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Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m disappointed, but I understand. The race was getting nasty. … Several of us met, heard from her and she said it’s taking a toll … And if we continued this way it would be a bloody, nasty campaign, and we’re not gonna do that.” – Somerset Democratic Chair Schaffer on First Lady Tammy Murphy’s decision to suspend her Senate campaign
TOP STORY: Kim, Dem Chairs Huddle, as a Federal Judge Readies His Gavel
In a stunning announcement, First Lady Tammy Murphy suspended her campaign for US Senate, saying that it is ‘clear to me that continuing in this race will involve waging a very divisive and negative campaign which I am not willing to do’. While she had wide county organizational support, chief rival Rep. Kim consistently prevailed in secret-ballot county conventions by large margins. Bowing out, Murphy said that ‘best thing we can do for New Jersey is to unite and focus on the real issues at hand’. Kim, now the front-runner for the nomination after refusing to yield to the establishment throughout his campaign, applauded Murphy’s service and said that both agree it is ‘critical to keep this seat, and the Senate, in Democratic control’. Kim huddled with several county chairs on Sunday, pledging to work with them, though he will still pursue the lawsuit seeking to abolish the county line, according to Politico NJ.
The First Lady’s decision to end her campaign marks the end of a counterproductive feud among Democrats.
NJCU and the NJEA hosted a education roundtable on the teacher shortage.
ICYMI: Menendez may pursue independent re-election; insiders assess line implications, insiders scramble to assess potential line ruling, as behind-the-scenes questions abound, legislative leaders pledged to begin a ‘public process on ballot design’; establishment chokes down potential ‘line’ ruling
Read Insider NJ’s Who’s Up And Who’s Down to see where the players stand in the past week in Jersey politics.
The Tammy Murphy-Andy Kim rivalry had all the drama of a high school cafeteria food fight.
GOP Senate hopefuls celebrated Senator Menendez’s potential independent candidacy, as the embattled incumbent would likely siphon more votes from the Democratic candidate than the Republican.
The future of New Jersey politics is on the line, according to Politico NJ.
Democratic Senate primary candidate Patricia Campos Medina’s campaign touted her as a ‘new voice’ for Latinos in politics.
In CD8, Hoboken Mayor Bhalla was endorsed by Jersey City Councilman Solomon.
In CD9, Republican Billy Prempeh secured the GOP lines in Passaic, Bergen, and Hudson counties.
Cumberland County Democrats are in a chaotic war, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
Former Passaic County Sheriff Speziale announced his commissioner slate in the Democratic primary.
Bergen County’s sheriff race will be a rematch of 2021, according to the Bergen Record.
ICYMI: Gottheimer wasted no time attacking Guinchard; Campos Medina’s defining image; Stack, Sacco unleash with renewed vigor; Baraka says ballot reform is ‘long overdue’; insiders absorbed contributions of Platkin, Fulop; BurlCo GOP endorsed candidates; in CD7, Kean v. Altman showcases a stark contrast in style; Devine indicted; Fulop rescinded Murphy endorsement; Campos-Medina blistered Camden Dems; in CD9, Pascrell fundraised amid building party drama
In Jefferson, Americans For Prosperity and Jersey 1st held an event at a diner, with GOP Senate hopefuls in attendance.
In Piscataway, the town successfully defended its decision to deny high-density housing.
In Atlantic City, the CRDA rejected its first cannabis plan, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Jersey City, Senator Mukherji endorsed McGreevey for mayor, according to Hudson County View.
In Margate, the discussion continues on switching health plans, according to Downbeach.
In Maplewood, Herman filed to run for committee, according to TAPinto.
In Millville, the mayor resigned, according to NJ.com.
In Morris Plains, Kelly will seek re-election, according to NJ Hills.
In Nutley, the commissioner candidates’ ballot positions were drawn, according to TAPinto.
In Paterson, the AG faces challenges heading into the second year of the police takeover, according to Paterson Press.
In Pohatcong, the town pulled the plug on a commercial zoning plan, according to Lehigh Valley Live.
In Secaucus, the superintendent was suspended, according to NJ.com.
ICYMI: In Hoboken, Dems endorsed Kim and Bhalla, Chair Hodes resigned; in Trenton, officials hoping for Starbucks change of heart
AROUND THE WEB:
Murphy’s lost his way on EVs. Here’s how to catch up | Editorial
Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- Gov. Phil Murphy has decided to slam electric vehicle drivers with a painful parlay, tagging them with a $1,000 registration fee while phasing out its popular sales tax exemption in the next three years. Given that he has also mandated that New Jersey new vehicle sales must be 100% electric by 2035, this is a message that baffles consumers, environmentalists, and car dealers alike.
Sorting out South Jersey’s mail-sorting future | Editorial
South Jersey Times Editorial Board
- The last time we followed the saga of the threatened extinction of the big post office in Bellmawr, Camden County, it was August 2020.
