WHO’S UP

Cory Booker

The dynamic Senator from New Jersey campaigned with Senator-elect Doug Jones in Alabama over the weekend, gonged President Donald J. Trump, and basked in Jones victory amid an uptick of Prez 2020 buzz. He already has the endorsement of Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, who appeared to be telling Governor-elect Phil Murphy to get in line behind Booker.

Jerry Speziale

As that lone person in the New Jersey political establishment with real Alabama street cred, the Paterson Police Director could hold court in Paterson on Tuesday night as a legitimate “eyewitness to history.”

Gurbir Grewal

Murphy tapped the Bergen County Prosecutor as his choice to be the State of New Jersey’s Attorney General. The selection made history. If approved by the Senate, Grewal will become the first Sikh American to serve as a state attorney general in the history of the United States.

Liz Muoio

The Assemblywoman from the 15th District – a former Mercer County Democratic chair – is in position to get the support of Governor-elect Phil Murphy as the state’s next treasurer. A star in the Mercer County Democratic Party, the substantive Muoio could emerge out of the cabinet as a future statewide candidate.

Brian Hughes

The Mercer County Executive has worked for years to advance the political career of his ally Muoio, and Murphy’s noon presser today represents a victory for the savvy son of the late Governor Richard J. Hughes.

Anthony Verrelli

The early money looked good for the Mercer County Freeholder to succeed Muoio in the assembly. We’re not saying it’s a done deal. It will likely get bloody. But the support of the Carpenters is not insignificant. Sources say the freeholder also has strong political support within the party.

The NJGOP

Republican State Party Chairman Doug Steinhardt and his allies will not have to wear the wretched Alabama albatross of Roy Moore around their necks as they desperately try to rebuild in the aftermath of Governor Chris Christie.

WHO’S DOWN

Donald Trump

The President lost again – in Alabama? That was supposed to be a lock. Those guys would reap the benefits of a Trump tax bill that ravages New Jersey, after all. Last night, they voted nay on a guy who promised to be glued to the President’s agenda.

John Curley

Accusing him of using derogatory language against female and homosexual county employees and making lewd comments, the Monmouth County Freeholder Board on Friday censured the veteran independent Republican freeholder.

John Bartlett

Swarmed by the Democratic Primary campaign of helicopter pilot and former Prosecutor Mikie Sherrill, the Passaic County Freeholder mercifully pulled the plug on his CD11 run.

Phil Sellinger and Ricardo Solano

The pair of powerful attorneys and former top cops lost to Grewal in their bids to be attorney general.

Frank M. Nucera

A federal grand jury sitting in Trenton indicted the retired chief of the Bordentown Township Police Department for allegedly violating a man’s civil rights by using excessive force during an arrest. The attached indictment adds a single count of making false statements to the one count of hate crime assault and one count of deprivation of civil rights under color of law with which Nucera was originally charged by complaint, as described in the press release issued Nov. 1, 2017.