Latest news with #Spadea
Politico
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
No bygones yet between Ciattarelli and Spadea
Good Wednesday morning! The Democratic gubernatorial primary got tense, but the fighting was over by June 11. The insults had been hurled. Maybe some of the candidates still aren't fond of each other, but they've kept their insults private. Not so on the Republican side. Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli and his former rival Bill Spadea have still not spoken since Ciattarelli won in a landslide. And Spadea is still on Twitter talking trash. 'They are 20 points down and desperate,' Spadea tweeted, responding to an attack by 'America First Republicans of New Jersey' that accused Spadea of scamming donors by using Trump 's name. (The email solicitation was from a pro-Spadea super PAC that he is no longer officially involved in.) 'Confident, principled leaders don't lie and smear opponents before or after a win. Bad actors.' Ciattarelli's team doesn't look like they're sweating it, especially after handily beating Spadea handily even in what were supposed to be his strongest areas. But Spadea in his concession speech strongly suggested he'd be returning to his radio hosting gig at NJ 101.5, which he called 'the biggest microphone in this state.' I could see Spadea ranting about Ciattarelli during every morning commute potentially costing him some hard right support, which could matter if it's a tight race. But there's at least one sign of Republican rapprochement: Ciattarelli and Spadea's most powerful backer, Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore, are at least talking. The two spoke last week, Gilmore told me. 'We all know we have to unite the Republicans to be successful in November and we will work to that end,' he said. FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — On Harry Hurley at 10:35 a.m. Listen here. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'The people of New Jersey deserve a US Attorney that has deep experience with law enforcement, a reputation and an approach that puts partisanship to the side, and who will work to keep our communities safe and impartially pursue justice. In her short tenure as interim US Attorney, she has degraded the office and pursued frivolous and politically motivated prosecutions. It's clear that Alina Habba does not meet the standard to serve the people of New Jersey.' — Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Shirley Turner, Avi Schnall, Bob Gordon, Marleina Ubel. Thursday for Bob Auth, Anette Quijano, America, Ed Oatman, Matt Katz, Mike Assad, Geoffrey Borshof, Justin Rodriguez. Saturday for Latham Tiver, Mark Mueller, Kabir Moss, Chris Trimarchi. Sunday for Dale Caldwell, Tim Larsen PROGRAMMING NOTE — New Jersey Playbook will not publish on July 4. I'll be back in your inbox Monday. WHAT TRENTON MADE BUDGET — The budget is done. Here's what the next governor inherits, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Gov. Phil Murphy's would-be successors are going to inherit a state in better financial shape than he did but still one that is showing signs of strain. Murphy's final budget, which he signed late Monday night, has a $6.7 billion surplus — which is far larger than the $409 million surplus Murphy was handed when he entered office. But it also has a $1.5 billion structural deficit — meaning the state is spending more than it is taking in — with rising state expenses and federal funding cuts looming. To help keep the surplus high, something Murphy does in part to prepare the state for a rainy day and to appease credit ratings agencies, he agreed to a series of nips and tucks that have caused the coalition of unions and environmental groups that helped elect him to splinter. … On Tuesday, just 12 hours after Murphy signed the state budget, the U.S. Senate passed a megabill that includes significant but unknown cuts to Medicaid, though not all changes take effect immediately. So far, though, no specific conversations have taken place regarding coming back into session, a Murphy administration official said.' —'New Jersey gun-rights advocates target racial disparities in carry permit denials,' by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo: 'Paterson police denied Mahmoud 'Mo' Ramadan's request for a gun carry permit after he hounded them — and the mayor — about their poky pace in processing his application. Sharon Palombi got denied in South Toms River because of her past police involvement as a crime victim. And Leonard Mirabal's extensive — but non-criminal — driving infractions prompted Carlstadt cops to refuse his carry request. New Jersey law … allows officers to make subjective judgments and reject applicants they deem lack 'the essential character of temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm.' Consequently, a growing, disgruntled group of applicants — including Ramadan, Palombi, and Mirabal — have successfully challenged denials, which two recent studies found have disproportionately impacted people of color in New Jersey. Now, a Republican state lawmaker wants police to answer to the Legislature and the public on the issue, by mandating monthly reporting on permit denials.' A NIGHTMARE ON SESAME STREET — 'New Jersey reduces funding for NJ PBS,' by Current's Julian Wyllie: 'The fiscal year 2026 New Jersey state budget signed by Gov. Phil Murphy Monday reduces funding for NJ PBS, the state network operated by the WNET Group in New York. The budget appropriates $250,000 to NJ PBS, a decline from the $1 million authorized the previous year. According to NJ PBS' fiscal year 2024 990 form, the most recent available, the station had a $56,000 deficit and brought in nearly $11.5 million in revenue. 