New Jersey politics: Primary, ethics, Christie, warehouse

A Plurality Win, a Divided Party

Dr. Hamawy won the Democratic primary to replace Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman by securing just over 20,000 votes, which accounted for 28% of the total votes cast. Stoolmacher points out this was a “plurality win” in a crowded field of 13 candidates, including prominent elected officials like his own choice, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson. The author notes this is part of a trend in New Jersey, pointing to Analilia Mejia’s win in the 11th Congressional District primary with 29.1% of the vote. “You would think I’d be elated by his victory. Not so,” Stoolmacher writes, framing the win as a symptom of a political system.

His candidacy received endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. More crucially, he was the beneficiary of a $1.5 million donation from a pro-Palestinian super PAC and a six-figure smear campaign from an anonymous Texas-based super PAC, the Florence Avenue Initiative, targeted against another prominent progressive candidate, Sue Altman. These forces, Stoolmacher argues, allowed Hamawy to "cobble together" a victory without the broad support of the party's traditional structure.

Adam Hamawy wins Democratic primary for New Jersey's 12th District

The Decline of the County Party and the Republican Dilemma

With the elimination of the party line in New Jersey, Stoolmacher suggests the potency of county party organizations will continue to diminish. This is being accelerated by a plethora of candidates, micro-targeting, and the increasing influence of dark money. The author sees a significant risk for Democrats, but notes that the state’s Republican Party is currently inept and ideologically divided. “If they were quasi-competent, they would be positioned to win some Congressional seats against first-time anti-establishment niche Democratic candidates that do not have broad Party support and won elections with modest pluralities,” Stoolmacher posits.

Ethical Clouds and the Search for Transparency

The column then shifts to other pressing issues in New Jersey politics, starting with allegations made in The New Jersey Globe regarding 14th District Assemblywoman Tennille McCoy (D-Hamilton). McCoy is “accused of creating a toxic workplace, mistreating staff and violating ethics rules.” The allegations, which Stoolmacher says are based on 22 interviews and a 47-minute body camera video, include claims that her legislative office, her non-profit, and her personal life had “a single wallet.” The author expresses particular concern about allegations that McCoy’s staff was required to do work for her non-profits and that third-party quasi-charitable entities may have paid for her personal expenses, suggesting a need to ensure these transactions weren’t conducted in a way to avoid transparency.

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Stoolmacher calls for the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to investigate these matters thoroughly. “It would appear that enough questions have been raised that the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards should take a deep dive into the way McCoy has been operating and determine if the allegations are credible,” he writes, though he notes this body has “very rarely taken any formal action against sitting legislators.”

Governor’s Vetting Process and the Marina at Liberty State Park

Finally, the author expresses concern about a lack of transparency in the vetting process that Governor Mikie Sherrill is using to select the state’s next Lieutenant Governor. Stoolmacher writes he is “bothered that we have not heard more details about the vetting process that Governor Mikie Sherrill is using,” especially given that “her last selection was flawed.” He asks for public information on who the Governor is consulting with, what skills and background are deemed crucial for the role, and who is conducting the vetting.