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. Dan and Alex are both experienced strategists who are currently in the room where high-level decisions are made. They will get together weekly with New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein to discuss politics and issues.
New Jersey Globe: Is Governor Murphy going to take away our gas stoves?
Dan Bryan: Let’s start out by looking at the problem: we are living through the hottest year in recorded history. But we’re used to that, because many recent years have also been the hottest in recorded history. To paraphrase that old Simpsons line, let’s not think of 2023 as the hottest year of our life, let’s think of it as the coldest year of the rest of our lives!
So yes, climate change is real, and it’s impacting us right now. Just ask the residents of Vermont (yes, Vermont) who are once again dealing with historic flooding from massive amounts of rainfall. Or residents of Chicago, who are on tornado watch for the first time in their history. Or residents of Phoenix, who haven’t been able to go outside in the middle of the day due to extreme heat (10+ days of 110+ degree highs). Or stay right here in New Jersey and watch flooding impact the streets of some of our shore towns, not because of rainfall or coastal storms, but because of a normal high tide.
So we can acknowledge the reality of climate change and accept that we’re on a true path to destruction, misery, suffering, and economic fallout and engage intelligently and civilly with the Governor’s bold actions to address climate change. Or we can complain about minor inconveniences. I know what side I’m on.
Alex Wilkes: Yes.
When Governor Murphy introduced his Energy Master Plan (“EMP”), it called for mandates that would eventually ban the use of natural gas. Once even Murphy’s most ardent supporters in the press realized that the EMP had no discernable price tag or means of implementation, he yanked it at the start of this election year.
Around the same time, it was revealed at the federal level that Richard Trumka, Jr. – one of President Biden’s Consumer Product Safety Commissioners – circulated a memo that discussed the urgency of banning gas stoves through the administrative rulemaking process. The uproar forced the White House to backtrack, even as they misleadingly characterized the debacle as a massive right-wing overreaction.
This week, back here in New Jersey, Murphy similarly tried to do an end-run around the legislature by using the Board of Public Utilities to regulate gas stoves out of existence. Once they were caught, the decarbonization item mysteriously disappeared off the agenda.
Finally, you can look to Phil’s geographic and ideological neighbors, who often serve as exemplars for his ridiculous ideas. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has already put a ban into place, as has California Governor Gavin Newsom. Murphy famously said that he wanted to make New Jersey the “California of the East Coast,” so maybe we should believe him?
Democrats can obfuscate the issue all they want, but their radical agenda is clear. They’re just hoping you don’t notice before Election Day.
As for my gas stove? Come and take it.
NJ Globe: Steve Fulop raised an impressive $2.2 million in his first 80 days as a candidate for governor. What does that mean for other candidates in the race?
Alex: Democrats here have proven time and time again that money can buy you love in their primary, so Fulop’s early start and $2.2 million is a good insurance policy. He will need it with some well-heeled potential challengers waiting in the wings.
Dan: Mayor Fulop is showing that he will be a serious candidate with the resources necessary to run a real campaign. Though he may not be altering his fellow candidates’ timelines, he may be doing enough to make them feel uncomfortable.
But Congressman Josh Gottheimer has been no shrinking violet either, with $15 million cash on hand, if he jumps into the race. And potential candidates like Speaker Coughlin and Congresswoman Sherrill will no doubt prove formidable fundraisers as well.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the 2025 Democratic Gubernatorial primary will feature multiple high-quality candidates with the team and resources necessary to win, and Mayor Fulop is showing the state that he belongs in the conversation. But there is still plenty of time for more candidates to emerge and raise the resources they need.
NJ Globe: If Bill Pascrell wins re-election to his 9th district congressional seat, he’ll become America’s oldest congressman, and he’ll be just a few weeks shy of 90 when that term expires. Does his age put Pascrell in any sort of electoral danger?
Dan: If anyone wants to walk up to Bill Pascrell and tell him he’s too old for his congressional seat, I’d love to hear how that conversation goes. The reality is Congressman Pascrell is one of our most reliable, most vocal champions of Democratic values in Washington. I haven’t seen his age slow him down much, and if he still feels he can do the job, then I’m happy to have him representing New Jersey and annually elbowing his way in for a handshake with the President after the State of the Union.
Alex: Democrats seem to be pretty invested in the whole octogenarian – even nonagenarian – candidate concept at the expense of their bench, so who am I to say anything? In the right situations, they could lose, and in difficult seats, it stalls younger Democrats (who are in many ways more terrifying) and leaves them more vulnerable to ensuing scandals, primaries, etc.
For example, but for the Democrats’ insistence for renominating a man old enough to have been contemporaries with segregationists, we would have had to endure a painful Democratic primary. Instead, we may have to hold our breath in fear of Kamala Harris, who just this week reassured Americans that A.I. was indeed “two letters,” but we avoid the kind of progressive measuring contest between the likes of Phil Murphy and Gavin Newsom that would have been a real nightmare for New Jersey taxpayers (and those of us who do think about the Bill of Rights).
NJ Globe: You might call this senatorial courtesy on steroids: U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has had all senior military promotions on hold for seven months as a protest over a new Pentagon policy that pays travel expenses for troops who can’t obtain abortions in their state. With four of the eight Joint Chiefs of Staff scheduled to retire soon, is this the right way for a senator to protest?
Alex: I disagree with the Department of Defense’s policy here, but Senator Tuberville’s position is an irresponsible and politically untenable one in a divided government. Elections matter, and Republicans do not control the White House and the Senate. Tuberville’s tactic has the effect of pitting abortion policy against the military in what’s essentially a political dead end for Senate Republicans while leaving our top military ranks empty.
There are plenty of good ways to go after Democrats for extremism on the abortion issue. Here in New Jersey, for example, just ask any voter whether or not they agree with the Democrats’ current position of abortion-on-demand up and until birth or using taxpayer funds to fund abortion tourism.
Dan: Senator Tuberville is enacting one of the dumbest and short-sighted political maneuvers in many years, which is saying something considering the amateurish antics that came out of the Trump administration on a daily basis.
“Coach” Tuberville is treating our military as political pawns and impacting our national security, all so he can go on Fox News and OAN and say he’s “fighting woke” (which, I’m sure, he could not define if asked). He’s putting his political party in an untenable position of having to either disown his antics or somehow try to defend them and answer for them. And he’s giving President Biden the perfect subject to go on offense about.
All in all, a powerhouse showing in idiotic political instincts, strategy, and execution. Well done, Senator Tuberville!
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