I have a feeling that the New Jersey Democrats’ battleground district internals aren’t looking too hot for Election 2023, Save Jerseyans.
Two key indications:
1. In recent weeks, Assembly Speaker Coughlin and Senate President Scutari have issued statements seeking to create the illusion of distance between their caucuses and Phil Murphy on offshore wind AND parental rights. Should we trust them? Of course not. For example, they LITERALLY just passed a massive offshore wind bailout for Orsted! The story here isn’t that they’re going to stand up to Murphy (they won’t); they’re clearly concerned about the impact on their candidates, and this is evidence.
2. This week, the Murphy Administration announced it would AUTOMATICALLY pay out a new round of ANCHOR property tax relief benefits during the coming fall season; letters are going out to 1.3 million residents (including renters who don’t pay property taxes) with the applicable information. We’re told the payouts will be received by eligible residents by November 1st, and that’s obviously significant since that’s one week PRIOR to Election Day (November 7th). This isn’t property tax relief; it’s a vote-buying scheme funded by tax dollars.
Last year, the Murphy Administration reports distributing checks to over 1.7 million residents; the amounts ranged between $450 and $1,500.
“This is a real benefit for homeowners and renters in New Jersey that will help make their lives more affordable,” said Scutari in a statement released by the governor’s press shop. “Not only are we providing a record level of tax relief that will ease the burden of property taxes, we are making it more convenient and ensuring that those who qualify take advantage of the opportunity for the financial assistance. This is especially important for senior citizens who will have an easier time receiving the increased benefits we added to the program.”
Senior citizens who vote reliably. He forgot to mention that part.
Now, does any of this signal confidence that Democrats are well-positioned in districts like 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, 16 or 38? Nope. Of course, never underestimate Republicans’ ability to shoot themselves in the foot. Democrats also enjoy registration and fundraising advantages and a complicit media reluctant to challenge Murphy and his allies on anything significant. All the same, if you’re a GOP candidate running this year, you’d be stupid not to read these developments as anything other than validation to go all-in on attacking offshore wind and Murphy’s ongoing efforts to remove parental oversight from the educational system.
