Download Insider NJ’s 2023 Insider 100: Power publication or view it below

Democrats this year held onto a 25-15 majority in the state senate, while the assembly went from 46-34 to 51-29 Democrats. State Senator Sam Thompson (D-30), who retired this year, surrendered a Democratic seat to the GOP on Nov. 7. Election Day, but former Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-3) made up that loss with his win over Republican state Senator Ed Durr (R-3).

Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22) probably wasn’t overjoyed that South Jersey Democrats showed some resurgence behind wins by Burzichelli and Paul Moriarty (D-4). But the senate president rattled off any Republican threat to his upper house party majority, most significantly on the strength of his backing by the Middlesex County Democratic Committee, and Middlesex’s strong alliance with Essex and North Jersey.

Middlesex’s Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) made history this year as a fourth term speaker of New Jersey’s General Assembly (for more on that, please see the entry on Middlesex County Democratic Committee Chairman Kevin McCabe, below).

All in all, a dominant year for New Jersey Democrats in control of the Legislature, behind their dual message of fortifying abortion rights and the StayNJ plan, engineered to make life more affordable for cash-strapped senior citizens.

How long will it take for them to implode?

As long as the multiply indicted former President Donald J. Trump hangs around, will it matter?

Which of the parties implodes most catastrophically?

Download Insider NJ’s 2023 Insider 100: Power publication or view it below: