| | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Monday morning! Last year, Donald Trump endorsed Christine Serrano Glassner for the Republican nomination for Senate. It didn’t move many votes. She lost to her more moderate rival Curtis Bashaw, who went on to lose to Andy Kim in the general. This year is different. In case you didn’t notice, all but one of New Jersey’s significant Republican candidates for governor are kowtowing to the president. And this time, with just one tweet or “Truth,” Trump may be able to decide the race. This is a much different environment than 2024, when Republicans still had the county lines on their ballots. That, along with a big fundraising advantage, is how Bashaw overcame Glassner’s Trump endorsement. Those lines are gone. Just below the surface of their messaging, you can read how the campaigns are trying to appeal to Trump directly — particularly the top two candidates, Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea. Spadea keeps talking about how he’s been with Trump since he rode down the escalator in 2015, around when Ciattarelli was calling Trump a “charlatan.” Ciattarelli has been effusive in praise of Trump, and has sought to highlight Spadea’s criticism of the president on the radio from 2020, when he was sounding friendly notes to Ron DeSantis, while casting his own pro-Trump evolution as a straight line. Amid this, Ciattarelli and his allies are highlighting Spadea’s lackluster fundraising compared to his own, as a sign that Spadea won’t be able to compete with New Jersey’s dominant Democratic machine in the general election. The message is clear: You want to back a guy who can actually win the general election. The sense I get is that a Trump endorsement would be the shot Spadea’s campaign needs to become the frontrunner, while Ciattarelli — though he would obviously welcome a Trump endorsement — would be comfortable with a neutral president. You can imagine what kind of outreach to Trump is going on behind the scenes. But you have to wonder whether all the Trump fealty will prove short-sighted. Trump is relatively popular in opinion polls, or at least not spectacularly unpopular — even in the limited data we have for New Jersey. If Trump becomes toxic in New Jersey like he was in 2017 and 2018, the only GOP candidate who would have a chance to draw any distance between themselves and the president is Jon Bramnick — and, let’s be honest, who thinks he has a shot at the nomination from a party base that worships Trump and booed Bramnick when he had the temerity to criticize Trump’s pardoning of rioters who beat up cops? Read more about it here. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Hadar Arazi WHERE’S WAY? Acting Gov. Way has no public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Today, Donald Trump acted more like Russia's Putin than America's President.” — Sen. Cory Booker TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
OLD CONVENTIONS — County conventions were all the rage in NJ. Now candidates are skipping out, by POLITICO’s Madison Fernandez: This time last year, New Jersey’s county conventions were must-watch affairs like Iowa and New Hampshire are in presidential elections ... Now many of the candidates running in one of the nation’s premier races for governor are ditching conventions and making direct appeals to primary voters, leaving party bosses on the sidelines. That isn’t sitting well with some county leaders. Skipping conventions is a “slap in the organization’s face,” said Union County Republican Chair Carlos Santos, whose convention is next week … “I know what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to tear down the party and say, ‘The county party has been corrupt.’ And you know what, some of them have,” Santos said. “I’m going to run a clean, fair convention, and if you’re so kind to come participate, it’s open to everybody who submitted a letter of intent.” In past elections, those endorsements at the county level would all but guarantee that a party-blessed candidate would prevail in the primary, causing hopefuls to invest hefty resources for courting party insiders. This time around, many of the gubernatorial candidates are eschewing the events, arguing their time is better spent on the trail in this new post-line political environment.
