National Democrats coming to N.J. in bid to win 11th, 16th and 38th districts

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee will spend money in three New Jersey legislative districts to protect Senate and Assembly majorities, making the 11th, 16th, and 38th their top priorities heading into Gov. Phil Murphy’s mid-term election.

“The DLCC does not take any majority for granted, and we know Republicans are spending big to try to erode progress in states like New Jersey.  That’s why we’re announcing our new investments to counter the flood of Republican spending in the state,” stated Heather Williams, the interim DLCC president.  “We aren’t taking anything for granted.  The Democratic trifecta in New Jersey is what protects people from MAGA extremism.”

The decision to play in New Jersey with an initial spend is the latest signal that Democrats are concerned about retaining control of both houses; their GOP counterpart, the Republican State Leadership Committee, announced last month that they would spend roughly $1 million to encourage vote-by-mail and early voting.

The arm of the national Democratic Party that focuses on state legislative races, the DLCC will focus on re-electing State Sens. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch), Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick), and Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus), along with Assemblymen Roy Freiman (D-Hillsborough) and Christopher Tully (D-Bergenfield), and Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn).

They’re also prioritizing a flip of two Assembly seats in Gopal’s district, where Ocean Township Councilwoman Margie Donlon and former Asbury Park Municipal Court Judge Luann Peterpaul are seeking to oust freshman GOP Assemblywomen Marilyn Piperno (R-Colts Neck) and Kim Eulner (R-Shrewsbury) – and to hold the 16th district Assembly seat, where Mitchelle Drulis is campaigning for an open seat.

Democrats are defending majorities of 25-15 in the Senate and 46-34 in the Assembly.

Republicans are assured of one pickup: Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry is a sure thing to flip the Senate seat of 88-year-old Samuel Thompson (D-Old Bridge), a 26-year lawmaker who switched parties in February after Republicans decided they wanted a younger candidate.

The GOP must win five more Senate seats on a playing field that potentially includes the 4th, 11th, 14th, 16th, and 38th districts – something that leaves them little room for error.  And Republicans are also defending seats in the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th districts.

In the Assembly, Republicans must pick up seven seats without losing any in the 2nd, 3rd, 8th or 11th.

Republicans are less interested in the 36th following reports that one of their candidates, Joseph Viso, has a history of federal and state drug and gun convictions and severe financial problems.  Viso also pleaded guilty to smearing fecal matter on the doors of a children’s daycare center in 2009; he said he was upset over the election of Barack Obama.