YEAR IN ADVANCE 2020 (!/!ŏ+*/% !.ŏ$2%*#ŏ5+1.ŏ+),*5ŏ/1,,+.0ŏ ŏ5ŏ+*00%*#ŏ0!2!ŏ.%+(+Čŏ %.!0+.ŏ+"ŏ!3ŏ !./!5ŏ.0*!./$%,/Čŏ0Ő,.%+(+/Į*&02+*(%*!ċ+.#Ő+.ŏĨćĀĊĩŏĊĉĀġĉĆĀĀċŏ$*'ŏ5+1ē 2 Message from the Editor YEAR IN ADVANCE 2020 INSIDERNJ YEAR IN ADVANCE INTRODUCTION P.O. Box 66 Verona, NJ 07044 [email protected] www.InsiderNJ.com Heading into 2020, the thought was simultaneously serving as the co-chair of President Donald J. Trump – whatever Trump’s 2020 New Jersey reelection Max Pizarro his national eventualities – would simply campaign. Still (see below) the defection Editor-in-Chief [email protected] drag Democratic incumbents back into uncorked a whole series of unresolved office in New Jersey while perhaps even dramas. giving them a shot at the ever-elusive 4th Congressional District. While CD2 offers its own special prodi - gious intensity, at least two other con - But New Jersey decided to hatch a little gressional districts should prove very surrealistic surprise, in the form of U.S. competitive in 2020: CD3, where in - Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s defection (R-2) cumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Andy from the Democratic Party, just in time Kim (D-3) seeks reelection, and CD7, Pete Oneglia for a presidential election year. The stated home to U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski (D- reason? Van Drew couldn’t support the General Manager 7). Both districts were home to Republi - [email protected] Democrats’ impeachment of the Repub - can incumbents in 2018 and now the lican President, who had solicited foreign interference in the 2020 election. Democrats must defend their respective Michael Graham battlegrounds. Most insiders see U.S. CEO Even with the uniform change, Van Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) as too-es - tablished to defeat in a district he ripped John F.X. Graham Drew, it should be noted, is the favorite from a movement conservative Republi - Publisher in a district Trump carried by single digits in 2016. The congressman’s Democratic can in 2016. For her part, CD11 incum - Ryan Graham allies – running as “The Van Drew bent U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11) – Associate Publisher Team” – lost in LD1 last year, failing to withstand a challenge led by a candidate Continued on Page 5 3 4 YEAR IN ADVANCE 2020 Message from the Editor Continued herself the conqueror of a longtime in - avidly about sexual harassment while lethal fashion as they attempt to un - tergenerational Republican in 2018 – their Murphy rivals will agree with dercut the governor. Several late and carries too considerable a brand to them while attempting to make the critical 2019 wins by Murphy (in - beat. It seemed unimaginable that overriding story about corruption and cluding the chairmanship) gave him a Larry Casha, the man who lost to those infamous tax incentives under boost, but his test in 2020 will be Sherrill conquest Jay Webber way back investigation by the state AG’s Office consistency, and heading off those in 200 7, that someone could summon and the Philadelphia-based U.S. At - deadening efforts by the South; big the wiles to improve on the efforts of torney. The Sweeney-Norcross wing challenges for the nationally-focused his own conqueror. And it already will, of course, agree that something chairman of the Democratic Gover - proved so, as D.C. lobbyist Rosemary needs to be done in a general sense nors’ Association (DGA) in a presi - Becchi pushed Casha aside this month about political corruption, not neces - dential election year. to become the Republican option sarily targeted tax incentives, and – against Sherrill with Casha’s support. capital s and capital h – sexual harass - Max Pizarro ment. A bad year by South Jersey in Max Pizarro While all of that is going on, we will, 2019, including a fumbling away and Editor, InsiderNJ of course, be watching the Statehouse, sideline observation relegation of the where Democrats in the Sweeney- party chair’s contest, will only make Norcross wing of the party will talk them recalibrate in more politically Government Affairs Counsel 15 W. Front Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 (609) 394-0888 www.1868PublicAffairs.com LeRoy Jones, Jr. / Idida Rodriguez / Rich Ambrosino / Patrick Torpey 5 6 YEAR IN ADVANCE 2020 MURPHY’S EXIT OPTION MAY RESULT IN RE-ENTRENCHMENT There’s a school of thought, particu - Another Goldman Sachs fellow Certainly, the establishment contin - larly given the fact that his former turned governor, Jon Corzine, faced ues to try to drum Murphy out of state director now serves as Governor the awful prospect of having to pick a town, and he could hang around out Phil Murphy’s chief of staff, that Cory horse in the 2008 presidential race, of