Bramnick Positioned as the Republican Voters can Trust
WESTFIELD – On Monday night, Jon Bramnick, GOP candidate for governor, invited friends of the campaign into his home to maintain ongoing preparations in advance of 2025. “Lawyers for Bramnick” drew 100 people, mostly Republicans who share the candidate’s priorities of fiscal conservatism, law and order, respect for the courts and the decisions of the courts, and commitment to strengthening American institutions.
The beautiful Bramnick home contains the confluence of worlds made by both husband and wife: the great room to house people of politics and their conversations, and the studio refuge to engage art and another spirit of aspiration: the architecture of extrovert and introvert, spaces conceived and created by an enduring partnership, in concert with nature. Brent Bramnick, the couple’s son and attorney at the family firm, welcomed guests, here to discuss politics, of course, but inevitably drawn into the larger range land of this civilized New Jersey family.
“I don’t hedge my bets when it comes to respecting our court system,” said the candidate for governor.
Patricia Brentano Bramnick, at the same time, in another part of the house, discussed the finer points of art and the environment, and the role in that relationship of natural light.
Bramnick and his wife seem fascinated by their separate, sustaining disciplines, giving without giving up the specific ground each occupies.
Art? What a concept.
Politics? Yes, fantastic.
That mood prevails whenever the two of them are in close proximity, the essence of this home, and the particular generosity on this night.
At ease grooving among his guests, Bramnick spoke generally about his evolving campaign. “I think the overall theme is no matter how much we argue, we can resolve the issues,” he said, a nod to his profession and his friends, many of whom are actually rivals, who have zealously fought one another in court, only to end up happily crammed together nursing drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the Bramnicks’ expansive back patio.
People here included former Director of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff; Rich Bagger, former state senator and former chief-of-staff to former Governor Chris Christie; former U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance; Wilbur Christie, the former governor’s father; Union County GOP diehard Glenn Mortimer; Anthony Ambrose, former Newark Public Safety Director; Ned Thompson, former conference leader in the Assembly; Trenton insider Michael Murphy, and many others.
Together, the Bramnicks convey grounded-ness, morality, character, work and reputation, stamina, civility, good taste, and the cultivation of civility and civilization at odds with the prevailing political atmosphere of ignorance, mediocrity, and hate. Bramnick frequently remarks on the nation’s political circumstances, with deep concern. “It’s dangerously out of control,” he said at one point. His countervailing response never seems studied or mannered. Those concepts have no place in art, a 44-year natural fit with his politics.
InsiderNJ talked to people at the party. As befits the national cycle, most considered the developing presidential contest. Several expressed outrage over the demonstrated diminished condition of President Joe Biden, and anger over what they characterize as a Democratic Party “cover-up.” Republicans in the room expressed their support for Donald Trump, but simultaneously enthusiastically back Bramnick’s gubernatorial candidacy. No one in the party has criticized in as concentrated and lawyerly a fashion the Republican nominee for president, consistently condemning Trump’s hatred, and the U.S. Capitol-desecrating actions of his followers on Jan. 6th, 2021. Still, Democrats’ policies – both nationally and in New Jersey – present what Bramnick describes as “an impossible future for the country.”
Campaign buttons festively arranged on a table in the great room bear the words: “VOTE BRAMNICK GOVERNOR: Sincerity, Civility, and Service.” Son of Plainfield stationary store owners made good as a lawyer and statewide political force, the former Assembly GOP Leader who helped build his legislative
district into one of New Jersey’s most influential and respected, Bramnick in conversation routinely emphasizes his respect and reverence for the courts, and for institutions, starting with family.
“All of the issues in New Jersey haven’t come to the surface yet, as people are focusing on the presidential election and not on the details of a gubernatorial campaign, but when it comes to issues, most of us [in the fledgling GOP field] are very similar,” Bramnick told InsiderNJ. “We are focused on fiscal issues, on crime, and ensuring the safety of our citizens. I honestly believe we’re all fairly in the same lane. The difference is I think I can win. When I make a decision as governor, it won’t be clouded solely by politics and an ‘us versus them’ environment. …What you’re doing is you’re looking at someone’s judgement. People are desperate to vote for a Republican candidate but there’s a fear there. I deeply believe there is an overwhelming thirst for change. The question is, do people have the confidence to trust in a Republican because our brand has been compromised. I’m the candidate people are going to trust. People will trust that when I make a decision, it will be in their best interest. Who will people trust in a crisis?” He said he believes New Jersey voters will look favorably at principled decisions he makes in his work as a public servant, and as a man who built a successful business, decisions ranging from his fiscally conservative priorities in the crafting of a state budget to something as foundational and personal, as “even picking a mate,” Bramnick noted with a particular sense of pride.
