State Senator Bob Smith (D-17) doesn’t anticipate a massive Democratic Party wave nationally, but he sees enough federal movement for Democrats to land a majority of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and in New Jersey he expects two pick ups – minimum.

“I think Mikie Sherrill wins [in CD11, retiring U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen’s seat],” Smith told InsiderNJ, “and I think [Jeff] Van Drew wins [in CD2, the seat occupied by retiring U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo].”

Then there’s CD7, where U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7) seeks reelection, where former Assistant Secretary of State Tom Malinowski locked up the frontrunner position for the Democrats in the primary during convention season.

“I think that race is 50-50,” said Smith.

The Central Jersey senator says Lance has threaded the needle politically on some key issues to somewhat staunch the GOP bleeding created by President Donald J. Trump. Will it be enough to halt the financially well-connected Malinowski?

“I really think the race is a toss up,” said Smith.

Chairman of the Senate Environmental Committee, Smith says the state budget occupies the bulk of his governmental plate at the moment, as he continues to make the case for a constitutional amendment that would require the Governor of New Jersey to use environmentally dedicated funds solely for that intended purpose. Envisioned during the Gov. Chris Christie years, the amendment has particular relevance at the moment, as Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel upbraids Murphy over the Governor’s budgetary decision to divert $136 million in clean energy funds to NJ Transit.

Smith agrees with Tittel.

He would like to see that money (of a $400 million pot of funds) remain affixed to clean energy programs only.

But he said he also understands the challenges Murphy faces as he confronts the state’s fiscal crisis, and does not note anything unusual in the ongoing feeling-out stages of the young administration as it attempts to navigate halls well worn by the political prowling these last years by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3).

“It’s a learning curve,” Smith said.