Democratic leaders in Essex, Bergen, Hudson, and Monmouth are backing Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin to continue as legislative leaders next year.
Barring an unexpected deal with Republicans – something New Jersey hasn’t seen since Tom Kean negotiated a deal with four Democrats to become Assembly Speaker after his party lost control of the lower house in 1971 –the move gives Scutari and Coughlin a virtual lock on the electoral math to remain lead Democrats in the legislature.
But while Scutari and Coughlin have the votes to run their caucuses, their re-elections as Senate President and Assembly Speaker, respectively, are not a sure thing. Democrats must retain their majorities in next month’s election; they are favored to do so, but it’s not a lock.
The agreement to keep Scutari and Coughlin in place, which had been long expected, did not include any commitments for the 2024 U.S. Senate election for the Governor’s race in 2025, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.
LeRoy Jones, Jr., the Democratic state chairman and Essex County Democratic chairman, said his entire delegation backs Scutari and Coughlin. That represents four Senate seats and eight seats in the Assembly.
If Democrats keep their Assembly majority, Coughlin would become the longest-serving Speaker in New Jersey history when he takes office in January. Scutari became Senate President after Steve Sweeney unexpectedly lost his own Senate seat in 2021.
“At a time when the national political environment is so tumultuous, it is more important than ever to support steady, strong leadership in our state legislature,” Jones said. “In challenging times, they have protected women’s rights, fully funded our pension, and passed record amounts of property tax relief that directly benefits our working families. They have been working partners with us to enact legislation protecting health care, addressing gun safety and gun violence, and providing record funding to our schools. As we look out over the next two years, it is important to have proven leaders at the helm, and I urge all of my fellow Democratic leaders to support them.”
Bergen County Democratic Chairman Paul Juliano said that Scutari and Coughlin “have worked tirelessly for hardworking New Jersey families, making our state a stronger, more affordable place to live.”
“From passing historic property tax relief to protecting women’s access to abortion and strengthening gun safety laws, they’re making real progress, and making New Jersey a national leader on many important fronts,” Juliano stated. “Our Bergen County Democratic legislative delegation and I are proud to support Senate President Scutari and Speaker Coughlin for another term.”
Bergen Democrats could have as many as three senators and six assemblymembers if they hold the leans Democratic seats in the 38th district.
Support in Hudson County came from Senate Judiciary Chairman Brian P. Stack, the mayor of Union City, along with the probable winner of the race for county executive Craig Guy, and Democratic County Chairman Anthony Vainieri, Jr.
“Hudson County has seen incredible progress in the past few years, and Speaker Coughlin and Senate President Scutari have been phenomenal partners for us throughout. We’ve made investments in our infrastructure, our economy, and in our communities,” the three said in a joint statement. “We are proud to announce the full support of the Hudson Delegation for their reelection to their leadership positions.”
The endorsement suggests that two expected freshman lawmakers selected by Jersey City Mayor and 2025 gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop are also part of the endorsement: Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-Jersey City), who is running for an open Senate seat, and Assembly candidate Barbara McCann Stamato, the Jersey City Democratic municipal chair. Both are running in the 31st district; that part of Hudson County hasn’t sent a Republican to the legislature since 1920.
Hudson, which is safe Democratic, has three seats in the Senate and six in the Assembly.
Also backing Scutari and Coughlin were State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) and Monmouth County Democratic Chairman David Brown.
“Monmouth County needs friends in leadership positions like Speaker Coughlin and Senate President Scutari. Both the Speaker and Senate President engage with our elected leaders and our communities, listen to our concerns, and help us deliver for our residents,” they said in a joint statement. “Monmouth County is proud to support them for another term.”
But Gopal faces a tough re-election battle in the 11th district, so it’s uncertain which party will control the Senate seat or the two lower house seats; two GOP assemblywomen from the district also face a fight to get second terms.
The announcement of support for Scutari and Coughlin before next month’s election could pre-empt a bid from South Jersey Democrats to regain a leadership post if they can hold and pick up seats. Scutari appears to be in an irreconcilable feud with South Jersey Democratic powerbroker George E. Norcross III, who is not retired; despite that, Scutari headlined a fundraiser last week for John Burzichelli, a former assemblyman who is challenging State Sen. Ed Durr (R-Longan) in the 3rd districts.
Middlesex Democrats are also fighting with Norcross.
Depending upon the upcoming election’s outcome – the 16th district is also in play – Scutari could have the backing of as many as 18 senators, with as many as 36 assemblymembers set to be with Coughlin.