Schneiderman debuts TV ad, making him first NJ-5 Republican on the airwaves

Fred Schneiderman, a businessman seeking the Republican nomination in New Jersey’s 5th congressional district, released his opening TV ad yesterday, beating both of his main Republican rivals to the airwaves ahead of the June 7 primary.

“Joe Biden and the radical left are crippling America,”  the ad’s narrator says. “We need a common-sense conservative to turn things around. Meet Fred Schneiderman. A husband and father of two daughters, Fred spent 30 years as CEO of his own company. In Congress, Fred Schneiderman will fight unrestrained spending, tackle inflation, and stand up for law enforcement.”

With candidate filing closing yesterday, Schneiderman starts out as the underdog in the Republican primary against two better-known foes: Marine veteran Nick De Gregorio, who won the Republican line in Bergen County and led the field in fundraising last quarter, and 2020 nominee Frank Pallotta, who has the support of Republican organizations in Passaic and Sussex Counties.

Schneiderman’s ad blitz, then, is intended to make up that gap. Because he entered the race after the end of last year, Schneiderman’s fundraising and self-funding capabilities are unknown, but that won’t be true for long: first quarter fundraising reports will be released to the public before April 15.

“I am proud to announce that our campaign is the first on the airwaves,” Schneiderman said in a statement released with the ad. “Our positive commercial highlights the need for a candidate with experience during these trying times. As a 32-year CEO of my own energy company, I am that candidate and I look forward to taking our winning message across New Jersey’s 5th district.”

Two other Republican candidates, Sab Skenderi and Richard Franolich, also submitted petitions to run but have made very little impact on the race thus far.

The district’s incumbent, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), managed to avoid drawing any primary opposition of his own. In a district that was redrawn to include more of Bergen County and favor Democrats by an increased margin, Gottheimer will begin as the favorite this November no matter which Republican wins the primary to face him.