spite. But the smart political career Booker’s run for president merely and it ended up destroying his politi - money, Gary Cooper tin star in the plugged New Jersey until the rest of cal career. He picked Hillary Clinton dirt move for Murphy is picking the the country decided the 2020 prez over Barack Obama, thereby putting right candidate for president and then contest. himself in the back of the pack when riding the Hanoi helicopter out of eventual winner Obama assembled a New Jersey before it drags him asun - If Booker were to end his campaign cabinet. Sick of the wretched river der. The trouble is the field is so prematurely, he’d put Murphy in the town otherwise known as Trenton, chopped up with no clear and defined pickle of having to choose a candi - New Jersey, Corzine had wanted frontrunner that many insiders see date, a task complicated by the fact Treasury, and – twist on an old Neil only a brokered Milwaukee conven - that in the most bifurcated of times, Kinnock phrase coming up – a plat - tion as the ultimate outcome. While Murphy has labored to make himself form on which to stand to bash his such an eventuality could perhaps a darling of the progressive movement former tormentors at Goldman. De - plays havoc with his chances, Murphy in New Jersey, even if he personally nied, he found himself prodded into also could use his strong position leans toward a middle class on a good a reelection rundown with Chris within the party (he is, after all, head day kind of guy like Joe Biden. Christie, which he lost. Continued on Page 8 7 YEAR IN ADVANCE 2020 MURPHY’S EXIT OPTION MAY RESULT IN RE-ENTRENCHMENT – Continued of the Democratic Governors’ Associ - phy (unlike Corzine in 2009) would ation) and finally prove his prowess as most certainly be the 2021 favorite. a dealmaker, which is how he ad - Even if he didn’t want to be here at vanced up the ladder at Goldman in that point, he could shake the one the first place. and done tag that drags on the legacy of his former Goldman alum, even if It is said that Murphy – a former Am - they both couldn’t get to the bigger bassador to Germany – would favor dance. Then again, in the minds of Secretary of State and settle for noth - Murphy’s minders, reelection could ing less than Ambassador to China. position the governor – provided he Of course, Republican President avoids a Christie-like Bridgegate melt - Donald J. Trump – complete with his down – for a 2024 prez run. own little Wildwood, NJ-friendly narrative, could win reelection, With Booker out of the contest now, thereby propelling Murphy, a la Co - the calculation appears to be for Mur - zine, into his own reelection posture. phy to go toward safe bet Biden. The good news (or bad) is that Mur - Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey QRQSURğWQRQSDUWLVDQJURXSDGYRFDWLQJRQEHKDOIRI Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey is a 3ODQQHG3DUHQWKRRGKHDOWKFHQWHUVIRUKLJKTXDOLW\ DIIRUGDEOHUHSURGXFWLYHKHDOWKFDUHthe tens of thousands of New Jerseyans who rely on www.ppactionnj.org 8 YEAR IN ADVANCE 2020 THE BOOKER SENATE TO PREZ PIVOT Cory Booker certainly knows how to pivot. For months, the Booker camp has Now it was time for that classic polit - work “to make justice and opportu - been sending out emails to supporters ical act – a pivot. nity real for everyone must continue.” insisting – contrary to reason and fact – that his presidential campaign Years ago, I briefly had a state govern - And it added, “That’s why I’m run - was alive and well. ment public relations job that really ning for reelection to the U.S. Sena - wasn’t for me, but I do remember sen - tor.” Just send Booker a few more dollars ior officials saying things like, “We’re and everything would be fine and going to pivot.” Two days later, the Booker campaign dandy; that was the message. It distributed another message making seemed not to matter that the senator Up until then, I thought pivoting was sure everyone heard the “exciting was now failing to qualify for debates. a basketball term, as in, move your news” that Booker is running for re - Ignoring that, the campaign kept on pivot foot and you'll be called for election as a senator. And it asked re - saying that Booker had tons of real traveling. cipients to become one of the people support in Iowa. “founding donors” of Booker’s Senate But in the political world, pivoting campaign. And then – it was over. seems to mean you stop what you had been doing and – presto – just start One supposes it’s good to put a failed Booker pulled out of the race on Jan - doing something else. presidential campaign in your rear- uary 13th, less than a month before view mirror as quickly as possible, but the Iowa caucuses, where he had po - On January 13th, the Booker camp sitioned himself to compete.