Who’s Up and Who’s Down went on hiatus for a week during the Thanksgiving Holiday, so what follows is a summary of the last two weeks.

WHO’S UP

Bob Menendez

A hung jury result in the corruption trial of New Jersey’s senior senator reanimated Menendez, who immediately corralled critical 2018 reelection support out of Essex, Hudson, Middlesex and Bergen.

Kevin McCabe

The forces of South Jersey dealt a blow to Bergen, Hudson and Passaic with Gov. Chris Christie’s nomination of the powerful Middlesex County Democratic Chairman to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The lame duck session move doubled down on the advantage the South and McCabe already have with the double barreled legislative leadership potency of Steve Sweeney and Craig Coughlin while denying the North’s attempt at nibbling on Phil Murphy’s ear next year.

Doug Steinhardt

His fellow party members last week elevated the Warren County GOP Chairman to the position of Republican State Committee Chairman.

John Currie

Albeit without the presence of South Jersey types, including Sweeney, the Democratic State Committee this week reinstalled Currie (and Vice Chair Lizette Delgado Polanco) to lead the state party organization.

Steve Lonegan

Vying for his party’s nomination with Bergen attorney John McCann, and eager to shore up support in the aftermath of Warren County Freeholder Jason Sarnoski’s bow-out, tthe CD5 Republican candidate picked up the endorsement this week of politically imposing state Senator Steve Oroho (R-24).

LD3

A report prepared by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission and released today revealed that Sweeney’s district this year provided the framework for the most expensive legislative race – possibly in United States History. The election totaled $18,744,000, blowing out Senator John Burton’s previous California District record of $11.5 million (or $16.5 million adjusted for inflation).

WHO’S DOWN

Paul Fader

Powerful law firm Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, LLC this week announced firm restructuring highlighted by the partners’ mutual decision to vote veteran attorney Fader off the island.

John McCann

The CD5 Republican from Bergen stood like a deer in the headlights as Lonegan gobbled up endorsements in the wake of Sarnoski’s exit from the pre-primary season.

Lou Stellato and Nick Sacco

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey position that went to McCabe this week might would have been perfect for the Bergen County Democratic Chairman (or for a Sacco ally), but Christie took that opportunity away from the Northern power brokers by handing the seat to the South Jersey-wired McCabe.

John Bartlett

Sources say critical party organizational support is fast coalescing for retired Navy helicopter pilot Mikie Sherrill in the contest for Democratic Party Primary to challenge U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11), leaving the Passaic County Freeholder with his nose pressed against the windowpane of the party.

Thomas Frazier

The commercial construction estimator from Galloway today admitted defrauding New Jersey state health benefits programs and other insurers of $800,000 by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick and N.J. Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced. Frazier pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.