New Jersey political scene 2024.

0:00 Speaker 1 With us today. Is there a Shuffler and he knows a few things about New Jersey. He’s a lobbyist, he’s a rainmaker, and a little bit of everything besides being my partner in the Faerie Hawks in Staten Island. Let’s go to New Jersey first. There’s so many things going on as a Senate race going on, is a governor’s

0:23 race coming on? Eric Shuffler, give us an update of what’s going on in New.

0:29 Speaker 2 Jersey and John, I’m your friend, and that isn’t really my most important title here. Yes, it is a really exciting and uh, you know, interesting and crazy time in New Jersey politics. And we have a Senate race going on right now where our sitting senator is under indictment and is still in the Senate race. We have the

0:48 governor’s wife, Tammy Murphy, who is you know, a very substantive, strong candidate on her own running and then we have a congressman from South Jersey all in a Democratic primary battling it out the week to win. So there is a lot going on. New Jersey hasn’t seen this level of kind of political intrigue and excitement in a long time.

1:05 We’ve got some you know, interesting results in the.

1:07 Speaker 1 Last Wait you said, I know you’re a Democrat, Eric, Any Republicans running?

1:12 Speaker 2 There are two Republicans in the primary. The leading candidate has guy named Curtis Bayshaw, who is a developer from South Jersey, used to head the Casino Redevelopment Authority and has built up a lot of the economic development and hotels in and around South Jersey. He’s a longtime friend of mine, you know, a good person, you know, really

1:31 interested in economic growth, common sense. But this still is a race for you know, the Democrats to win it right now, you know, the excitement is on the Democrats.

1:41 Speaker 1 The races for this November.

1:43 Speaker 2 This November. The primary is June fourth, so we’re three months away, four months away, and it is a battle Royale.

1:50 Speaker 1 What is the schoolboard as of right now? Is Menenda’s running in the primary? Is he getting any support?

1:58 Speaker 2 He is running, but he’s not getting any support. But he is still in the race. The race really is Congressman Andy Kim versus Tammy First Lady Tammy Murphy, and they are battling it out county by county across the state.

2:12 And the First Lady Tammy Murphy racked up two big wins in the last few days.

2:16 Speaker 1 Is there a poll, I mean, do you know any idea what’s going on?

2:19 Speaker 2 There was a mom Ath University poll out last week that showed Andy Kim, you know, having higher favorability ratings than First Lady Tammy Murphy. But you know, poles don’t win races. Voters do. And right now, the way the New Jersey system works, each county has their own convention to decide who their candidate is and who goes on

2:40 the ballot in a preferred position. So that’s what the candidates are doing. And Tammy Murphy won Somerset County last night, and she won Bergen County, which is one of the most populous counties in the state Monday night. So two big wins for Team Murphy. Andy Kim is still alive.

2:56 He’s won some of the smaller counties and coming up we have, you know, the bigger ones in Essex, Hudson, Middlesex. So you know, we haven’t seen a contested primary in a long time. But it looks like First Lady, you know, Tammy Murphy is you know, kind of getting those sea legs, solidifying the ship and starting to gain some momentum, but

3:14 it is a real race.

3:15 Speaker 1 And there’s a governor’s race coming up next year. The governor right now, Governor Murphy is term limited and he hasn’t announced what he’s going to do in the future. What’s going on in that.

3:29 Speaker 2 You know, Republicans in New Jersey do win statewide races. They tend not to win them at the federal level and the Senate races, but they do win governor races, you know, Chris Christy being the most recent example. So Democrats have been in power eight years. That’s a long time to be in power, and it creates ripe openings

3:45 for the Republicans. So they have two strong candidates going Jack Chidarelli who ran the last time and did well, and State Senator John Bramnick, who’s a comedian and a lawyer and very popular. So I think the Republicans really view New Jersey as a place they can They have a really strong chance. And on the Democratic side, you know,

4:03 open governor races don’t come around too often, so there is a lot of interest. Steve Fullup, you know, the mayor of Jersey City who’s been very successful. Center President Steve Sweeney, who’s from South Jersey was the Center president for a long time and then lost. He’s running. There’s you know, Mikey Sheryl, congresswoman is rumored to be wanting

4:23 to get in. Josh Gottdheimer, Congressman from Bergen Counties looking at the race. So you know, as soon as we get through the Center race, all eyes turn to a governor’s race, and that’s where the power is. New Jersey governors the most powerful governor in the nation. There is no other elected statewide position that you know, no attorney generals,

4:41 no prosecutors. So lots at stake in New Jersey in the next year.

4:45 Speaker 1 Any comment on the last week’s State of the Union, I mean, is New Jersey happy at what’s going on? Do you have a migrant problem like other states?

4:56 Speaker 2 You know, we don’t have the migrant problem to the same extent that New York’s City has it. Governor Murphy has been kind of out front.

5:03 Speaker 1 Of trying ingestion pricing problem.

5:05 Speaker 2 You have Governor Murphy’s you know, filing much litigation, many lawsuits. Congressman Josh Gottheimer’s been out there, you know, the congestion pricing, you know, adding another fifteen dollars to the commute into New York City, you know, severe problem for New Jersey voters.

5:19 So that is definitely a hot issue, you know, John. One of the big issues for New Jerseys is a win which is a win for the whole region, which is FIFA World Cup Final coming to the Meadowlands in June of twenty twenty six. This is one of these signature events on the globe coming to New Jersey, which

5:37 means great things for New Jersey. It means great things for New York too, Millions and millions of people coming in. Huge win for Governor Murphy, beating out Texas and California for that. So it’s always nice when the hometown area gets a big win like that.

5:51 Speaker 1 Well, let’s go to Staten Island. It’s almost spring training. I know, it’s spring training in Florida. I’ve seen and experienced it. What’s going on with the Ferry Hawks and in Staten Island.

6:07 Speaker 2 So much is going on right now, John. You know the stadium, it’s an entertainment venue year round. And right now we have NYU Baseball, College of Staten Island Baseball, Saint Peter’s High School in Staten Island, one of the best baseball programs in the five boroughs. They’re all playing there now, but we open our spring training in about

6:26 five weeks. We’re going to be doing an open tryout for any player who wants to try out for the Fairyhawks Sunday, April fourteenth, over at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park. We’re going to be announcing the time soon, but follow us at Fairyhawks but the chance for players to come pursue their professional dreams. And then our home opener,

6:45 John May third. The other big news March twenty third. At the stadium, We’re going to be having our annual hawk Fest where we invite fans to come to the stadium. John, You’re going to be there. I’m going to be there, meeting and greeting with fans. There’s gonna be a baseball game, and I open the stadium for tours, merchandise, some interaction.

7:03 Our new manager is going to be there, some fairy Hawk players. So that’s always a really fun day on the island.

7:10 Speaker 1 Well, Eric, thank you so much for calling in this Sunday morning. And New Jersey. It’s a great state and I hope you get the right team to manage it. And I’m glad you don’t have the migro problems we have in New York, and God bless you, and God bless America.

7:30 Speaker 2 Thank you, God bless our country. Thanks John,