BRIDGEWATER TWP., N.J. – Most of them ran as “moderate,” centrist, or not-so-far-left Democrats in 2018. Since then? All but one has gotten behind impeachment and, on December 16th, they accept campaign cash raised by Governor Phil Murphy and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.
The Bridgewater Marriott reception is hosted by the DCCC and other top Democrat donors; tickets range to $250 for general admission to $10,000 for “host” status. It’s expressly for the benefit of U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-2), Andy Kim (D-3), Josh Gottheimer (D-5), Tom Malinowski (D-7), and Mikie Sherrill (D-11). All five are considered top targets for Republicans in 2020; all five Democrats’ seats were Republican as recently as January 2017. Murphy and Menendez are the event’s “special guest” headliners.
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Frank Pallotta, one of the GOP’s primary candidates in the Fifth Congressional District (Gottheimer), issued a statement on Wednesday hammering the Democrat he hopes to face and defeat for gross hypocrisy.
“If Josh Gottheimer is the “problem solver” that he claims to be, he won’t accept money raised by Corrupt Bob Menendez,” said Pallotta, citing the ‘moderate’ problem solver caucus which Gottheimer leads. “Menendez has the distinct dishonor being one of the sleaziest politicians in Washington. NJ-05 rejected him in 2018, and so should Josh.”
Gottheimer ultimately supported Nancy Pelosi’s speakership bid following the 2018 election.
Republicans are particularly bullish about the 2nd Congressional District after last week’s legislative win by the LD1 GOP ticket in deep South Jersey. The State Senate seat snatched by the GOP was previously held by Van Drew (pictured above), and NJ-02 voted for Trump in 2016 as did NJ-03, NJ-05, and NJ-11.
Governor Murphy is one of America’s most liberal governors, supporting radical policies ranging from massive tax hikes and business regulations to Sanctuary Statehood and, this week, a state-run bank.
Senator Menendez is best known for a “hung jury” trial following his highly-publicized federal corruption indictment.
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