We witnessed a dramatic show of unity this week when the NJGOP State Committee unanimously shot down a proposal to scrap the state’s 2024 presidential primary in favor of an insider convention.
But don’t be fooled: the divisions in the establishment remain, and they could be exacerbated next year when the shadow gubernatorial primary between Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea is expected to heat up.
Here’s one example:
On Wednesday, the chairman of the Morris GOP (Laura Ali) and the official X account of the Sussex GOP (chaired by Joe Labarbara) participated in an inter-organizational dust-up over Josh Aikens, a local school board president and former LD24 Assembly candidate who is strongly associated with the Spadean wing of the party. Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-25) is a vocal Spadea critic. The pair exchanged barbs and, in so doing, drew their respective county orgs into the fray on the social media platform.
“Not sure who you are,” Ali, a close ally of possible 2025 candidate Jon Bramnick, replied to one of the digital combatants. “Your precious Josh, who I hear is in charge of anti-bulling at the school he works – is the nastiest social media troll and bully of all time. Dont compare him to Assemblyman Bergen ever. They are not in the same stratosphere. Brian is a winner.”
“Getting back to Josh though I am proud to call him my friend and colleague and will support him in whatever he decides to do in the future and Sussex County will follow ‘Josh is loved in Sussex’ which I can’t say the same for you,” responded the Sussex account.
It’s good to know my chairman @SussexCountyGOP is not a feckless water carrying shill like the chairwoman in Morris.
— Josh Aikens 🏴 ™️ (@Aikens_Josh) September 27, 2023
Brian, “moving the needle” is the most trite expression. I used to respect you. What have you actually done as an Assemblyman? Josh has done more good for this state than you have as an elected official. Also, Laura is an asshole who bullies anyone who disagrees with her.
— Dana A. DiRisio (@TheDanaNJ05) September 28, 2023
Getting back to Josh though I am proud to call him my friend and colleague and will support him in whatever he decides to do in the future and Sussex County will follow “Josh is loved in Sussex” which I can't say the same for you.
— SussexCountyGOP (@SussexCountyGOP) September 28, 2023
