EnviroPolitics Blog

Republicans vying to become next NJ governor: Who’s ‘most MAGA’

The four front-runners for the GOP nomination for governor are, clockwise from top, Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Sen. Ed Durr, radio host Bill Spadea, and former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli. (Photos of governor’s office by Dana DiFilippo; Bramnick and Spadea by Hal Brown; Durr and Ciattarelli by Amanda Brown)

By Dana DiFilippo – NJ Monitor, December 27, 2024

Eight Republicans are angling to become New Jersey’s next governor, with most taking their campaign cues from President-elect Donald Trump’s performance at the polls in November.

Trump lost New Jersey, but just barely, and he did so well that some Republicans hope New Jersey has tiptoed into swing-state territory. That has driven most of those hoping to win June’s GOP primary to fight over “who’s most MAGA,” with the lone exception being Sen. Jon Bramnick, an anti-Trump moderate, said Jeanette Hoffman, a Republican strategist.

“We already know what message they’re relying on, and it’s Trump. It’s a MAGA message,” Hoffman said. “There was a huge enthusiasm in the Republican base for President Trump in November.”

That campaign message could change next year as voters see what Trump does on illegal immigration, tariffs, foreign leaders, and more, and much depends on what Trump’s approval ratings look like, she conceded. But the GOP gubernatorial candidates have several other things going for them, Hoffman said.

They’ve increasingly embraced early voting and vote-by-mail, she said. And while Democrats still outnumber Republicans by about 900,000 statewide, GOP voter registrations in New Jersey climbed by about 180,000 during the Biden administration, compared to a Democratic gain over the same period of only about 5,500 voters, state data shows.

Read the full story here

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Two GOP lawmakers seen as favorites to be next U.S. Attorney in NJ

Republican State Sens. Mike Testa and Doug Steinhart are both Trump loyalists

By David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News

For such an important position, getting picked as the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey is a lot more about whom you know than what you know, and the closer you are to the president-elect’s inner circle, the better your chances are.

That could explain why the two names most frequently mentioned to succeed outgoing U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger are Republican state Sens. Mike Testa and Doug Steinhart, both allies of President-elect Trump.

“They are both loyalists to Trump and will be very close to the Trump administration,” said Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics.

“You’re talking about people who have both been his campaign chair in New Jersey, so as close as anybody has been to him. On the other hand, they are both politicians who are well regarded by Democrats as well.”

What is the significance of the appointment?

Read the full story here

Two GOP lawmakers seen as favorites to be next U.S. Attorney in NJ Read More »

Enormous sinkhole swallows portion of highway I-80 in NJ

Can you imagine speeding along when this happened?

Part of Interstate 80 remained closed in New Jersey on Thursday, December 26 2024, after a sinkhole opened up on the shoulder of the roadway. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Enormous sinkhole swallows portion of highway I-80 in NJ Read More »

Bill establishing Chesapeake National Recreation Area fails

*The two, four-mile spans of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge cross the Chesapeake Bay between Sandy Point State Park and Kent Island.*

By Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun

After passing the U.S. Senate, a bill that would have established the Chesapeake National Recreation Area fell short in the 118th Congress. But advocates are hoping to ride the momentum into next year.

The bill would have linked natural and historical sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed under the banner of the National Park Service, including several sites in the Annapolis area.

“We’re closer than ever to elevating the Chesapeake Bay to iconic American landscapes like Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Grand Tetons,” wrote Joel Dunn, outgoing president and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy, in a statement. “As advocates look to the next Congress, this momentum has brought together a bipartisan coalition of elected officials, local communities, national and regional advocates with a shared goal.”

On Dec. 18, the bill received unanimous support on the floor of the U.S. Senate, but the House of Representatives did not vote on the bill before leaving Washington for the holidays.

Read the full story here

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Greek shipping companies admit dumping oily waste at N.J. port in Sewaren, face $3.4M fine

By Jackie Roman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Two Greek shipping companies have pleaded guilty to federal charges of falsifying records and obstruction of justice, agreeing to a $3.4 million fine for concealing the illegal dumping of oily waste off the coast of New Jersey.

Avin International and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises pleaded guilty in Newark federal court on Monday to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

Between May and September 2022, the Motor Tanker Kriti Ruby vessel was owned by Avin International and operated by Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises. The oil tanker transported petroleum products between the United States, Europe, and Africa. During this time, the ship stopped at a port in Jacksonville, Florida, and at a petroleum terminal in the Sewaren section of Woodbridge.

Read the full story here

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With big bad woof Trump at the door, they’re ducking offshore wind

Editor’s Note: New England is taking itself out of the offshore wind energy game with avowed enemy about to take power. See stories below

Connecticut Takes a Pass on Offshore Wind in Latest Auction

By Adnan Memija | Offshorewindbiz

In its latest renewable energy procurement round, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) selected projects totalling 518 MW of new solar generation and 200 MW of new electric storage capacity.

However, DEEP closed its solicitation for offshore wind resources without selecting any bids.

Its neighbouring states, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, contracted 2,878 MW of capacity across three different projects in a multi-state coordinated offshore wind solicitation in September.

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“While DEEP did not select an offshore wind project in the multi-state RFP, we applaud the offshore wind selections made by Massachusetts and Rhode Island earlier this year. Connecticut remains committed to offshore wind, a critical source of energy supply that is helping to reduce emissions, improve grid reliability, bolster our energy supply, and support economic development in our state and region,” said DEEP.

Read the full story here

With big bad woof Trump at the door, they’re ducking offshore wind Read More »

Republicans vying to become next NJ governor: Who’s ‘most MAGA’

Two GOP lawmakers seen as favorites to be next U.S. Attorney in NJ

Enormous sinkhole swallows portion of highway I-80 in NJ

Can you imagine speeding along when this happened?

Bill establishing Chesapeake National Recreation Area fails

Greek shipping companies admit dumping oily waste at N.J. port in Sewaren, face $3.4M fine

With big bad woof Trump at the door, they’re ducking offshore wind

Editor’s Note: New England is taking itself out of the offshore wind energy game with avowed enemy about to take power. See stories below

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