New Jerseyans aren’t always civil, but it’s still possible for a liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican to have a rational and pleasant conversation about politics in the state. Dan Bryan is a former senior advisor to Gov. Phil Murphy and is now the owner of his own public affairs firm, and Alex Wilkes is an attorney and former executive director of America Rising PAC who advises Republican candidates in New Jersey and across the nation, including the New Jersey GOP. Dan and Alex are both experienced strategists who are currently in the room where high-level decisions are made. They get together weekly with New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein to discuss politics and issues.
Steve Fulop has picked South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum as his running mate, so she would become the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor if he wins the Democratic gubernatorial primary. What do you think of his selection — two mayors running together — and, just as importantly, should all candidates show their cards and announce their choice before the primary?
Dan Bryan: I think it’s a clever way to get headlines, which is no easy feat in a cycle with five other candidates and daily chaos from DC. But ultimately, like every other election, this is about the candidate at the top of the ticket, not their running mate.
Mayor Fulop’s pick has policy chops, progressive cred, and, perhaps most importantly, a serious following in Congresswoman Sherrill’s district. In fact, it was such a good pick that I guessed it immediately a week and a half ago (and I have the texts to prove it!).
Do I think Mayor Collum would be a phenomenal DCA Commissioner? I do. But I don’t know how many voters will be swayed by her addition to the ticket. Voters at the state and federal level look at the candidate at the top of the ticket, and look to do no harm in their pick for LG or VP.
Alex Wilkes: If you don’t have Mikie Sherrill’s money or Ras Baraka’s ability to fire up the grassroots, Steve Fulop’s only way into the conversation is to be everywhere. Now, that’s pretty easy considering that he has always suffered from Terminally Online Syndrome™, and while we all appreciate authenticity from our elected officials, his constant tweeting makes you wonder sometimes who’s minding the shop.
But to his credit – at least to this lowly Republican and erstwhile constituent – his strategies seem to be working, and I don’t think they can be written off as gimmicky at all. In a post-line world, it was smart of him to campaign in local races in 2024 and to field his own challengers in places that haven’t seen competition in years.
On the Chamber train, I personally witnessed one Democrat in near meltdown mode, loudly fretting about the need to fundraise and actually interact with constituents. I’ve heard of others bemoaning their ballot position relative to the Fulop challengers. It’s caused quite a stir.
So, back to the Lieutenant Governor question, I think it was smart politics. It prompts every other candidate to have an answer to that question – at the very least by the May debate – when I’m betting most of them would rather have that conversation post-primary.
And for what it’s worth, for the yard sign watchers out there (we all look, don’t pretend to be above it): I definitely raised an eyebrow when I spotted two lone Fulop signs off of 17 in ruby red District 39…
Steve Fulop has a new ad that shows him running up twelve flights of steps in Weehawken, known to be a dangerous place for reformers with big ideas, as promotes his history of political independence. How do you rate the ad?
Dan: After five years working for a neighboring Mayor, I can confidently say that I’d rather deal with Aaron Burr after an offense to his honor than a pissed off Mayor Turner. He’s a hell of a Mayor, and if I were a Weehawken resident, I’d be glad to have him fighting for me, rather than the other way around.
Mark Putnam is a masterful ad maker, and this commercial is just another proof point. It’s another fine spot that adds to the Fulop campaign’s deep arsenal.
Alex: It’s definitely an eye-catching concept and very well-done. I didn’t tune out for any of it. No notes.
I do have to challenge this ridiculous line he parades around about “taking on Donald Trump.” He did not. He tried to illegally deny the Kushner family – in-laws to President Trump – tax breaks that Jersey City offered to everybody else as popcorn theater, political retribution. If you’ve looked at the skyline of Journal Square lately, one can easily see that he completely failed in that “mission.” It was an utterly despicable and inappropriate abuse of his power against one of New Jersey’s most preeminent real estate families – and Refugee Builders at that.
Maybe in watching him run all those stairs, consider those innocent parties that he stepped all over for years to run for Governor.
Two new ads from Ras Baraka slam Donald Trump on immigration and the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education. Will these ads move numbers in the Democratic primary?
Alex: It’s not as though Ras Baraka has much of a record to run on as Mayor of Newark, so I imagine that using images of Donald Trump would fire up Democratic primary voters, who I would guess are frustrated with the dithering and, to be honest, mentally-unstable leadership we see coming out of their party in Washington.
Dan: It’s a pretty good ad, but I do wonder how much candidates gain from slamming Donald Trump. It feels like the bare minimum – does it do anything to separate them from the pack?
Mayor Baraka is a phenomenal candidate, but if I were his ad team, I’d do more to position him as a guy who got things done in Newark, than simply a guy that can “stand up to Trump.” I think it’s a hard sell to convince voters that only one of these six candidates is *the* person that will fight Trump.
Will President Trump’s decision to impose certain tariffs be an issue in the 2025 governor’s race — or will everybody be on to something else by then?
Dan: This kind of feels like struggling for a take on Covid in February of 2020 – honestly, I have no idea. As folks read this, they’re experiencing another horrible day of losses in the stock market and deepinging concerns about contraction in our economy. And all totally voluntary, by the way – just more “winning” from the most corrupt, incompetent President in American history.
I hope to God that we will be off to something else by then, but at this point I don’t think so. I worry that the economic shock President Trump just unleashed on the global economy will be so big and so disastrous that it may actually overshadow the rest of the chaos he’s unleashed. Unfortunately, we’ll all be staying tuned.
Alex: One of the richest, most beautiful areas of California burned to the ground this year. How long has it been since you thought about that? I don’t say that to be glib – especially about a tragedy or a major economic event – but to bring awareness to the absolutely breathtaking pace at which our news cycle operates.
If the economy is down by Election Day, it will, of course, be a major drag on the party in power, but we are way too far out to tell how this will all shake out.
Theodore McCarrick, the former cardinal and archbishop of Newark who was defrocked after credible accusations of sexual abuse from decades ago came to light, died at age 94. Here’s what Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark said: “I am keenly aware of the trauma this news may reignite for those victimized by Mr. McCarrick. Having listened to many survivors, I recognize the deep pain and betrayal they have endured. I continue to offer my prayers in support as they navigate their journey toward healing. As a Church, we remain steadfast in our commitment to listening to survivors, supporting their healing, and ensuring that such betrayals are never repeated.” As communications professionals, how did Cardinal Tobin do in his statement?
Dan: This was a tough spot for Cardinal Tobin, and I think he did about as well as can be expected. He had to acknowledge the passing of his predecessor, while also making it clear that he believes the monstrous accusations against him.
The Catholic Church has long struggled to come to terms with it history of sexual abuse. As a Catholic myself, nothing has given me more crisis of confidence in my faith than the horrors of the many, many years of sexual abuse, and the Church’s failure to response. I’m glad to see people like Cardinal Tobin refuse to put their head in the sand and deal with the history of the Church head-on, no matter how painful it is.
Alex: As a Catholic, I think it was very important that even in McCarrick’s death, the Archdiocese addressed how the news might bring up traumatic memories for victims of the abuse. What I will say is that I’m encouraged by a new generation of Catholics who are taking this issue very seriously. To be involved in any way at my daughter’s parochial school, for example, the parents, faculty, and staff are required to pass a background check and take a mandatory course (with recertification requirements) about recognizing the signs of abuse and how to properly report incidents. When my husband and I did Pre-Cana courses in preparation for our marriage, this painful part of Church’s history was also discussed openly. I can only pray for the victims of the abuses of the past and that I can be a part of the Church’s future that ensures that the “betrayals are never repeated.”
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