WHO’S UP

Phil Murphy

Assuming the oath of office on Tuesday, the tuxedoed Governor partied with his supporters in Trenton and Rutherford, even as his apparent legislative nemesis, Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3), dined at Lunello’s with George Norcross III and Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo.

Gurbir Grewal

Murphy’s choice to serve as New Jersey’s top cop received 29-0 senate confirmation to become the first Sikh American in United States history to serve as a state attorney general.

Britnee Timberlake

The Essex County Freeholder this week received the formal support of Essex Democrats (to add to the support of the Passaic Dems, which she already scored) to fill the LD34 Assembly seat formerly occupied by Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver.

WHO’S DOWN

Bob Menendez

Throwing a wrench into Democrats’ jubilation over getting rid of Chris Christie, feds announced today that they will attempt to retry the senior Senator from New Jersey on federal corruption charges.

Party Committees

According to a special ELEC report, spending by the so-called “Big Six” committees totaled $13.3 million, an amount dwarfed by the $45.4 million spent in the same period of time by independent groups. There may be help on the way soon, however…

Super PACS

Although independent groups spent $45.4 million in New Jersey in 2017, more than triple the sum spent by the so-called “Big Six” party organizations, according to the state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC), Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) and ELEC will be going after them in a big way with pending reforms, one in particular.

Tahesha Way 

Murphy’s choice for Secretary of State won’t be able to assume her new job quite yet, courtesy of Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40), who first wants a sit-down with Way. Corrado will lift her invocation of senatorial courtesy and, presumably, Way – who’s close to Democratic State Party Chairman John Currie – will get confirmed, but this week she had to endure Corrado’s imposed inconvenience.

The Marijuana Legalization Effort

This from an NJ.com story: “While Democrats now hold the governor’s office and a majority in both chambers of the state Legislature, half a dozen Democratic state senators tell NJ Advance Media they plan to vote ‘no’ on any bill legalizing pot for recreational use by adults, leaving its future cloudy.” The opposing senators include: Senators Joseph Vitale of Middlesex, Ronald Rice and Richard Codey of Essex, Jeff Van Drew of Cape May, Shirley Turner of Mercer and Brian Stack of Hudson County.