STEPPING UP TO THE PLAT — So far in the aftermath of George Norcross’ indictment dismissal, it’s been Republicans calling for Attorney General Matt Platkin’s impeachment. Democratic leaders, with some exceptions, have been (notably) silent. So around 70 progressives signed on to an open letter to Gov. Murphy and members of the Legislature today in support of Platkin. “Recent attempts to undermine the Office of the Attorney General represent a dangerous assault on the principle that no one — regardless of political power or connections — should be above the law. They are a page straight out of the Trump playbook, where if you don't like what a prosecutor is investigating, you try to remove them from office,” reads the letter that includes many leaders of unions and progressive advocacy groups. There’s a lot of elected Democrats, and not just those on Team Norcross, who are not happy with Platkin, in part for the numerous botched cases from the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. But you have to wonder if Democrats, who have already drawn the ire of their party’s left flank through the OPRA overhaul, the “Elections Transparency Act” and the attempt to shove through Tammy Murphy as their Senate nominee, would want to risk poking that hive, especially when Andy Kim — the biggest Democrat to back up Platkin — is drawing crowds like this to gubernatorial forums. IN THE SCARLET — New Jersey colleges now face a state funding squeeze amid federal cuts, by POLITICO’s Eden Teshome: When President Donald Trump re-entered office last month, he released a flurry of executive orders threatening to revoke billions of dollars for higher education funding — from medical research grants to Title IX programming. Now, as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy prepares to leave office in 2026, his newly announced budget could deal another financial blow to the state’s colleges and universities. In what one of the state’s largest universities called an “unprecedented time of challenge,” the Murphy administration is proposing $184 million in cuts to higher education. They include approximately $37.8 million from four-year public colleges, $9.6 million from independent colleges and universities, $16.8 million from community colleges and $69.2 million from state-sponsored financial aid programs. — “Sweeney wins Burlington Democratic convention” — “Sussex County Dems go for Mikie Sherrill” — “New Jersey home builders sue 159 towns, claim they need to construct more affordable housing” — School funding stabilizes in governor’s proposed budget — “Several N.J. governor candidates say they will end the state’s sanctuary status — including one Democrat” — “McCann Stamato will vote no on N.J. budget over Bayonne & Jersey City BOE aid cuts” — “Assembly incumbents face challenges at Essex Dem convention” — “Hackensack woman running for governor to 'disrupt the corrupt'” — “What's next for ANCHOR, StayNJ and Senior Freeze in Phil Murphy's proposed 2026 NJ budget?” CARTOON BREAK — “New Jersey’s boss of bosses survives an attempt to topple his empire,” by Drew Sheneman | | TRUMP ERA | |
TRUMP IS TRYING TO MAKE BARAKA THE DEM GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE — “Newark mayor threatens stop-work order for ICE detention facility,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Brianna Vanozzi: “Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is blasting the announcement Thursday that the largest immigrant detention center on the East Coast would be at a facility in Newark. Baraka, who’s also running for the Democratic nomination for governor, said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News that the owner of Delaney Hall has not taken steps to lawfully open the facility. 'First, you have to get change-of-use permitting at the planning board; that hasn’t been done,' said Baraka. 'If you did work on a building, you have to get permits to do that. They did not get any city permits to start work or finish work. And once the work is done, it has to be inspected … ‘We’re going to go over there in the next couple of days and probably do a stop-work order to shut the building down until they finish getting permits,’ said Baraka.” DOES MENENDEZ APPROVE? — “For N.J. U.S. Attorney slot, Trump loyalist from Philadelphia in the mix,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “John Giordano, a 42-year-old Philadelphia lawyer with close ties to President Donald Trump, has emerged as a leading candidate to serve as the acting U.S. Attorney, the New Jersey Globe has learned. He had served as deputy general counsel to the Trump transition team after the 2016 election … It’s unclear whether Giordano is under consideration as the permanent U.S. Attorney in New Jersey or if the post is simply a temporary assignment. Sources told the New Jersey Globe that Giordano is not the number one choice for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania position.” | | LOCAL | |
SMELLS LIKE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY — “Unnecessary evil? It’s a ‘fight for air’ in N.J. city where massive scrapyard fire was nearly a national catastrophe,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas: “They knew it was EMR. People in this part of the majority-Black and Hispanic city — where ‘subpar’ air quality grades are routine — don’t have to be told. It’s the fifth blaze at the metal recycling scrapyard that [Aliyia] Jones, who suffers from asthma like her daughter and cares for her 64-year-old mother, has personally experienced while living in the city. They were among the more than 100 city residents who evacuated for their safety. Eastern Metal Recycling, or EMR, a U.K.-based company, has been linked to numerous fires, fines and violations in Camden where its U.S. headquarters is located. Now, officials say something needs to be done — namely because the latest blaze could have been much worse. The incident could have resulted in raw sewage either flooding more than half-a-million homes or being spilled into nearby waterways, a Camden County official said … EMR has been cited by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection over 25 times in the past decade … Jones and several families in the city question whether there’s a lack of accountability and political favoritism at EMR because the company has made donations to Democrats. EMR in 2015 was also approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for $253 million in tax incentives over 10 years for its Camden facility.”
