results and recalibrating their strategy. Republican candidates said they saw opportunity. Democrats strained to make sense of the numbers. And social justice advocates returned to a warning they have been sounding since Mr. Murphy’s narrow re-election victory in 2021.”
— “ Long a Democratic stronghold, is N.J. turning red?” — “How Hudson County voted in the 2024 presidential election, town by town” LARUEING THE DAY — “N.J. women ‘devastated’ by Kamala Harris defeat. But they’re not surprised,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio: “Just 108 days ago, Jeannine LaRue cried happy tears as she and 44,000 other Black women across the country flooded a Zoom call and raised $1.5 million to celebrate the hours-old presidential candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris. On Wednesday morning, the veteran businesswoman and civil rights activist in New Jersey said she had cried tears of grief and frustration after Harris’ loss to former President Donald Trump. Harris carried 92% of Black women voters in America but only 45% of white women, according to an exit poll by the national firm Edison Research.’“I was hoping this would not just be more than Black women saving democracy. I was very excited when women met the following night and raised even more money than white dudes,’ LaRue said. 'But white women supported the president-elect over 50 percent. That shocked me. This was supposed to be one of those campaigns about our bodies and going after misogyny.’ Several politically active women from New Jersey who backed Harris told NJ Advance Media they felt blindsided by Trump‘s resounding victory.” — “ NJ’s four women in Congress” — “NJ Indian Americans who canvassed for Kamala Harris absorb her election loss” — “The economy drove New Jersey voters’ shift to the right, experts say” — “ Stressed out before Election Day, voters now fret over election fallout” — Wind industry drafts pitch to skeptical Trump | | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
MONICA MOSLEY — “Woman accused of hindering in murder of Cumberland Detective Sgt. Mosley released from jail,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s John O’Connor: “A Gloucester County woman accused of hindering the investigation into the murder of Cumberland County Detective Sgt. Monica Mosley was released from jail Thursday until trial. Cumberland County Superior Court Judge Niki Arbittier granted Cyndia Pimentel's release with conditions that she must check in with the courts weekly and cannot have any contact with any of her co-defendants … Pimentel had no prior criminal record and her public safety assessment scores of one for failure to appear and one for new criminal activity recommended her release. However, due to the nature of the current charges, the state pushed for Pimentel to be held.”
— “Slain N.J. prosecutor’s office detective was shot execution-style, state says” GOP AC — “ What's next for Atlantic City now that there will be 2 Republicans on council?” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “With the election of Maria Lacca as 5th Ward councilwoman, the city will now have two Republicans on its nine-member City Council, the most in recent history … Lacca defeated newly appointed Democratic Councilman Mohammed Huq, considered an ally of Mayor Marty Small Sr., by a vote of 850 to 557. She has not heard from Huq or his campaign, Lacca said. ‘We would love for him to concede. We’d like to hear from him ... to move forward and unite at this point,’ she said … Lacca not only campaigned in this election, she did so in last November’s election, where she lost to incumbent Democratic Councilman Muhammad Zia, a Small ally. Then she sued and proved Zia wasn’t really an Atlantic City resident, and a judge removed Zia from office in August and ordered a special election for Tuesday … ‘Congratulations to my new colleague, Councilwoman Elect Maria Lacca,’ said 6th Ward Councilman Jesse Kurtz, long the lone Republican on council, on Tuesday night. ‘It’s a strong repudiation of the Marty Small regime.’” THE ONE TIME REPUBLICANS DIDN’T TELL COPS THEY BACK THE BLUE — “ What happened to your ballot after you voted? Bergen County gives behind the scenes peek,” by The Record’s Kristie Cattafi: “A police car with lights flashing pulled into the side lot of 1 Bergen County Plaza about 30 minutes after polls closed on Tuesday, not to fight crime, but rather to deliver election results to the county clerk for counting … This was the first year police officers were used in this matter, and county officials said things went very smoothly. The involvement of the police officers is part of a new system put in place shortly after last year's election. Until then, the burden of delivering the results and returning the new election equipment was left in the hands of each municipal clerk. This year's presidential election was seamless, and things went smoothly as the county incorporated the new results system, more poll workers and a tweak to the new voting machines, county officials said … The changes come after a troublesome 2023 general election. Last November's election in the county was marred by complications that led to election results not being released until 2 a.m.” NOT WITHERING IN THE VINELAND — “ How Vineland Mayor Fanucci made history this month,” by The Courier-Post’s Joseph P. Smith: “City election history was made Tuesday as Mayor Anthony Fanucci put up decisive vote numbers to win an unprecedented third term. ‘I feel extremely humbled that with all the overwhelming support that the community gave to myself and the team on this incredible victory,’ Fanucci said Wednesday. ‘This is, obviously, another piece of history that I’ve been involved in in elected office in the city of Vineland.’ Fanucci was president of the city council when he made his successful first run for mayor in 2016. No past president has managed that feat.” #TRANSPARENCY — “Newark Teachers Union ends lawsuits for Global Studies report without district promise to release it,” by Chalkbeat’s Jessie Gómez: “The Newark Teachers Union has withdrawn two lawsuits seeking the release of a scathing report on the cultural dynamics at the Newark School of Global Studies after reaching a deal with the district — but it remains unclear if the public will get to see the report. Union President John Abeigon, who spearheaded the lawsuit, wouldn’t disclose the terms of the agreement in a call with Chalkbeat Thursday, or say if the settlement would require the district to release the consultant’s report to the union or the public … In the lawsuits filed a year ago, the union called on the district to release the Creed Strategies report, which school officials have claimed was a draft and therefore exempt from public records law … When asked what changed the union’s position about demanding the release of the report, Abeigon said 'we changed our position. That’s it.’” — “Republican re-elected Gloucester County Commissioner; two other races still close ” — “N.J. state police troopers’ names were spray painted at historic Warren County site” — “NJ voters mixed on raising taxes, borrowing for schools” — “ Spotswood police chief sues mayor over retaliation, defamation claims” — “2024 General Election: The biggest winners and losers in Hudson County ” — “Trenton police fire veteran cop. Her lawyer calls it ‘stupid,’ vows legal fight” | | | | A message from Uber: Uber’s Latest Updates Put Drivers First
At an in-person event with drivers, Uber’s CEO announced updates to give them more peace of mind. Uber has started flagging inappropriate rider behavior when drivers report it. The Record My Ride feature allows drivers to capture video and audio during trips, improving accountability and safety. Plus the app also got more hands-free with Siri voice commands, letting drivers focus on the road while staying connected. Learn more. | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
SUNNY DAY, THROWIN' MY VOTE AWAY — “Sanders, Haley ... Big Bird? Here's who Bergen County voters wrote in for president,” by The Record’s Kyle Morel : “In Bergen County, more than 1,000 people cast write-in votes this year, according to the county clerk's website. Here is a look at some of the notable selections, ranging from politicians and celebrities to fictional characters. The most popular write-in choice among Bergen voters was Nikki Haley … Music icons Kanye West (four votes), Taylor Swift (two) and Snoop Dogg (one) were all on the list as well. In the sports world, two votes went to former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, while Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts each received a vote. If those selections seem strange, consider that Mickey Mouse (four votes) and Big Bird (one) also appeared as write-in choices despite being fictional animals. Tony Soprano earned a vote, as did Frank Underwood, the fictional character who becomes president in the TV series 'House of Cards.'"
— “Officials: South Jersey wildfire impacts 200 acres; 12 buildings evacuated ” — “N.J. drought worsens again, with several counties now in a rare ‘extreme’ drought”
| | | | 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 | | | | |