'We appreciate any allocation with which the state provides us and will be building out our FY26 plans accordingly,' NJ PBS said in a statement provided to Current. NJ PBS has faced financial difficulties over the past 18 months. Last year, the WNET Group laid off employees and restructured staff, affecting 34 positions.' —'NJ's next governor could inherit school segregation dispute' —Snowflack: 'Newspapers strike out on legal ads' —'Advocates condemn bill to remove state police from attorney general's office' —'NJ advocates want stronger state oversight, better investigations of group homes' —'Poll finds New Jerseyans want to prioritize renewable energy development' —'Natalie Hamilton departs Governor's office for FIFA World Cup post' —'Tyler Jones is Murphy's new press secretary' —'Gubernatorial candidates to speak at NJ's largest manufacturing event' TRUMP ERA MEGA DEATH — 'NJ's new budget may get walloped as US Senate passes Trump's tax bill,' by NJ Spotlight News' Benjamin J. Hulac and Lilo Stainton: 'Portions of the bill that were public before passage show the bill cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, the national insurance system for the poor and disabled, and $285 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the national food aid program. 'Our state is just not positioned to be able to fill the gaps that we're seeing,'Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. 'We already see the challenge our New Jersey budget is in this year, and we're just not in a position to offset.' After passage, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said the bill will hit rural and big-city hospitals, like University Hospital Newark, a Level 1 trauma center, the sort of facility that sees high volumes of patients. 'I've already talked to their administrators,' Booker said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. 'This is a hatchet to their financial security.' In New Jersey, Medicaid alone comprises more than 40% of the state's proposed spending for the coming fiscal year.' DID ANYONE REALLY THINK HE WOULD VOTE AGAINST IT? — @PeterSullivan4: 'Van Drew, who has long raised concerns with Medicaid cuts, says he is leaning YES Says provider tax cuts don't take effect til 2028 which makes him feel better, says maybe they could be delayed later on too' HOUSE, M.D. — Medical doctor launches Democratic campaign to take on Kean, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Tina Shah, a medical doctor who worked in the Biden and Obama administrations, is joining a crowded field of Democrats seeking to run against two-term Republican Tom Kean Jr. in the 7th Congressional District. Shah announced her candidacy Monday, becoming the fifth declared Democrat in this Central Jersey district that's expected to be one of New Jersey's most competitive next year. As the only doctor in, Shah has a unique perspective to address cuts to Medicaid in the megabill working its way through Congress. 'We just had Tom Kean Jr. cast a deciding vote to cut Medicaid. And now it's coming back and he's likely to do it again,' Shah said. 'I take care of Medicaid patients every day that I'm practicing. And what I see is that having Medicaid helps them actually get back to health, get out of the hospital and live their lives.' LOCAL BUCH WILD — 'Lakewood's $6 million school board attorney is out pending future court ruling,' by The Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: 'Michael Inzelbuch is no longer Lakewood Board of Education attorney. At least for now. An administrative law judge on Tuesday, July 1, ruled that Inzelbuch cannot remain in his $475-per hour post until a legal dispute over his contract is settled, which could take several months. That dispute arose in March when State Monitor Louise Davis blocked the school board from rehiring Inzelbuch for another year after his previous contract expired on June 30, 2025 … In the meantime, the school board had requested a stay in the matter so that Inzelbuch could remain on the job until a final decision of the appeal is made, according to court documents. The request for a stay went before Administrative Law Judge Susan Scarola on Monday, June 30. Scarola issued a ruling late Tuesday that denied the motion and effectively removed Inzelbuch from the board attorney post until the original appeal of the state monitor denial of the new contract is decided … Scarola also stated that the school board was 'not likely to succeed on the merits of its claim that the state monitor exceeded her authority' when she denied the original contract approval.' ALWAYS BET ON BLAT — 'Showboat owner Bart Blatstein pays $500K debt to contractor after arrest warrant issued,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Wayne Parry: 'Developer Bart Blatstein paid a debt to an electrical company that did work on the Showboat parking garage and other locations — but only after the contractor got an arrest warrant threatening to bring him before a judge. Blatstein, who owns the Showboat Resort Atlantic City, owed Buena-based Lee-Way Electrical more than $532,000 for work done at the Showboat and the property at 801 Boardwalk that includes the Island Waterpark. But he had fallen behind on mutually agreed-upon payments. After numerous attempts to collect the debt, including the issuance of a court order in March requiring Blatstein and his companies to pay the contractor, Lee-Way obtained an arrest warrant last week for the developer. It did not seek to incarcerate him, but rather to bring him before a judge. ... 'It was an oversight that was rectified immediately,' he said. 'It's done. There's no further action.' Asked whether he or his companies were experiencing financial difficulties, Blatstein replied, 'None whatsoever. We're having our best year.' He declined further comment.' AFFORDABLE CLOWNING OBLIGATIONS — 'Court ruling could bring affordable housing to old Middletown home of Circus liquor store,' by The Asbury Park Press' Michael Diamond: 'A developer is a step closer to building affordable housing on the former site of the Circus Liquors store in Middletown after a New Jersey appeals court upheld a decision that stopped the town from taking control of the property to build a commercial development instead … While Middletown officials said they would appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court, housing advocates said the ruling was a message for towns to comply with the state's housing obligations that are spelled out for them in the Mount Laurel doctrine. … The ruling is the latest step in the development