| | | | |  | | By Dustin Racioppi | | Presented by |  | | | Good Monday morning! It’s been just a week since Donald Trump returned as president, and already he’s dominating New Jersey politics. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid Thursday on a business in Newark — the state’s largest city, whose Democratic mayor, Ras Baraka, is running for governor — drew widespread condemnation from Democrats. Rep. LaMonica McIver called the operation “despicable,” while Baraka said during a marathon news conference Friday that he was “appalled.” Gov. Phil Murphy and Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim were seeking answers to what happened, suggesting surprise on their part. Trump also signed executive orders last week to end Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs at the federal level and to halt offshore wind projects — pleasing his biggest backers here, like Rep. Jeff Van Drew,who said wind companies were “aided by politicians willing to subsidize their failures with taxpayer dollars” and “determined to force wind energy on us.” And Trump pardoned or spared nearly 1,600 people connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which three of the four Republican candidates for governor said they largely back. One of them, Bill Spadea, wrote an essay for NJ 101.5-FM headlined “Yes, I support President Trump’s pardons.” In other words, there was a permeable sense of dread from Democrats while Republicans gave off “we are so back” energy. The big question is where it goes between now and primary day in the state’s newly altered political landscape. The last time Trump was president, the Democratic resistance was strong and Garden State voters soundly rejected him. This time around, Trump begins his second presidency having gained major ground with voters, and the fall of the “county line” injects an unpredictability into the primaries that none of us have seen before. Republicans have little chance of taking control in the state Legislature, and the congressional delegation has just three. But Murphy’s job is open in November and Americans will be watching New Jersey closely for an early sense of the Trump effect. He is such a dominating force that it’s hard to see him not being one of the biggest influences on the dynamics of arguably the country’s biggest election.
| | | | A message from Amazon: Amazon has been investing in communities for 30 years. As of 2024, Amazon's investments in New Jersey have created 43,000 full and part-time jobs with free skills training programs and comprehensive benefits starting on day one. As the largest job creator in the U.S. Amazon is committed to helping their employees and the communities where they operate thrive. See the impact of Amazon's local investments. | | | WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “While we disagreed strongly on a number of key points of Trump’s agenda, we both agreed that we could more effectively raise and try to address the pressing needs and concerns of communities and families in New Jersey if we communicate and engage directly with one another.” — Sen. Andy Kim, explaining his vote to confirm former South Dakota Gov. Kirsti Noem as Department of Homeland Security secretary. (Sen. Cory Booker voted no.) TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at dracioppi@politico.com
| | | | Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today. | | | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | THIN BLUE LINE — NJ Republicans try to thread needle with Jan. 6 Trump pardons, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Three of the four major Republican candidates for New Jersey governor have explicitly endorsed at least some of President Donald Trump’s pardons of people who stormed the Capitol in his name on Jan. 6, 2021. Nearly 1,600 people were pardoned or will have their cases dismissed, putting a spotlight back on Jan. 6 and what to do with some of the egregious perpetrators who were violent that day, which continues to divide Republicans. THE FUNNIEST POLITICIAN IN NEW JERSEY — “Bramnick Predicts His Margin of General Election Victory,” by Insider NJ’s Fred Snowflack: “Jon Bramnick says simply that he will win the general election 'by 10 points.' Pretty bold talk to be sure. Bramnick made the comment at a Friday evening “Meet and Greet” sponsored by GOP clubs in Morristown and Morris Township.”
| | | | New Year. New Washington. New Playbook. With intensified congressional coverage and even faster delivery of policy scoops, POLITICO’s reimagined Playbook Newsletter ensures you’re always ahead of the conversation. Sign up today. | | | | | THE IRISHMEN — “Murphy endorses McGreevey for Jersey City mayor, will be part of fellowship service,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has endorsed former Gov. Jim McGreevey for Jersey City mayor…“Personal experience, and a learned understanding of how government operates, is absolutely essential to ensuring our institutions better serve the needs of New Jersey’s working families. And I know that Jim McGreevey is committed to making municipal government work on behalf of the more than 290,000 people who call Jersey City home,” Murphy said in a statement.” — “Somerset County Commissioner Shanel Robinson named president of NJ county officials group” NEW JERSEY MEDIA NEWS — There's a new outlet in New Jersey called The New Jersey Democrat. Its first story published last week and focused on LeRoy Jones Jr., the Democratic State Committee chair and leader of the Essex County Democrats. Here's part of what publishers Bob Dreyfuss and Barbara Dreyfuss, former publishers of the Cape May Sentinel, wrote: "As part of the mission of The New Jersey Democrat, it’s our job to explore how and why New Jersey is one of the most conflict-of-interest ridden states, whose political system — especially on the Democratic side of the aisle – is boss-driven and corrupt, or at least giving off the 'eau de corruption.' Recent court cases, indictments, and convictions in the past year or two underline that point: the South Jersey boss, Camden’s George Norcross, a high-powered insurance executive, is facing a slew of legal charges over wrongdoing in the business of politics, and of course one of the state’s two 2024 U.S. senators, the ever ethically challenged Bob Menendez, is staring down jail time."
