James Dugan Archives - New Jersey Globe

The bar is set low for this new assemblyman from Bayonne

January 11, 2022 12:02 amJanuary 11, 2022 10:37 am

If William B. Sampson IV can find Trenton by noon on Tuesday, he will already have exceeded expectations. Not since Patrick Pasculli (D-Bayonne) graced the halls of the statehouse in the late 1970s and sponsored a bill on his first...

James Dugan, former senator and Dem state chairman, dies at 92

December 12, 2021 3:28 pmDecember 12, 2021 7:16 pm

James P. Dugan, a former New Jersey Democratic State Chairman and state senator from Bayonne who was once among New Jersey’s most powerful political insiders, died on Sunday. He was 92 and had been in failing health. Dugan, who represented...

The time five Democratic incumbents lost State Senate primaries

June 7, 2021 1:02 pmJune 8, 2021 12:34 pm

The last time a Demcoratic governor was re-elected to a second term, five Democratic state senators were ousted in primaries. That was in 1977, when the five defeats – added to two Democratic senators losing party support for re-election and...

Ruth Dugan, wife of former senator, will run for Senate in 39th district

March 4, 2021 9:30 amMarch 4, 2021 9:32 am

Former Saddle River Board of Education President Ruth Dugan will seek the Democratic nomination for State Senate in the 39th district. She will face either Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale) or Assemblyman Bob Auth (R-Old Tappan), depending on who Republicans...

N.J. Supreme Court: The Byrne Court

June 7, 2020 10:03 pmJune 7, 2020 10:57 pm

Gov. Brendan Byrne’s first opportunity to nominate a Supreme Court Justice came in early 1975 when Associate Justice Nathan Jacobs turned 70. He asked former Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub to vet candidates for the post. His pick was Sidney Schreiber,...

Democratic State Committeeman Paul Bontempo

Like his father, Bontempo thinks state chairman is the Governor’s choice

November 20, 2019 7:09 pmNovember 21, 2019 11:39 am

Paul Bontempo is the longest-serving Democratic State Committee member in New Jersey history. He was 26 when he was elected to represent Morris County in 1977, back in the days when each county had two seats. He’s been there for...

William J. Hamilton, former Assembly Speaker, dies at 86

October 12, 2019 4:28 pmOctober 13, 2019 3:11 pm

Former Assembly Speaker William J. Hamilton, Jr., a skilled legislator with a reputation for integrity and independence, died on Thursday. He was 86. A product of John A. Lynch, Sr.’s New Brunswick political organization, Hamilton served six years in the...