Jersey 1st, Americans for Prosperity forge a partnership

Two conservative grassroots groups aimed at promoting economic freedom and individual liberties are teaming up in New Jersey.

Americans for Prosperity and Jersey 1st announced a partnership today, uniting a national organization with a group that has established a significant footing among New Jersey Republicans over the last few years as opponents of “higher taxes, increased regulations, and wasteful spending.”

“Jersey 1st and Americans for Prosperity share the common goal of advocating for the best interests of New Jersey taxpayers, businesses, and families,” said Rosemary Becchi, the founder and president of Jersey 1st.

She said the two groups “will work together to speak out against these unaffordable policies and promote common-sense reforms to make New Jersey a state where families and businesses can grow and thrive.”

Ross Connelly, the AFP Northeast Director, said the partnership between the two groups “is an opportunity to capitalize on our resources and advance policies that put hardworking New Jersey families and businesses first.”

“AFP is committed to reigniting the American dream across the nation, especially here in New Jersey,” Connelly said.  “We look forward to all we will accomplish working alongside Jersey 1st in this fight for freedom.”

Americans for Prosperity was founded nearly twenty years ago by Charles and David Koch as a conservative advocacy group that aided the Tea Party movement to become a substantial force in American politics in the 2010s.

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan served as Americans for Prosperity’s New Jersey State Director from 2007 to 2013, when he left to run against Cory Booker in a special election for U.S. Senate.  Later, Erica Jedynak held the post and developed a serious system of rating New Jersey lawmakers on fiscal issues.

Becchi, a former tax counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, founded Jersey 1st in 2018; she was the Republican nominee for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th district in 2020 against Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair).

Among the organization’s initiatives Is Jersey 1st TV, a popular source of information for New Jersey conservatives.  Their programming roster is led by conservative commentator Fernando Uribe, who hosts “Real Talk with Fernando Uribe” each week and has attracted guests from both sides of the asidle.