of a 52-acre property on Route 35 that was home to Circus Wine, Beers & Spirits — and the iconic Calico clown sign that continues to loom over it.' HACKENSACKED —'Council slate that swept Hackensack's May election sworn in, selects new mayor,' by The Record's Megan Burrow: 'Five new council members were sworn in July 1, ushering in a new era for the city after sweeping the May City Council election with a decisive victory to oust a slate of incumbents. Caseen Gaines, a teacher at Hackensack High School and president of the Hackensack Education Association, who was the top vote-getter in the election with 2,821 votes, was chosen as mayor, replacing three-term Mayor John Labrosse, who lost his reelection bid.' —'N.J. Education Board approves acting Camden schools superintendent' —'Crowley named Ocean City Council president' —'Clinton Township rejects ExxonMobil proposal to build hundreds of affordable housing units' EVERYTHING ELSE RUTGERS — 'The 5 biggest perks in new Rutgers president's record-breaking contract,' by NJ Advance Media's Liz Rosenberg: 'Rutgers University's new president will earn $1.45 million in salary and bonuses over the next year under a record-setting compensation package that also includes a historic house, a car and driver, and other perks that come with leading the state university. William F. Tate IV — who started working for Rutgers on Tuesday — will make $1.1 million in base salary his first year, according to his contract. … Tate will be eligible for a performance bonus each year. In his first year on the job, he will receive the maximum bonus, taking home $352,000 on top of his base salary, according to his contract. ... If Tate stays at Rutgers for five years, he will receive an additional $1.875 million in deferred compensation on top of his regular salary and bonuses, according to his contract. … Though Tate's pay is the highest-ever at the state university, he will not be the highest-paid person at Rutgers. That honor usually goes to coaches, including head football coach Greg Schiano, who earned $6.25 million last year.' OF ALL THE PLACES TO BRANDISH A KNIFE… — 'Wayne man charged with brandishing knife, threatening employees at Outback Steakhouse,' by The Record's Kyle Morel: 'A Wayne man was arrested after allegedly making death threats and holding a knife to employees at a restaurant in the township, authorities said. Khalil Bakho, 60, is facing charges of harassment, disorderly conduct, terroristic threats, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, according to a press release from the Wayne Police Department. The arrest stemmed from an incident at Outback Steakhouse on June 27.' DO NOT DRIVE TO THE PA FIREWORKS STORE RIGHT ACROSS THE BRIDGE FROM TRENTON TO BUY THE GOOD STUFF — 'What fireworks are legal in NJ for July 4th? 'Anything that explodes' is a no-no,' by The Daily Record's William Westhoven: 'Fireworks on the Fourth are a time-honored American tradition, celebrating our nation's independence with the 'rockets' red glare, bombs bursting in air' embedded in our national anthem. Many New Jersey towns sponsor their own shows, but the Garden State also among the tightest regulations regarding the sale and use of fireworks by residents looking to light up their own neighborhoods. A public service announcement released by the Morris County Sheriff's Department sums up the state guidelines by identifying illegal fireworks as 'anything that explodes.' In short, if you can blow it up, don't.' —'Bus crash injures 12, shuts down N.Y. bus terminal during morning rush' —'New Jersey Farm Bureau names Liz Thompson as executive director' —'Mission to find a match: NJ man searches for donor with flyers at Jersey Shore' —'Atlantic County man has a handle(bar) on beard and mustache competition: Must Win'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump-backed Jack Ciattarelli captures GOP nomination for New Jersey governor
HOLMDEL, N.J. - The candidate President Donald Trump recently endorsed in New Jersey has won the state's Republican gubernatorial primary, in the 2025 race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. The Associated Press projects that Jack Ciattarelli, a former GOP state lawmaker who is making his third bid for New Jersey governor, will capture the Republican nomination, topping four rivals in Tuesday's primary in a race that for months had been a battle for Trump's support. Among those Cittarelli defeated were former businessman and popular conservative talk radio host Bill Spadea and state Sen. Jon Bramnick, a lawyer who served for a decade as state Assembly GOP leader. Ciattarelli and Spadea spent months trading fire over which of them was a bigger Trump supporter. Trump Not On The Ballot But Front-and-center In New Jersey Primary But last month the president endorsed Cittarelli, who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination in 2017, but four years later he captured the nomination and overperformed in the general election, coming close to ousting Murphy. Read On The Fox News App "I'm asking you to get out and vote for a true champion for the people of your state – Jack Ciattarelli. He's been a friend of mine, and he's been a real success story," Trump told supporters a week ago, as he dialed into a tele-rally on the eve of the kick-off of early voting in New Jersey. New Jersey Primary Early Test Of Trump's Second Term As President Trump's grip over the GOP is stronger than ever following his convincing White House re-election victory last November, and Cittarrelli, in a Fox News Digtal interview last week, said the president's endorsement was "a really big deal" and added "the president's doing very, very well in New Jersey." Spadea said that not landing Trump's endorsement "was certainly disappointing." "I mean, we made no bones about this. We absolutely wanted the president's endorsement. Unfortunately, the president endorsed a poll and not a plan," Spadea told Fox News Digital last week. "I have been a supporter of President Trump since he came down the escalator," as he referenced Trump's announcement in 2015 of his first presidential campaign. "There is no question that I am the