DAIS OF THUNDER — “School board members want lawyer to take her seat — away from them,” by TAPIntoNewark’s Nicole Zanchelli: “Where you sit matters. The controversy over whether the Newark school board’s general counsel represents the superintendent or the school board members erupted into another showdown on Thursday night when three school board members tried to remove Brenda Liss from sitting on the dais alongside board members. The effort was led by school board member Allison James-Frison, who said the general counsel had misled her by telling her that the superintendent’s contract is a confidential document and could only be read in her office … She asked that general counsel be removed from the dais because Liss is ‘not representing us well.’ … A group of board members have been agitating for hiring an independent attorney to represent the board since January of 2023, when board members learned from news accounts that the superintendent’s contract had been automatically renewed for five years without conversation or input from board members and the community.” TRENTON COPS — “Trenton mayor, police director promise changes after report found officers frequently use excessive force, violate rights,” by WHYY’s David Matthau: “Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora and Police Director Steve Wilson held a news conference at City Hall on Friday to discuss plans and policies that have been implemented to improve police operations in the city. ‘We’ve also contracted out to a third-party accreditation body to make sure we meet and exceed the appropriate police standards, and we’ve increased both training and supervision to ensure that our police officers are fully prepared to serve with integrity and respect for all citizens,’ Gusciora said. Last November, the U.S. Department of Justice released a 45-page report that found the Trenton police department routinely made improper arrests, with officers frequently using excessive force and conducting traffic stops and searches without a warrant, violating the Fourth Amendment rights of residents … The DOJ report, which reviewed activities between October 2023 and November 2024, found officers ‘frequently grab, tackle and punch people who show little resistance to order or pose no threat.’ Wilson said even before the DOJ report was issued, the violent crimes unit and the street crimes unit had been disbanded.” SKEWERING ICE — “'Immigrants are welcome here': Hundreds show support for Jersey Kebab, Emanet family,” by the Courier Post’s Kaitlyn McCormick: “Past the Jersey Kebab logo and colorful messages of support that had been taped to the glass in the previous days, Celal Emanet looked out the window of his family's restaurant, facing hundreds of people cheering, chanting and holding signs reminding the Emanets that they're loved and welcomed in their Camden County town. ‘I didn't expect that kind of ... support,’ Emanet said as community members rallied along both sides of Haddon Avenue on Saturday afternoon. Celal and his wife, Emine, were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Feb. 25, sparking outrage and a swift onslaught of supportive action in their community. While Emanet was released with an ankle monitor, the family's matriarch remains in a North Jersey detention center awaiting a bond hearing.” MORE RADIOACTIVE THAN THE TOILET PAPER TAX — “Lacey can tax nuclear waste casks at Oyster Creek, court rules,” by the Asbury Park Press’ Amanda Oglesby: “Concrete and metal storage casks that hold decades worth of highly radioactive, used fuel rods from the former Oyster Creek nuclear plant can be taxed, New Jersey's Tax Court ruled this week. Exelon Generation and Oyster Creek Environmental Protection LLC, a subsidiary of Holtec, a Camden-based company that is decommissioning the power plant, sued Lacey Township. It argued that 67 nuclear waste storage casks on the Lacey property are not permanent structure and as temporary structures the casks are not subject to being taxed. Lacey's attorneys said that in the absence of somewhere to send the casks, they are on site permanently and should be taxed as permanent structures.” — “Amid community outcry, ICE releases statement on arrests of NJ restaurant owners” — “‘Would have been devastating’: Camden scrapyard fire could have sent sewage into 500,000 basements, official says” — “Cuts in proposed N.J. budget pose ‘undeniable challenges’ for some South Jersey school districts” — “Newark schools would get $1.3 billion in aid under Gov. Phil Murphy’s 2026 budget plan” — “Lakewood blames New Jersey for new garbage transfer station hold up. The state disagrees” — “Cristina Cutrone appointed Fair Lawn's new mayor to replace Gail Rottenstrich” — “Gillian downplays Wonderland impact at Ocean City town hall” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
EYE OF THE LAWYER — “Courts rarely meddle in high school sports. Anthony Knox ruling turns everything upside down,” by the Asbury Park Press’ Stephen Edelson: “Beyond allowing St. John Vianney superstar wrestler Anthony Knox Jr. to compete through next weekend’s NJSIAA Championship, keeping alive his quest to win a fourth state title, the stunning ruling by state Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Bartels Friday has far-reaching ramifications for high school sports in the state. Because a Pandora’s box was opened by granting a temporary restraining order after Knox was suspended by NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen Maguire for his involvement in a wild melee in the stands at the NJSIAA District 25 tournament last Saturday. It’s a radical departure from the norm, with the courts generally staying out of the business of high school athletics — and it raises the possibility that athletes, parents, coaches and school districts will be lawyering up on a weekly basis.”
TIME TO MAKE OFF WITH THE DONUTS — “Serial Dunkin' Donuts burglar hit 15 stores across N.J., officials say,” by NJ Advance Media’s AJ McDougall: “A 24-year-old man was arrested last week in connection with a string of burglaries at Dunkin' Donuts stores across four New Jersey counties, authorities announced Saturday. Enajaim E. Bowman of Newark was charged in the five-week spree on Feb. 11. He surrendered Tuesday and was taken into custody without incident, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release. From mid-December to mid-January, Bowman is accused of stealing $18,267 in cash and $140 in gift cards from 15 Dunkin’ stores in Bergen, Middlesex, Morris and Union counties.” — “Alumni worry [FDU] may sell its ‘Downton Abbey’-like campus in England” — “Rutgers’ next chapter demands a visionary president | Opinion” — “N.J. swindler who took millions from investors charged with new scam after prison”
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