Fear tactics fail Republicans in NJ, as Democrats hold fast

Editor’s Note – Veteran political writer Charles Stile analyzes what went wrong for Republicans in yesterday’s NJ legislative elections.

Charles Stile NorthJersey.com

New Jersey Republicans entered the legislative contests this fall buoyed by optimism. They held a shared hope that maybe — just maybe — their party could finally climb out of the wilderness and back into power for the first time in nearly two decades.

Or, at the very least, they hoped they could continue to weaken the Democratic Party’s iron grip on power in Trenton. GOP candidates wanted to build on the successes their party delivered in 2021 when Republicans stunned the political community by flipping seven seats and dethroned Senate President Stephen Sweeney at the hands of a little-known and underfunded truck driver, Ed Durr.

But optimism proved to be no match for the harsh reality of being Republican in a resolutely blue state. The GOP entered the race trailing in fundraising. The party once again fell far behind Democrats in the race for pre-election day voting, either by mail or early in-person voting.

And, at the end of the day, the party lacked a coherent message of hope. It didn’t articulate a vision of future Republican governance. The party sought to stir up its base with messages of fear.

The strategy failed.

The result: It was the Democrats, not the Republicans, who gained ground Tuesday night, winning back five seats.

Republicans hoped for a ‘common sense’ backlash that backfired

The Democrats will maintain their 25-15 edge in the state Senate, in part by defeating Durr, the truck driver in the 3rd Legislative District, which offset an expected loss in the 12th District in Monmouth and Middlesex counties. Sam Thompson, a long-time Republican who defected to the Democrats earlier this year, is retiring and the seat was expected to revert back to Republican hands. Owen Henry of Old Bridge will succeed him.

Throughout the fall campaign, Republicans believed they had a winning formula: Cast the Democrats as morally and politically bankrupt, advancing a series of radical, far-left policies that most middle-class and centrist voters find objectionable.

The party of liberal “King Phil” Murphy — as he was called during the pandemic — had run the table in Trenton far too long. Democrats had lost touch with a public clamoring “common sense,” a favorite GOP buzz phrase. Murphy’s was an administration, Republicans contended, that was banning gas stoves and killing whales by insisting on installing wind turbines off the Jersey Shore. Crime was running rampant in suburbia because of Murphy and the Democrats’ lax crime policies, GOP leaders claimed.

Read the full story here

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After historic upset, firebrand NJ Sen. Ed Durr faces tough reelection

NJ State Sen. Edward Durr

By CLYDE HUGHES, NJ Spotlight

Truck driver Edward Durr made national headlines two years ago when he pulled off one of the biggest upsets in New Jersey politics ever — defeating Democratic incumbent and longtime Senate President Steve Sweeney in South Jersey’s 3rd Legislative District. 

The victory over Sweeney, considered one of the most powerful figures in New Jersey politics, highlighted a Republican “red wave” that saw the GOP close gaps in the state Senate and Assembly while nearly capturing the governorship. 

Fast forward two years: Durr is now fighting for his short political life, with Democrats and progressive political action committees targeting the man who funded his campaign last time around with credit cards. 

Durr is facing former 10-term Democratic 3rd District Assemblyman John Burzichelli, whom Durr helped sweep out of office in 2021. Durr is also facing his own ultra-conservative record in a district that had been leaning moderately Democrat before Durr’s victory. 

Watch our video interview with ‘Ed the trucker’ early after his astounding upset election

In the 3rd District Assembly race, the Republicans are running incumbent Bethanne McCarthy Patrick, an emergency medical technician in Salem County, and Thomas Tedesco Jr., a member of the Hopetown Township Committee. 

The Democratic candidates include Heather Simmons, the deputy director of the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners, and Woodstown nonprofit CEO Dave Bailey Jr. 

“This is a different election than it was two years ago,” said John Froonjian, executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. “Nobody expected Ed Durr to have a shot and were shocked when he upset Sweeney and the Democrats then. 

“Durr does not have the element of surprise this time. In fact, the Dems are fighting hard. Durr was an unknown then; this time, his controversial statements are well-known and not very popular,” Froonjian said. 

One of Durr’s social media statements related to abortion has become a Democratic battle cry in the race. In a knock on the “pro-choice” theme for abortion supporters, Durr was quoted as saying that they already have a choice, “keep her legs closed.” 

That comment was one of several that have brought out everyone from former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, who narrated an ad against Durr, to his own 2021 running mate Beth Sawyer, who ran against him in the Republican primary this year. 

Durr’s rhetoric has made some Republicans so nervous that they publicly distanced themselves from him. Earlier this fall, six Republican legislative candidates from South Jersey called Durr’s past social media posts about women “offensive and unacceptable.” 

