WHO’S UP

Tom Bracken

Mr. Gravitas again presided over the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce train trip with a striking combination of baritone urbanity and graciousness that had several people wondering if this was indeed the Chamber of Commerce from New Jersey.

Hirsh Singh

The Linwood engineer in pursuit of the CD2 seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, this week plucked the endorsement of the Ocean County Republican Committee (good for ten towns) in a competitive GOP Primary with multiple candidates in the race, including – announced just this week – former Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi.

Josh Welle

The CD4 Democratic candidate bested his rivals in a Monmouth County Democratic Committee Convention last Saturday, harvesting 114 votes, compared to the 71 votes collected by second place finisher Jim Keady (see below).

Peter Murphy

Weakened over time at nearly every turn, John Traier’s appointment to the Passaic County Board of Elections clears the way for the former Passaic County Republican Committee chairman – who served time for mail fraud – to reassume his political throne.

Andre Sayegh

The 6th Ward councilman and contender for mayor of Paterson submitted the most signatures this week of all the mayoral candidates  as the contest begins to intensify with the first public debate forums already underway.

Princeton University

The alma mater of former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley received a donation this week of more than 1,000 boxes of the papers of New Jersey’s former lawmaker and a 2000 candidate for President.

Princeton Public Affairs Group

The lobbying firm remains atop the leader board, according to the state Election Law Enforcement Commission, which this week showed PPA leading all 2017 contenders with $9.2 million in receipts.

WHO’S DOWN

Frank Gilliam

Amid an ongoing investigation into why a $10,000 check ended up in the wrong account and against the backdrop of this Alex Zdan InsiderNJ exclusive, the Atlantic County Democratic Committee this week voted to pursue criminal charges against the Mayor of Atlantic City, according to The Press of Atlantic City.

Frank Caputo

Four members of the Barnegat Committee censured the mayor this week following allegations of “violent threats, inappropriate touching of a committeeman and a profanity laden tired,” according to the Asbury Park Press.

Tom DeGise

In search of support in the lead-up to his 2019 reelection bid, Hudson County Executive will lack the backing of powerful Union City Mayor Brian P. Stack, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and their allies, as the next war in the history of Hudson County gets underway.

Jim Keady

He’s going to keep going – and we’ll see how he does in Ocean and Mercer, and he clearly has galvanized some district progressives –  but the CD4 candidate for Congress came up short last Saturday in his attempt to nail the line and receive the formal support of the Monmouth County Democratic Committee.

Paul DiGaetano

A circulated and much-examined and scorned email once again made the Bergen County GOP Chairman look like he’s on his last legs and staggering for the exits as the beleaguered (once vaunted) Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO) attempts to recalibrate.

Antonio “Tony” Suarez

The original choice to replace Assemblyman Vincent Prieto in LD32, Suarez fell out of contention for the job when the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) pulled the plug on the Secaucus Housing Authority Commissioner.

Mike Keeling

Entertaining, oratorically superior but ultimately ineffectual in his pursuit of Monmouth County Democratic Committee support, the CD4 Democratic hopeful abandoned his campaign last Saturday.

Gail Alexander

The preferred 1st ward council choice of Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp, Alexander lost to Ashley Davis 17-23 for the support of the local Democratic Committee.