common-sense conservative. I am the actual Republican in this primary," Spadea claimed. And Spadea questioned Ciattarelli's support for Trump, arguing that his rival "has disrespected him [Trump] for the better part of the last eight years…We thought that that endorsement would have been better served with me." Four years ago, after he won the GOP gubernatorial nomination, Ciattarelli, when asked if he was seeking the then-former president's endorsement, told Fox News Digital "there's only one endorsement I seek, and that's the endorsement of the voters of New Jersey. That's the only one that matters." What Jack Ciattarelli Told Fox News Digital Fast-forward to 2025, and Ciattarelli emphasized that "people really appreciate what he [Trump] is doing for New Jerseyans. He's put a temporary hold on the wind farms off the Jersey Shore. He's beating up on the New York Democrats over congestion pricing. He supports a quadrupling of the SALT [state and local tax] deduction on our federal tax returns. Those are big deals to New Jersey, and that's why he's got so much great support here. And I'm honored to have his endorsement." Asked why Trump endorsed him rather than Spadea, Ciattarelli said that "the president wants to win. He knows that I provide the best opportunity to win in November." "He knows we're going to raise the necessary money. We've raised more money than the other five Republican gubernatorial candidates combined," added Ciattarelli, a certified public accountant who started a medical publishing company before getting into politics. Ciattarelli's fundraising allowed him to dominate the GOP primary ad wars. The Democratic Governors Association, pointing to the rush to embrace Trump by the top two candidates, long described the 2025 Republican showdown as a "MAGA battle" and argued that there's "extremism in the GOP primary." While New Jersey has long leaned toward the Democrats, Republicans have had success in gubernatorial elections. "It's not a blue state when it comes to governor races, Republicans have won six of the last 11. That's better than 50%," Ciattarelli said. Trump, who for years has spent summer weekends at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, held a very large campaign rally last year in Wildwood, N.J. And he improved from a 16-point loss in the state in the 2020 election to a 6-point deficit last November. Ciattarelli, looking ahead to the general election campaign, said he's "really looking forward" to Trump's "active participation…I think New Jerseyans are anxious to have him on the campaign trail with me and help deliver a win for us in November."Original article source: Trump-backed Jack Ciattarelli captures GOP nomination for New Jersey governor
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thoughts on the final debate between three Republicans running for governor
The three front-runners for the GOP nomination for governor backed smaller budgets, the death penalty, and harsher penalties for juvenile partygoers. (Illustration by Alex Cochran for New Jersey Monitor) The final GOP debate of the gubernatorial primary season was Tuesday night in Newark, with the three front-runners — state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, and radio talk show host Bill Spadea — on the stage. Here are my thoughts, in no particular order: The audience was rowdy, much more so than the larger crowd that attended the five-person Democratic debate on Sunday. Not sure if audience members met up to pregame or whether Republican voters are just more rambunctious, but it sure got loud. The Dem debate was light on one-on-one attacks. Ciattarelli and Spadea did not hold back, with Ciattarelli hitting Spadea for never winning elective office and Spadea attacking both his chief rivals for being insiders. Bramnick, who got in a few jabs of his own, often appeared like a peacemaking dad to two brawling children. 'Let's stay with the substance, and in the general election none of this is going to help us. Let's concentrate on the Democratic policies that have put our state in a situation where we're unaffordable, energy costs are off the charts, and of course we're closing prisons as opposed to putting people in prisons,' he said. President Trump loomed large, naturally, especially his endorsement of Ciattarelli over Spadea, who got this issue out of the way from the start, saying in his opening statement, 'The president endorsed a poll, a poll that was conducted and paid for by Jack's campaign. The president did not endorse a plan. The president did not endorse a set of principles.' Bramnick, who has been a Trump critic for years, was not in the running for the president's nod, which he noted with a quip: 'I did not get the endorsement from Donald Trump. I waited up late at night — no phone call.' Thoughts on New Jersey Democrats' long, long debate night All three candidates came out in favor of restoring the death penalty, which was abolished in 2007, during a discussion of the Newark 14-year-old accused of killing Newark Police Sgt. Joseph Azcona in March. After Ciattarelli said he would make sure the teen gets prosecuted as an adult, Spadea said he supports the death penalty for all cop killers. Ciattarelli said he supports the death penalty for serial killers, mass murderers, and terrorists. Bramnick, who voted against getting rid of capital punishment when he was in the Assembly, said it should be in place for certain instances, like for people who murder and rape children. 'So I have a voting record on that, not a radio record,' he said, taking a swipe at Spadea. Bramnick doesn't think much of Democratic governor hopeful Rep. Josh Gottheimer's pledge to cut property taxes by 15%. 'I'm going to put Josh on my tax reduction team,' Bramnick said. 