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| | | | | TRUMP ERA | | IN THE DOGEHOUSE — NJ Republicans join DOGE pack, by POLITICO’s Eden Teshome: New Jersey Republicans running for governor want their own DOGE. Even a Democrat backs it. The executive order President Donald Trump signed Monday creating a Department of Government Efficiency strikes at the heart of the Republican message in New Jersey to cut state spending and find savings in the budget. Now, after two terms of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and stubbornly high costs of living, they have an opportunity to replicate Trump’s cost-cutting attempt at the state level. CANCEL CULTURE — “Rutgers cancels DEI conference after Trump executive orders, drawing ire of NJ politicians,” by NorthJersey.com’s John Connolly: “Rutgers University has drawn the ire of New Jersey politicians for cancelling a scheduled diversity, equity and inclusion conference after President Donald Trump's executive orders on DEI this week. 'We have been asked to cease all work under the auspices of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility HUB at Jobs for the Future, which the U.S. Department of Labor funds,' Rutgers said Thursday in an email to registered attendees for the canceled Jan. 30 HBCUs and Registered Apprenticeship Mini-Conference.” MAYOR CULPA — “Democratic mayor apologizes for attending Trump inaugural event,” by the New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “The new Democratic mayor of Mount Laurel, Nikitas Moustakas, says he regrets a decision to attend a party celebrating the inauguration of President Donald Trump this week, something he said he did at the request of clients of his law firm. Moustakas was recorded dancing at the inaugural event held at The Union League of Philadelphia, where he is a member., causing some Democrats to question his presence. The images were sent to party leaders and the New Jersey Globe. In a telephone interview, Moustakas acknowledged that he was at the event.” — New Jersey Democrats lambast ICE raid in Newark — “N.J. House Republicans decline to join Dem statement condemning January 6 pardons” — “Environmentalists, fearing backslide, look to N.J. gubernatorial candidates to go green”
| | | | A message from Amazon: Amazon has created 43,000 full and part-time jobs in New Jersey as of 2024.
As the largest job creator in the U.S. Amazon is committed to helping their employees thrive. That's why they offer comprehensive benefits, including free skills training programs so employees can move into higher-paying roles.
See the impact. | | | | | LOCAL | | MAYOR’S MIDDAY RIDE — “I just acted on ‘instinct.’ N.J. mayor ran through town to warn of gunman,” by NJ Advance Media’s Kevin Shea: “Thomas Fritts, the mayor of Allentown, was returning to the borough from an out-of-town appointment midday on New Year’s Eve when he saw police activity on Johnson Avenue. When he called a police sergeant to inquire, he learned of a developing incident that is far outside the norm for the small borough in western Monmouth County: there’d been a shooting, with a victim.” INFLATION PRODUCTION ACT — “Four Asbury Park school bosses say they were fired after exposing grade-inflation scheme,” by the Asbury Park Press’ Amanda Oglesby and Charles Daye: “Four former supervisors at the Asbury Park School District are suing the school board and their former employer, alleging they were subjected to a hostile work environment and laid off after exposing a "pervasive scheme" to inflate student grades…The group alleges their contracts were not renewed after they exposed a system where student records were falsified, attendance rates forged and high school diplomas given to teenagers who did not meet requirements.” GREEN RAW DEAL — “Thousands of N.J. ratepayers were overcharged by clean energy provider,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas: “As if things weren’t bad enough with high energy bills.When Hoboken switched its clean energy provider, which it uses to supply renewable offerings at discount rates as part of the city’s larger climate goals, officials there say ratepayers were accidentally overcharged. As much as $382.97.” — “Morristown Mayor Dougherty announces bid for fifth term; cafe owner also in the race” — “'Slap in the face:' Paramus mayor threatens to sue American Dream mall over Sunday sales”
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