If Bramnick can’t support MAGA, which is to Make America Great Again, and is NOT some radical right-wing movement (since 100 MILLION AMERICANS are part of the MAGA movement, with Democrats and minorities joining in), then I would suspect he is not a candidate that can be trusted.
When you have over 110,000 people showing up on a beach in Wildwood for a Trump rally, the lie that the Republican brand in NJ has been compromised is an abject lie. As one politician in NJ once told me, when you send a politician a letter of support, they understand that it equates to 300 other like-minded people. If 110,000 show up to support a Republican Presidential candidate, Bramnick needs to understand that there are MILLIONS of New Jerseyans waiting to vote for a unique Republican, and not some RINO who is beholden to the “back room boys” in Trenton or D.C.
There is no Republican candidate who has Trump supporters among his fundraisers that can ever be trusted. Period. There is no amount of flowery language that can disguise the stink of the repressive changes Trump supporters wish to see enacted.
Barbara! You beat me to the punch. Bramnick can pretend the MAGA has fatally infected his party all he wants. NJ voters are not idiots. They are going to vote in overwhelming numbers to rid themselves of this Republican brand of politics.
Bramnick continues to prove he is in the wrong party; A man of so few accomplishments should be seen, not heard
Bramnick has done something; Bramnick introduced an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution which would require students to attend hometown school.
New Jersey is the sixth most segregated school system in the nation. Although New Jersey ranked third in the quality category, it fell all the way to 23rd in safety.
Deserving students are trapped in poor and failing schools due to a zip code-hometown rule. New Jersey is 3 years late in implementing reading remediation needed due to the unnecessarily longest in the nation school closures, per the NJ Independent COVID-19 Report. The weak and disenfranchised are those most affected and in the greatest need for the remediation. To further complicate this issue, “New Jersey ranks worst in the nation for the average number of components of its reading programs adequately address, making New Jersey weak on effective reading instruction. Many NJ Legislators openly admit a large number of students will never catch up – a life sentence.
The present NJEA President, Sean Spiller, is also running for Governor of New Jersey. It is alleged he used up to 8 million dollars of union member dues, without their knowledge, to fund his political war chest by founding a non-profit PAC called, “Protecting Our Democracy.”
The NJEA’s PAC Operating Committee endorsed Spiller for Governor of New Jersey without screening any other candidate.
New Jersey loves to celebrate its diversity but does little to address the current state of education. The mantra, “Best in the Nation” is for some-not all. But this is not about race, rather it is about socioeconomics that affects all colors and creeds.
The next Governor must have the courage to redefine education in New Jersey so that every child is given the opportunity to a safe and best in the nation school.
I see the Trump Derangement Syndrome crowd is out in full force again. Oh, the insanity of these leftist, coward, useful idiots. The attack MAGA as if it is some pandemic. The leftist, Democrat parasites here don’t even understand what MAGA means. So, obviously these leftist useful idiots don’t want America great where their children and grandchildren can grow up and have the same things we REAL AMERICANS did!!!!!!
Senator Bramnick- I write this with an honest assessment. President Trump’s polling has improved in NJ. Whatever the personal issues that exist, you need to put them aside because Trump voters represent a strong voting block. There will not be enough left-leaning Dems and independents to put you over the top. Many voters appreciate his policies including fiscal responsibility/tax cuts, curtailing illegal immigration and scaling back the administrative state. The Jan 6 issue should not be looked at through the lens of the Jan 6 committee that disproportionally was represented by left-leaning Democrats and has been found to have omitted alot of information. In fact, the threats that Senator Schumer among others made towards Supreme Court justices that incited some mentally ill people are conveniently ignored in addition to the violent “dictator” rhetoric that set off another potential assassin against President Trump. You should not disproportionately hold Jan 6 against him. If you want to be governor, unite the party and put the disagreements aside. You can agree with policy and not continuously attack the leader that many NJ GOPers support.
Finally, I think you should modify your pro-choice stance to a degree. Whatever fiscal benefits that pharmaceutical companies reap with unborn fetal tissue pales in comparison to innocent human life that is lost. The best way to help mothers in a difficult position is to work with religious officials to offer tax credits to crisis-pregnancy centers and encourage establishment of them to help those in need and those who are concerned about their future with an unplanned pregnancy. The answer is not termination, but support with love for life. Several are willing to help, let them help and support them in their mission.