Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) are trading barbs on social media over the indictment of Democratic powerbroker George E. Norcross III in a sneak preview of what next year’s governor’s race might look like.
After the charges against Norcross were announced, Fulop took to X (formerly Twitter) to comment.
“Whether it’s Bob Menendez or George Norcross – there isn’t a single person in New Jersey politics that has my track record in publicly fighting these characters for the better part of 10+ years – you can google it and I’ve got a ton of scars to show for it,” Fulop wrote. “But today is a good day for South Jersey and importantly it’s a good day for the future of New Jersey.”
A few hours later, Fulop used a John Hughes movie line to taunt two of his potential opponents in the Democratic gubernatorial primary for saying nothing about Norcross: Gottheimer and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair).
“If you are running for Governor you prob(ably) should have an opinion on an allegation that impacts millions of taxpayers and Camden as one of the poorest cities in New Jersey,” Fulop stated in a tweet that tagged Gottheimer and Sherrill.
Sherrill eventually released a statement: “From Menendez to Alito to Norcross, too many powerful people from New Jersey seem to think that they are above the law and work to enrich themselves at the expense of hard-working Americans,” she said. “This type of corruption undermines citizens’ faith in government and costs taxpayers money.”
Gottheimer aimed his response directly at Fulop: “Jersey Values is straight talking, not flip-flopping. You pursued Bob Menendez until you didn’t. You chased George Norcross until you didn’t. You supported Tammy Murphy until you didn’t,” Gottheimer stated. “Enough phony flip-Fuloping.”
Fulop went back at Gottheimer: “From what I’ve heard, it seems you agitate easily, and I didn’t mean to get under your skin — I’m sorry,” he wrote. “But then again you didn’t answer the question: Are you Pro Norcross? Pro Menendez? I’m confused.”