The calls by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-21) went out today as the leader sought caucus support for a return to the chair of power in advance of tomorrow’s scheduled reorganization. As he called around, Kean met at least one member who told him he thought Republicans should move in a different direction, and that was state Senator Mike Doherty (R-23).

Doherty told him the GOP needed a change after nine years of Kean.

He informed Kean, and then started making counter calls of his own to those 14 other members of the shrunken GOP caucus. A new face, that seemed to be the gist of Doherty’s argument in the aftermath of yesterday’s loss. The movement conservative senator also wanted a new direction in terms of how Republicans frame issues, especially on the school funding formula question.

Doherty wanted the seat himself, but would just as peaceably consider an alternative to Kean.

No one seemed to agree with him, sources told InsiderNJ.

Kean can raise money, was the oft repeated rejoinder as Doherty made the rounds.

Also, the GOP sees a moderate middle as a good position for the party, and Kean embodies that, as opposed to Doherty, who last year served as state director to Trump for President. The Kean wing is irritated at Trump – even apoplectic over him – and can try to make the case that Doherty would lurch the party further into what they see as mad-capped territory. For his part, Doherty bristled as Kean spent years telling caucus members to back bottomed-out Republican Governor Chris Christie in the name of “sticking together,” and seeks greater and harder issues advocacy.

Kean and company largely blame Trump for the madness in their backyard of Westfield, where Shelley Brindle allies last night catapulted the first woman in the history of the town to the mayoralty. But Doherty sees Christie and his advocates and enablers – like Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick (R-21), another Westfield resident – as the problem.

Doherty kept trying.

Calling.

Bucco.

Thompson.

Oroho.

Bateman.

O’Scanlon.

But it didn’t look good.

“Tom has the votes,” one senator told him.