The GOP candidates included  state Senate candidates Latham Tiver and Christopher Del Borrello, Assemblymen Michael Torrissi Jr., and Brandon Umba,  and Assembly candidates Matt Walker and Amanda Esposito. 

In defense, Durr has touted his support for the conservative so-called parental rights movement to give parents more of a say in the school curriculum. 

“There is nothing remotely political about elected officials and parents telling Governor Murphy and his activist administration to get out of the classroom,” Durr said in September in voicing his support for a parental rights notification bill. 

Read the full story here

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Hazardous Batteries cause Toyota to recall 1.8 million of its RAV4s

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, Nov. 1, some replacement 12-volt batteries of the size specified for 2013 to 2018 RAV4 models have smaller top dimensions than others.

“Toyota is currently preparing the remedy,” the statement reads. “When the remedy is available, Toyota dealers will replace the battery hold-down clamp, battery tray, and positive terminal cover with improved ones at no cost to owners. For all involved vehicles, Toyota will notify customers by late December 2023.”

To see if your vehicle is involved in a safety recall visit Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate information.

For any additional questions, Toyota customer support is also available by calling the Toyota Brand Engagement Center (at 1-800-331-4331).

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Federal Lawmakers Investigate Insurers Fleeing Risky Climate Areas

Senate Democrats are demanding that insurers tell them which places could be next.

An aerial view of houses including debris in the front yard.
Damage to Cedar Key, Fla., after Hurricane Idalia in August.Credit…Paul Ratje for The NY Times


By Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, Nov. 1, 2023

Faced with growing losses from hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, major insurance companies are pulling out of California, Florida, and Louisiana — a shift that threatens to undermine the economies of those states.

Now Senate Democrats are demanding that insurers tell them which places could be next.

On Wednesday, the Senate Budget Committee sent letters to 40 insurance companies, seeking documents that show where in the country those insurers have begun dropping customers, or are considering it. The committee, which has subpoena power, has given the companies until Nov. 17 to respond.

“Climate-caused uninsurability has the potential to trigger cascading failures that undermine our entire economy,” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island and the committee chairman said in a statement. “With this investigation, we are seeking information about where the dominoes may fall next.”

Banks typically require insurance when writing a mortgage. If insurance becomes unavailable in a particular community, it becomes hard for most potential buyers to purchase a home, leading to a drop in real estate values.

Mr. Whitehouse compared the accelerating withdrawal of insurance companies with the 2008 housing crash, saying a broad insurer pullback “will have similarly grave economic effects.”

He said the investigation aims to give the public “advance warning” if insurers might leave their communities.

Read the full story here

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ORSTED pulls plug on its New Jersey offshore wind energy plans

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the company’s decision was “outrageous and calls into question the company’s credibility and competence.”
A completed monopile foundation at EEW AOS where the massive monopile foundations for the offshore wind turbines are manufactured in Paulsboro, Gloucester County.
A completed monopile foundation at EEW AOS where the massive monopile foundations for the offshore wind turbines are manufactured in Paulsboro, Gloucester County. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

By Frank Kummer and Amy S. Rosenberg, Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 31, 2023

Global offshore wind developer Orsted said Tuesday night that it is pulling out of both of its projects scheduled to be built off the coast of New Jersey, a move that enraged Gov. Phil Murphy and could be a big blow to the state’s renewable energy ambitions.

The Danish company made the announcement after a decision by its board of directors. Both the Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects, which would have had the capacity to produce 2.2 gigawatts of renewable energy, will be scrapped.

“Macroeconomic factors have changed dramatically over a short period of time, with high inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain bottlenecks impacting our long-term capital investments,” said David Hardy, Group Executive Vice President and CEO Americas at Orsted. “As a result, we have no choice but to cease development of Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2.”

Orsted said Tuesday night that it is pulling out of both of its projects scheduled to be built off the coast of New Jersey, a move that enraged Gov. Phil Murphy

Hardy said the company was disappointed and thanked Murphy and other state leaders who tried to kick-start the industry in the state, hoping to make it a hub for offshore wind in the Northeast.

Orsted is, however, proceeding with other wind projects in the U.S. and internationally.

Related offshore wind energy news:
Orsted scraps 2 offshore wind power projects in New Jersey, citing supply chain issues
Ørsted gives up on New Jersey wind projects
Murphy, Democrats invested huge political capital in supporting project
GOP State Senator Testa’s statement on Orsted’s withdrawal

“Today’s decision by Orsted to abandon its commitments to New Jersey is outrageous and calls into question the company’s credibility and competence,” Murphy said in a statement. “As recently as several weeks ago, the company made public statements regarding the viability and progress of the Ocean Wind 1 project.”

Murphy said his administration is looking “to review all legal rights and remedies and to take all necessary steps to ensure that Orsted fully and immediately honors its obligations.”

Read the full story here

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