'He can serve with Houdini and other people who make stuff up, right? Look, Josh keeps saying that and I've been serving the Legislature and as the leader for 10 years — he's talking nuts.' Boy, Republicans do not like pronouns. Spadea and Ciattarelli mentioned pronouns four times last night, with Ciattarelli saying about Democrats, 'They worry about pronouns, I worry about property taxes' (two pronouns in that sentence, by the way) and Spadea saying several times that schools and colleges are too focused on 'pronouns and propaganda.' All three candidates came out strongly in favor of punishing juveniles who show up in large masses on boardwalks because of pop-up parties advertised on social media. Local authorities have griped that they can't handle so many teens hanging out in one place at a time, and Spadea said kids should be punished. 'There are local laws that are being violated in terms of the number of people that are gathering outside. We've handcuffed our police officers so, A, I believe we need to start charging 14-year-olds as adults,' he said. A wild response to large mobs of kids showing up and hanging out at beaches and boardwalks, some of our state's most popular tourist destinations. Ciattarelli pledged, 'We're not going to have flash mobs on our Jersey Shore when I'm governor.' Bramnick, meanwhile, said, 'I would give no leeway whatsoever to rioting anywhere, especially on the sacred ground of the Jersey Shore.' Ah, yes, sacred. Exactly the word I think of when I'm stepping over someone puking on the boardwalk outside Martell's on a Friday night in July. Gov. Phil Murphy's budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is $58.1 billion. The Republican candidates to succeed Murphy have all said they think there's too much spending now — but how much do they think a state budget should be? Moderator David Wildstein of New Jersey Globe asked this question, and Bramnick sorta answered by saying he'd get rid of pork projects that he said have added $5 billion to the budget over the last seven years, while Spadea said the budget should be about $46 billion. Ciattarelli noted that budgets under Murphy's predecessors included billions less in spending, though he did not specify what he thought the budget should be. 'Jack's going to have to check with his lobbyist before he'll give you a specific answer on what he'll actually cut,' Spadea said. There are two more candidates who will be on the June 10 GOP primary ballot: Burlington County contractor Justin Barbera and former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac. Neither of them raised enough money to receive matching funds from the state for their campaign, so they were barred from appearing at last night's debate. Kranjac held counter-programming in the form of a tele-town hall with Clinton-era GOP hero Newt Gingrich. Barbera showed up last night and was escorted out by police after he verbally tussled with debate organizers (he wanted to be featured in the post-debate press conference). 'I deserve to be up there,' he said. 'You're what's wrong with this state.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After losing Trump endorsement, GOP governor hopeful carries on
Republican governor hopefuls Jack Ciattarelli, left, and Bill Spadea have been fighting for the support of Donald Trump's voters. (Ciattarelli photo by Amanda Burns/Spadea photo by Hal Brown) Bill Spadea, the Republican former radio host running to become New Jersey's next governor, said learning that he would not be getting President Donald Trump's endorsement was like a punch to the gut. Spadea was walking into a campaign event Monday night when he received a phone call from Bill Stepien, who ran Trump's 2020 reelection campaign, telling him Trump would be endorsing Spadea's chief rival in the GOP primary, Jack Ciattarelli. Spadea said he hadn't seen that coming. But, he said, by the next morning, he woke up to hundreds of texts of support, dozens of new volunteers signed up, and a flood of new, low-dollar donations. 'It exposed this incredible groundswell, thousands of people reaching out. I don't know that I would have heard from all those people if they didn't feel the need to say, 'Wait a minute. This is ridiculous — you're the Trump guy.' So I'm very pleased about that,' Spadea said Thursday following a lunch event with the Women's Republican Club Mantoloking-Bay Head. Spadea and Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman who has twice before sought the governor's seat, have spent months dueling for the support of Trump and the president's supporters. Trump on Monday posted his endorsement of Ciattarelli on social media, calling Ciattarelli 'a terrific America First candidate.' Ciattarelli called himself 'truly humbled and honored' to receive Trump's endorsement. Speaking to voters at Charlie's of Bay Head Thursday, Spadea compared Trump's endorsement of Ciattarelli to a priest at a funeral giving remarks for someone they didn't know. He said Trump endorsed 'a poll, not a person.' Several polls have shown for much of the race that Ciattarelli is the clear front-runner in the five-man GOP primary. An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill poll released Thursday puts Ciattarelli at 44% and Spadea in second place at 18%. The poll says 23% of respondents were undecided. 'The guys around the president want it easy. They're like, 'Oh, Mr. President, look at this, he's 20 points down. He can't win,'' Spadea said. 'Really? Because I remember 2016, when Hillary Clinton had a 98% chance of becoming the president.' Asked to comment, Ciattarelli campaign strategist Chris Russell called Spadea's remarks 'just more BS.' 'The fact of the matter is that Spadea is losing this race by a landslide because of his harsh attacks on President Trump and his lying smears against Jack Ciattarelli. If Spadea thinks it's a good idea to double down on that failed strategy, more power to him. Jack is focused on uniting the party and working with President Trump to fix our state,' Russell said. Ciattarelli was the Republican nominee for governor in 2021, losing to Gov. Phil Murphy in a close race. Less than four weeks remain until June 10, when voters will decide who wins the Democratic and Republican nominations for governor in the fall. Murphy, a Democrat, will leave office in January and is barred from seeking a third consecutive term. In addition to the five-man GOP race to succeed him, six Democrats are vying for their party's nomination. While Spadea said Thursday he's disappointed he wasn't endorsed by Trump, he believes it'll hurt Ciattarelli in the long run. He cited candidates with Trump's endorsement who lost their elections, including Christine Serrano Glassner in last year's U.S. Senate primary in New Jersey. Candidates need to have a 'certain character, strength, principles in order to capitalize on making that endorsement something,' Spadea said. 'Our plan aligns with his plan, so it would have been a real match,' he said. 'So, it would've helped me. It's not going to help Jack the way he thinks.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Politico
