By Matt Rooney
Zack Mullock won’t be on the legislative ballot next November, Save Jerseyans. But before South Jersey Republicans settle on their 2027 tickets, they ought to take a hard look at where he beat Jeff Van Drew.
The dust is settling, but it appears that Mullock is ahead by roughly 2 points in LD1 (Mike Testa’s district), 18 points in LD2 (where Vince Polistina and Don Guardian have massive machine targets on their backs), and 4 points in the portion of LD3 that falls inside CD2 (a rural Trump district with all-Democrat representation).
Egg Harbor Township, Galloway and Hamilton all voted for Van Drew in 2024. Two years later, Mullock carried them by 12, 14 and 17 points, respectively.
Do I expect those margins to repeat in a standalone legislative election? No.
But if the plan is to wait for the wave to recede, nominate whoever’s next in line and send out the same property tax mailer we’ve been getting since the Whitman administration, then get ready for Democrat sweeps in districts that ought to be straight red.
For example: Property taxes matter. Ask anybody who pays them. The trouble is that every candidate in New Jersey promises property tax relief. What reason have you given a voter to believe you? And what do property taxes matter if you can’t afford to buy a home?
That’s where a strong biography and authentic advocacy come in. Find the local employer who opened the books and showed Trenton what its energy policies cost a South Jersey business. Recruit the parent who spent two years showing up at school board meetings until the district finally fixed its reading program. Both can tell voters what happened, who stood in the way, and what it took to get something done.
That’s a stump speech worth hearing.
If I were recruiting in LD2 or LD3, my first interview question would be simple:
What did you fight for before you needed anybody’s vote?
Find candidates with a good answer, then give them room to campaign on it.
