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News 12 Staff

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But let there be no doubt that this is a new era of politics rising. The same old, same old is done and we've shown New Jersey that there's a better way to be able to do. I am so proud of what we accomplished tonight. Instead of tearing people down, we are building something bigger. We are building a bigger and better Republican Party together, a party of people who believe in greater freedom and a vital economy. Welcome back to power and politics. I'm Eric Lz Kroner. Of course, just listening to uh congressman and now Senator Elect Andy Kim, uh talking about his victory, historic victory for US Senate and the Republican candidate in the race. Curtis Basho. Let's welcome back our panel today, John Wisniewski, uh Democrat and former New Jersey uh assemblyman. Thank you so much for being here as well as Republican strategist, Chris Russell from checkmate strategies. All right, let's talk about the senate race. Andy Kim is going to be the first Korean American in the US Senate. Uh and so certainly historic. What defined this race for both of you and, and, and what do you think drove Andy Kim to victory, John. Well, I think part was his early entry into the race when democratic leaders were still trying to figure out how to respond to what happened to Bob Menendez. He went in full next day the next day and he didn't look back and that really gave him the momentum when the governor's wife was running. Uh, he really propelled him over the top and ultimately forced her out. That had the potential to be a real grudge match at, at the very beginning, didn't it? And, and I think the party recognized that ultimately that was in no one's interest. Chris, uh, listen, Andy Kim's impeccable timing as a politician and his courage. I mean, you gotta give a guy credit. He, you know, he saw an opportunity, he seized it, he took it. He's now gonna be a US senator, I think in terms of this race, uh, he really just made sure he colored within the lines, right? He didn't do anything outside the normal realm of pos of what a democrat should be doing. And unfortunately, for Curtis Bashaw, he didn't have enough money to get his own message out. He, you know, finished a competitive in the race. For what for us Senate race in New Jersey, we haven't won one of those Republicans in 50 years. If he had more money, given what happened the top, it would have been very interesting to see whether he could have made this more competitive because Kim really just ran a very safe campaign after a very dangerous move he made in the primary, he made a safe campaign for Senate and it worked out for him. Yeah. Listen, he took on the machine. It's, uh, changing New Jersey politics after so many generations. Um, let's talk about Curtis Basher though. A little bit more. Not the less we're gonna see in him. Do you think? Uh, listen, I think he, he's a very successful guy. Uh, you know, well spoken can get out there. He's got a record of actually doing something in the private sector, well known quantity in South Jersey. I think he's gonna see what probably comes up for him. Terms of politics, it clearly has an interest. I think he learned a lot. Um, I think probably running a statewide race might have been a bit too far. I think a lot of people don't understand getting into a statewide race in New Jersey means not two or $3 million. It means 20 or 30. And that is a, a reality, it's a reality that smacks people in the face. Right. And I think for him he had to learn that. So we'll see where he goes next. He's obviously got, uh, I think he quitted himself. Well, let's move on now to district seven. I mean, this is pretty much been. New Jersey's swing district didn't swing this time. Let's listen to, uh, right now congressman, uh, Tom. Kane Junior and Sue Altman. We must address inflation and we must make life more affordable for the families by cutting wasteful government spending and securing American energy independence. This will help drive down prices, it will create jobs and it will strengthen our nation's resilience. I think all of us have had our hearts broken in our own ways by this wonderful beautiful country, this indecisive country, this divisive country, this polarized country, this country with its deeply flawed history, with its racism, with its sexism, but also with its incredible hope, it's beacon for others around the world. It's diversity that is the envy of everywhere else. All of this bundle of contradiction exist in this wonderful country. All right. So uh we actually have the results for this race. It was a lot closer, it seemed earlier in the evening and then Congressman Caine just pulled away later in the night. Uh Were you expecting this perhaps to be closer or did it turn out pretty much the way you thought, John? I thought it turned out the way I believed it was gonna turn out in the beginning. As a I said before, it was a district that was really created to be a safe district for Congressman Cain. She did a valiant job. She ran a great campaign, but there's a limit to how many Democratic votes she can get in that district, Chris. Uh there was a lot of talk about Congressman Kine, not speaking to the press, it didn't appear to hurt him. No, it didn't hurt him. I listen, I think he got uh for him. Fortunately very good match up. Right. She is just too far left for that district, uh too radical to defund the police stuff. Whether she wants to explain it away as a tweet many years ago, it's there. Right. And that anytime someone says they're gonna defund the police, it sets them up as someone who's on the extremes. I think he took advantage of that. And I think the one thing about Tom Kane that people don't give him credit for is he's the most smooth guy in terms of public speaking and all that. No, but he's been a good congressman as on his job, constituent services and other things that makes up for it under the radar clearly had a well of support and in a year that was moving to Republicans, he did as, as John said, did what he was supposed to do and, and took care of business. We're almost out of time. But, but I, I want to look at New Jersey, uh, congressional districts, uh nine here rather state senator Nelly Poe won this race and, and this one seemed as though it was a lot closer than a lot of people thought it should have been. Uh, she'll be taking the seat, of course, of the late congressman. Um, Bill Pascrell Junior. Uh, Chris, was this closer does this put this district in play in the future? I think the way things happen in Passaic County and up in North Jersey, I think it does put it in, potentially in play next time. I think Republicans are going to look at seats like this across country that probably were under the radar. Certainly this one was and say we can win these seats, we can make a real race out of it and put money into it next time. So you may see a new purple seat in New Jersey emerging here. I, I think you can make an argument if you're a Republican that this is a seat in play. But I think the reality is next time out. This won't be a seat in play because Donald Trump will be on the ticket. All right, John Wisniewski, Chris Russell. Thank you both so much for being here. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you and keep it right here on New Jersey, Power and Politics. Our election post election coverage continues right after the break.