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
NJ Spotlight News' Fight Night
Presented by Good Thursday morning! NJ Spotlight News hosted a 'conversation' last night with the three debate-eligible Republican gubernatorial candidates: State Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblymember Jack Ciattarelli and former radio host Bill Spadea. It was more of an hour-long argument, and a particularly bitter one during the exchanges between Ciattarelli and Spadea. Fairly early on, after Spadea criticized Ciattarelli as an 'insider,' Ciattarelli hit him over his fundraising practices. 'What do you call a person who fleeced seniors to give contributions? That's an insider,' Ciattarelli said. Spadea shot back that Ciattarelli was 'scared' and lying about him. 'It's all about character. You have none,' Ciattarelli told Spadea. 'You're sad and desperate,' Spadea responded. I could try go into the candidates' policy differences, but there's not much space at the top of this newsletter, and frankly the candidates broke little news on that front. But here are some things that really stuck out. On whether to maintain the Supreme Court's traditional partisan balance — in which no party has more than a one-seat advantage — Ciattarelli took the most radical position, saying he would discard it. Spadea was noncommittal, even though he's calling for executive orders on affordable housing and other issues with long Supreme Court precedents that would almost certainly be put in front of the justices. And Bramnick said he would keep the balance in place, because 'if you tell Democrats that's what we're going to do, they'll start doing it.' Ciattarelli said he would support whoever wins the primary, as did Bramnick. But Spadea did not commit, using his time to call Ciattarelli a 'two-time loser' who 'did not want my support or President Trump's support in 2021.' (Spadea did commit to do so in this January interview if the nominee supports Trump). And while Bramnick is by far the most 'establishment' of the three — a dirty word in either party's primary — he was the only one to express skepticism of authority. Asked about deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records, Bramnick supported their right to due process, saying they're entitled 'to at least make sure you got the right guy.' 'Just because the government says 'that's a bad guy,' you believe whatever the government says?' he said. FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'It's like putting the hot dog on a hamburger bun.' — An unnamed Facebook user protesting the rumor that the Wildwood Boardwalk plans to replace its iconic tram car towing car with a yellow Ford pick-up truck. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Chris Megerian, Matt Greller, Sabeen Masih, Yale Hauptman, Miranda Peterson WHAT TRENTON MADE SCOTNJ — Republicans raise prospect of tilting balance of state Supreme Court, by POLITICO's Madison Fernandez: Republicans vying to flip the governorship this year are opening the door to altering the traditional partisan balance of the state Supreme Court. During a Wednesday debate among Republicans Jon Bramnick, Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea, the candidates were asked if they would commit to maintaining the partisan balance of the state's highest court. Ciattarelli, who has previously stated he would prioritize 'qualifications, not partisanship' on the court, said he would not honor the balance because 'we need conservatives.' Bramnick disagreed with that approach, warning that it could open the door to Democrats stacking the court with liberal justices, and Spadea initially said that he didn't know. 'The way I look at the Supreme Court is that they have been a complete disaster over time, and we know that the chief justice will hit the retirement age and we're going to replace him,' Spadea said. ICE'S IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION TO BARAKA FOR GOVERNOR — 'Newark mayor confronted by armed ICE officers at private detention center,' by NJ Advance Media's Steve Strunsky: 'A line of armed ICE officers in combat fatigues greeted Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka Wednesday morning outside the gate of a privately run immigrant detention center that began housing detainees last week, despite the city's position that it was operating illegally. Baraka and other city officials were at the Delaney Hall detention center to try and serve a representative of its owner, the GEO Group of Boca Raton, Florida, with summonses that included refusing to grant access to the facility and failure to have an evacuation plan in place. … The peaceful standoff between the city's civilian delegation and the seven ICE officers in green military-style uniforms — with several Newark Police vehicles parked nearby — was one that Baraka and other city officials said they had never seen before. Baraka said it was clear that the ICE officers were meant to intimidate city inspectors, though he was not intimidated.' —'What to Know About the Newly Opened Immigration Detention Center in New Jersey's Biggest City' SH****NG ON THE BRIDGE OF THE BAY — 'Fulop says he'll repair Newark Bay Bridge, cancel new bridge project,' by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: 'The proposed $6 billion Newark Bay Bridge replacement received a permit from the U.S. Coast Guard – a major hurdle in the construction process set to commence early next year – but staff at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority this morning pushed back on the idea that a new governor could still call off the first step toward a controversial plan to widen the New Jersey Turnpike through parts of Hudson County. 