The bullies in Camden, and the rot in the Democratic Party | Moran
Tom Moran, Star-Ledger Editorial Board
- First Lady Tammy Murphy says she is “proud of the overwhelming support” she received from Camden County Democrats at last weekend’s convention. And that, in a nutshell, tells you why she is unfit to be a U.S. Senator. Because the bullies in Camden set up a fake election to hand her the win, one that only Vladimir Putin could love.
Reaction to Tammy Murphy announcement is fast and (sometimes) furious
Larry Higgs, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Kevin Shea, For NJ.com
- New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy’s unexpected announcement that she was suspending her campaign for the U.S. Senate sent shock waves throughout the state, disrupting an otherwise placid Sunday afternoon. Perhaps predictably for a controversial candidate who some said was leveraging the power of her husband’s position to manipulate the race, reaction on social media ran the gamut from praise to scorn.
Why stop at county lines? Let’s ditch the primaries | Opinion
Patrick Murray
- New Jersey’s unique – some would say bizarre – primary ballot design is getting national attention. Political leaders who have benefitted from the “county line” are now at least talking about reforming it. If you question why there are county lines on our ballots, though, the next logical step is to ask why we have primary elections at all. Hear me out.
What we saw and heard the day New Jersey left Camden behind
Kaitlyn McCormick, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
- Just after noon on Thursday, surrounded by wind-whipped spectators and clear blue skies, the Battleship New Jersey, a focal point of the local waterfront since 2001, made its highly anticipated departure from Camden with a celebratory send-off. Hours later, the floating museum “made great time,” finishing the first leg of its journey at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal just after 3:15 p.m., said Marshall Spevak, CEO of the museum and memorial, shaving time off of its original anticipated arrival between 4 and 6 p.m.
U.S. Senate primary rules ‘are not set for women like me,’ Campos-Medina says
Sophie Nieto-Munoz, NJ Monitor
- Patricia Campos-Medina wants everyone to know there are more than two Democrats hoping to succeed Sen. Bob Menendez. Much of the focus in this year’s U.S. Senate race has been on the two front-runners — Rep. Andy Kim and first lady Tammy Murphy — but Campos-Medina said that’s largely because she has been shut out of debates and excluded from some meetings where local Democrats chose whom to endorse, including one in Camden County where Campos-Medina was physically blocked from entering.
Attempted murder charges dropped against NJ’s ‘Weedman’ in FL
Dan Alexander, NJ1015
- New Jersey’s Ed Forchion is back home after a judge dropped attempted murder charges for hitting a man in the head with a fire extinguisher. According to a Miami police complaint obtained by New Jersey 101.5, Forchoin was charged Tuesday after the Feb. 12 incident in front of a club called Joint of Miami, which is owned by his son.
Is there a divide in NJ’s Democratic Party? Chat Box
NJ Spotlight
- On Chat Box, David Cruz talks with LeRoy Jones Jr., the chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, about the signs of a divide among Democrats over issues like the Open Public Records Act reform bill, the “party line” ballot design and conflicts surrounding the contentious Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate.
Not just reading: NJ students remain behind in math, too
Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight
- Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, New Jersey students are still recovering from the learning loss. And while reading has gotten a lot of attention, the gaps are equally wide in math. A new Harvard-Stanford study finds New Jersey is one of 17 states where students remain lagging in math. And the disparities are worse for students of color and those from low-income districts.
Can NJ grocers do more to help feed the hungry?
Raven Santana, NJ Spotlight
- New Jersey is already considered a leader when it comes to combating food insecurity and hunger, but two Democratic lawmakers want it to go further and create a new pipeline for grocers to contribute their excess food to pantries and other relief facilities. The bill would require some grocers and food suppliers to donate eligible food to local food banks and pantries.
Chronic crime numbs emotions of Trenton residents
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- Let’s play word association. Danelo Cavalcante. Not ringing bells nor causing temporal lobe activity? How about the convicted murderer who crab-walked up walls to escape Chester County Prison then avoided capture for nearly two weeks?
Trenton needs plan and state-support for big-time development projects
LA Parker, The Trentonian
- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Sen. Corey Booker, Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman and Mayor Reed Gusciora may have convinced Starbucks to stay in Trenton. They maintain the alleged victory will spark downtown business development. Mayor Gusciora shared a cup of coffee with Gov. Murphy last week at the South Warren St. business.
‘Finish line ahead’ for ‘very large project’ at Ventnor Plaza
Selena Vazquez, Press of Atlantic City
- With a newly constructed Burger King at 5100 Wellington Ave. targeted to open in May, in addition to Starbucks looking to open sometime in the early summer season, most of the Ventnor Plaza revamp will be done before Memorial Day, the owner said.
Battleship New Jersey moved from Camden to Paulsboro. It was a spectator sport.
Ximena Conde and Rob Tornoe, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Thursday was a big day for self-described naval history buffs and lovers of Big Ships. At exactly 12:11 p.m., as the Delaware River reached a high tide exceeding 6 feet, four tugboats began to heave and ho the Battleship New Jersey — the famed World War II-era battleship-turned-museum. “Dead tow, dead tow,” rang radio dispatch ushering in the feat of strength and calculus underway.
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