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Quick look at some of the other race results from this week in the third congressional district. Long time, New Jersey Assemblyman, her Conway was elected to the seat being vacated by senator elect and Kim now to the 10th district. Well, Monica macgyver elected to a full two year term. This was the seat held by the late congressman, Donald Payne. Junior macgyver also won a special election in September to serve the remainder of this term. And both Josh Gottheimer in the fifth and Mikey Cheryl in the 11th were re elected to the house, but here's where it gets interesting. Both are also expected to run for governor next year. Well, hot off the heels of his comeback win this week, president elect Trump named his chief of staff Thursday, Susie Wiles, his campaign manager who was raised here in New Jersey will take the post and make history. Wi will be the first woman ever to serve as chief of staff to an American president. President elect Trump called her up on the stage during his victory speech, but, uh, she didn't want to step up to the mic a well known and shrewd political strategist Wiles has largely avoided the spotlight. She's credited with helping Rick Scott and Ron desantis win the governor's office in Florida. Susie Wiles, also the daughter of the late NFL player and sportscaster, Pat Summerall, Governor Murphy signing off on the election result this week. He says he'll continue to work in the best interest of New Jerseyans alongside President Trump. But just like last time around the two don't see eye to eye on some key issues, abortion guns, migrant communities. And another point of disagreement. Offshore wind president elect Trump has said that he'll stop all projects when he takes office. Governor Murphy has made it a priority during his time in office. One of the realities of winning both the White House and the US Senate is you get to put through your team uh with very little pushback. Uh So regardless of where the house lands, they have no say in personnel. So everything from judges to who's the head of environmental protection to Secretary of State, everyone in between, they're gonna have a free reign and we just got to see not just what his actions are versus words on the campaign trail, but who's the team that he puts on the field? Governor Murphy though also has a record of working with President Trump both during COVID and all on infrastructure projects like the portal bridge as well. It's been quite a week that's going to do it this week on New Jersey Power and politics. I'm Eric Landsner. As always, we thank you so much for watching and we'll see you again next time.

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