'A new governor, or any governor, is going to have to reckon with the public safety issue,' said Tom Feeney, a spokesman for the authority. 'Just cancelling it is not going to be an option with public safety as the primary consideration.' But the answer doesn't satisfy one major gubernatorial contender, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a fervent opponent of the project. 'We need more mass transit and not more highways,' Fulop stated. 'As governor, we will complete safety improvements to the bridge and cancel the balance of this widening to reallocate the money to mass transit.' … Fulop said it was 'shameful' that Gov. Phil Murphy is backing the project.' —'The massive project to replace these N.J. Turnpike bridges gets a start date' WILL THE CUP CUP RUNNETH OVER BUDGET? — 'What has NJ spent — so far, at least — to fund the 2026 FIFA World Cup?' by The Record's Katie Sobko: 'Though the 2026 FIFA World Cup is still more than a year away, it's been costing New Jersey taxpayers money for a few years already. Trenton lawmakers have dispatched a total of $67.5 million to a New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority fund for 'International Events, Improvements & Attractions' over the last three state budgets. So far, the NJSEA has spent more than $32 million on the tournament. With another $32.4 million under contract, the NJSEA will spend as much as $64.4 million on the event, which will feature eight matches including the final at MetLife Stadium. Though they're not part of next year's tournament, another $4 million will be used to 'assist MetLife Stadium with securing and hosting upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 matches.'' —'Phil Murphy should not cozy up to the Saudis. 9/11 families need answers | Opinion' —'NJ Transit and its largest union reach a tentative agreement on a new contract' —'Trump is a felon. But N.J. extends his golf clubs' temporary liquor permits – again' —'Student details might get added protection' —'Is NJ's unemployment system recession ready?' —'Larry Hamm-led group endorses Baraka for governor' —'Nuclear New Jersey: Murphy embraces new reactors amid energy crisis' TRUMP ERA FEDERAL ANXIETY ADMINISTRATION — Newark's a symptom of the ailing air traffic system. Can Trump offer a cure?, by POLITICO's Oriana Pawlyk and Ry Rivard: Terrifying safety lapses at Newark Liberty International Airport are raising the stakes for the Trump administration's still-vague plan for upgrading the nation's aviation system — a multibillion-dollar blueprint whose debut is scheduled for Thursday. The plan, to be announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, comes on the heels of a series of unnerving aviation incidents in recent years, most seriously the midair collision near Washington that killed 67 people on Jan. 29. But more than a week of flight delays, cancellations and mechanical malfunctions at Newark has put an exclamation point on the demand for improvements in how the Federal Aviation Administration oversees the skies. The emerging plan will be one of the most challenging tests yet of the new Trump administration's ability to address years of flaws in an aging, but crucial government function meant to safeguard Americans' travel — even as it pursues spending and staffing cuts, including in the FAA. SALT IN THE WOUND — SALT Republicans leave critical meeting empty-handed, by POLITICO's Benjamin Guggenheim: House Republicans left a critical meeting of the Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday saying that a fight over a key tax deduction is still far from resolved. 'It's one of, I think, the stickiest points of the entire [budget] reconciliation. But we're getting there,' said committee member Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) … Malliotakis said Wednesday's discussion centered on whether there should be an income limit for qualifying for the deduction, if second homes would qualify and doubling the deduction for married couples. 'GIVE HIM A BREAK, WILL YA? IT'S AN EMOTIONAL DAY' — Former Sen. Bob Menendez is asking for another delay before he begins his 11-year federal prison sentence in June. His attorneys asked for the delay Wednesday, citing the upcoming wedding of his stepdaughter, the only daughter of his wife, Nadine Menendez. 'Allowing Sen. Menendez to accompany his wife to their daughter's wedding would alleviate this hardship and permit the family to be together for a meaningful (and perhaps final) gathering before the commencement of Sen. Menendez's lengthy custodial sentence,' Menendez attorneys Adam Fee and Avi Weitzman wrote. If granted, Menendez would report to a federal prison in Pennsylvania on June 17 rather than June 6. – Ry Rivard —'Cancellations, delays continue at Newark airport as Real ID begins' HEALTH CARE — 'Federal Medicaid cuts: Health care execs offer bleak outcome for NJ patients,' by The Record's Scott Fallon: 'Some have argued that Medicaid has become bloated, has made too many Americans dependent on it and has been taken advantage of by those who can instead get insurance by working a full-time job. But those who testified at the state Assembly Health Committee's three-hour session Tuesday described Medicaid as a thin line separating a vibrant, healthy society from one that plunges into disarray. 'Without Medicaid, I simply have no life,' said Kevin Nunez, a New Jersey disability advocate who has cerebral palsy. 'Without Medicaid, I couldn't get out of bed.' ... Although the cuts have been discussed for months and a House resolution that passed would target $880 billion over 10 years, there is still little information on what eligibility requirements will be changed, how much reimbursements would be cut and what programs would be targeted. 'We don't know what they're going to look like,' Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, a Democrat from Mount Laurel who chaired the hearing, said of the cuts. 