Betty Lou DeCroce, a “moderate” Republican during her tenure in Trenton (some would say “liberal” but it’s a debate for another post), lost her bid for renomination to the Assembly in 2021.
Is she thinking about a comeback in 2023? Save Jersey has learned that a cocktail fundraiser to benefit her Assembly committee is planned for June 15th (see below). DeCroce could be retiring debt, but sources on the ground say it’s more than that.
According to two senior Morris County party leaders who spoke with me on Friday, DeCroce is testing the waters and has reached out to leaders and possible supporters.
DeCroce would face stiff odds if she ran off the line; the new LD26 is 80%+ Morris County. Further complicating matters was her strong support for the Christie-Sweeney 2016 gas tax increase; if gas prices remain high next year, it might be a hard aspect of her record to overcome.
It’s believed there could be a significant uptick in competitive primaries in 2023 under the new map. In LD26, Jay Webber will now likely be teamed with incumbent Assemblyman Brian Bergen of LD25 who’s been drawn into the new district.
Here’s a copy of the invitation:
