Democrat Congressman Josh Gottheimer’s early May campaign mailer attempting to influence the Republican primary earned a condemnation from Bergen GOP Chairman Jack Zisa on Thursday.
Zisa, whose organization awarded its county line to Nick De Gregorio, also had choice words for the Republican candidate that Gottheimer was trying to boost: Frank Pallotta.
“Josh Gottheimer and his liberal special interest money meddling in our Republican primary – and trying to prop up a weak, off-the-line candidate like Frank Pallotta – is proof positive that Gottheimer and the Democrats are scared to death of United States Marine Corps Major Nick De Gregorio,” said Zisa. “Perhaps worse is Pallotta’s willingness to be part of the Democrats dirty tricks campaign by refusing to disavow it. The facts are clear: Pallotta was not endorsed by President Trump this year; he was not endorsed by the Bergen GOP; and a vote for him on June 7 is akin to re-electing Gottheimer and keeping another Biden rubber stamp in Congress.”
The mailer made waves in North Jersey politics and was subsequently reported on by Fox News since it’s part of a national trend whereby Democrat campaigns attempt to hijack President Trump’s brand to pick their own opponents.
Bergen County represents approximately 81% of the registered voter pool for the recently-redrawn 5th Congressional District.
The Bergen municipalities inside NJ-05 are Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Englewood Cliffs, Englewood, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Glen Rock, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Mahwah, Maywood (part), Midland Park, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rockleigh, Saddle River, Teaneck, Tenafly, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake and Wyckoff.
The remainer of the district includes pieces of Passaic and Sussex counties.