'We just have an estimate of what it may be.'' THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY AND HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE — 'Trump appoints former 'Real Housewives' star to Holocaust Museum board,' by The Washington Post's Herb Scribner: 'President Donald Trump named five new members to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council on Monday night, including a former 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' television star whose stepson was charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The appointments, and eight others Trump made last week, will replace members he fired April 29, all of whom had been named by President Joe Biden. The abrupt ouster and replacement of Biden appointees before their terms expired — a prerogative that no previous president had exercised regarding the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum — has sparked concerns from some supporters of the museum.' —'Van Drew: NJ's lawsuit against Trump over offshore wind ban 'a slap in the face' to taxpayers' —'Starvation, looting: NJ aid worker in Gaza describes the day that nearly broke him' LOCAL UNARRESTED DEVELOPMENT — 'Lakewood fire reveals illegal shack apartments; owner faces thousands in fines,' by The Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: 'Five shack-like apartments that were evacuated by a fire last month were illegally built and rented out, according to township officials who say the owner has been cited for numerous violations and faces thousands of dollars in fines. That owner is linked to a major local developer who just last year had received township approval to build nine new homes on the property. Township records indicate the property is owned by a limited liability corporation headed by the president of Diversified Capital, a Lakewood-based firm … Diversified President Joseph Rosenbaum is listed in documents as the registered agent of the LLC and signed an affidavit of ownership for the project with the planning board in 2024. The [planning] board granted approval in April 2024 for the planned homes, according to records. A March 18, 2024, engineers report completed for the project appears to mention the illegal units … Minutes from the April 4, 2024, Planning Board meeting where the project was considered indicated little discussion and a unanimous board approval.' YOUR EMINENCE DOMAIN — ''Egregious land grab': Church will fight Toms River plan to seize land, knock it down,' by The Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle: 'Christ Episcopal Church is prepared for a legal fight to block the township from acquiring its downtown property, with the support of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. In a letter read to the Christ Church congregation on May 4, New Jersey Episcopal Bishop Sally French said, 'I am writing as your bishop to assure you of my support.' Rev. French added that she was 'shocked and deeply disappointed to learn of the unjust attempt by the mayor and township council to take away this beautiful church property.' The Township Council voted 4 to 3 April 30 to introduce an ordinance to acquire the nearly 11-acre church property at 415 Washington St., either through negotiation, or, if necessary, through eminent domain … Mayor Daniel Rodrick envisions the church property as part of a large waterfront park, including a soccer field on the site of the church building, eight pickleball courts, a skatepark and large playground … Rodrick has argued that the heavily populated downtown area has few recreation options for residents. But some speakers at the April 30 meeting claimed the mayor's move to acquire the church came in response to an ongoing effort by the church and the Affordable Housing Alliance to build a 17-bed overnight shelter for the homeless on the Christ Church property.' IRROLEVANT — 'U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna endorses former Jersey City BOE Pres. Mussab Ali for mayor,' by Hudson County View's John Heinis: 'U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) is endorsing former Jersey Board of Education President Mussab Ali for mayor, citing his record of community leadership and vision for progressive change. 'I'm proud to endorse Mussab Ali for Mayor of Jersey City. He represents exactly the kind of next-generation leadership we need—young, progressive, and deeply rooted in his community,' Khanna said in a statement … This is the second endorsement Ali has secured from outside New Jersey, with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison supporting his mayoral ran back in February, as HCV first reported.' —'In South Jersey, school districts are raising property taxes and considering cuts' —'NJ threatens fines if Paterson budget isn't introduced by May 30' —'Paterson school board passes new budget with 4% tax hike, lowest in years' —'Sheriff's Office Det. Sarmiento rounds out McGreevey's Jersey City council slate' —'Atlantic City moves Caribbean music festival to placate high-rise residents' EVERYTHING ELSE LOSING MY RELIGION LAWSUIT — 'Learning about Islam in public schools isn't indoctrination, appeals court rules,' by NJ Advance Media's Colleen Murphy: 'A federal appeals court dismissed a parent's claim that her son's middle school curriculum violated the Constitution by teaching about Islam. The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld the constitutionality of a social studies curriculum that included instructional videos about Islam. In its decision issued Monday, the court said that the Chatham School District's curriculum does not show any signs of promoting a specific religion. However, the attorney for the plaintiff, Chatham parent, Libby Hilsenrath, said he intends to appeal the ruling … Her complaint named the Chatham School District and several school officials and teachers. Hilsenrath argued that the inclusion of instructional videos about Islam in a World Cultures and Geography class violated the establishment clause of the first amendment, claiming it amounted to religious indoctrination and coercion.' — 'Survivor N.J.: This school has a one-of-a-kind wilderness survival class. Gen Z can't get enough' —'Meet the latest 'Jeopardy!' champ: Sarah Gillis, a loan processor from Asbury Park'
