Gubernatorial primaries underway
By Wally EdgeThe race for the 2009 Democratic gubernatorial nomination has begun, with Congressman Bill Pascrell and Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo saying that they would consider running if the incumbent, Jon Corzine, decides not to seek re-election to a second term.
If Corzine were to leave office early, Senate President Richard Codey would succeed to the governorship. Codey served as Governor when James E. McGreevey resigned, and then backed down from a bid for a full-term when Corzine, willing to self-fund his campaign, secured the endorsement of key county Democratic organizations. Codey, his friends say, is unlikely to back down again.
Some Democrats say Codey hasn’t completely ruled out a challenge to Corzine in the Democratic primary if the Governor’s approval ratings continue to decline.
Codey, the state’s most popular politician according to a Zogby International poll released today by Garden State Equality, would have trouble gaining the support of certain Democratic powerbrokers. Pascrell and DiVincenzo are well liked by party leaders in South Jersey; in 2000, Pascrell bucked much of the North Jersey establishment by backing former Gov. Jim Florio against Corzine in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.
The Republican primary for Governor is already underway. U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie is viewed as the front runner, and former Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan is also planning to run. Last week, bio tech millionaire John Crowley said he would not rule out a gubernatorial bid; Crowley is hosting a party for GOP delegates at the national convention in Minnesota next month.
Contributors
Wally Edge
Attorney General Anne Milgram had already decided she would leave her post when Gov. Jon Corzine lost his bid for re-election. She has been ... >
Bob Torricelli
The contest for Governor of New Jersey might be the most visible but in the long term it might not be the most important. Long after our youngest ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Political discourse in America contains much in the way of intellect or intellectual honesty. One considers the Federalist Papers with wistful awe: ... >
Jeff Michaels
Governor-elect Christopher J. Christie. How sweet it is for the thousands of volunteers who worked since February to support this great man for NJ ... >
Richard LaRossa
With a convincing win in defeating an encumbent Governor, why were there no coattails? >
Alan Steinberg
Within 24 hours after the election of Chris Christie as Governor, the battle was joined between the Governor-elect and the New Jersey Education ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
I am often asked by my students, friends and even reporters why campaigns in New Jersey are so nasty and why candidates rely so heavily on negative ... >
Carla Katz
It was a dark and stormy November night. An icy wind whistled through leafless moonlit trees. A loud thud is followed by a piercing scream. A ... >
Joey Novick
Tuesday, November 3rd was not a particularly good day for Democrats across the state, or in Hunterdon County. Although Democrats in Hunterdon ... >
Murray Sabrin
According to the latest SurveyUSA and Rutgers Eagleton polls, independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett has the support of 19% and 20% of ... >
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Quote of the Day
"Please. I wouldn't have enough paper. So let’s not even bother writing one. This is now about governing. I won. The one thing I could never understand about people in politics was winners who are sore winners." -- Gov.-elect Christopher Christie, on putting together an enemis list.
“He’s a nice man with good intentions, but in the end he’ll be remembered for timidity. Being a business titan and issuing orders from the corner office is a lot different than having to cajole and persuade people in politics and having the toughness and fortitude to see your vision become reality.”-- Ross K. Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University, on Gov. Jon Corzine.
Recent Press Releases
- Nov 6 2009
- Nov 2 2009
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