New Jersey special election will test the sway of Democrats’ machine politics: From the Politics Desk

Machine politics has long been a driving factor for New Jersey Democrats, with strong county party organizations backing candidates and pushing them to victory with turnout armies and prominent positions on the ballot — what’s known as “the line.” That power was significantly weakened when a court struck down that voting model two years ago. From now on, all the candidates are grouped together on the ballot, even if the departmental parties can still nominate their supported candidate.

It’s unclear how much influence organizational endorsements still have in New Jersey — and this primary will provide a useful data point.

Formerly, Brendan GilEssex County Commissioner, would be the clear favorite, with official party support in what is the district’s largest component county. He still has significant advantages, with the support of many local leaders in Essex and the experience of winning county-wide elections. He also chairs the local Democratic Party in Montclair. A bastion of liberal activism and the district’s main vote-producing municipality, it is expected to represent nearly 10% of all votes cast.

Then there is Tom Malinowskiwho represented the neighboring 7th District in Congress from 2018 to 2022, when he was defeated by the Republican. Thomas Kean. Malinowski could have sought a rematch this year with Kean, but was drawn to the more solidly Democratic 11th District. Malinowski enjoys the support of the party organization in Morris County, although even at the height of the party machines, Morris had a weak Democratic infrastructure. Until recently, it was a strongly Republican county.

What Malinowski really has going for him is broad notoriety and a particular appeal to the highly committed, machine-phobic professional class that is ascendant within the Democratic Party. An approval from the senator. Andy Kimwho filed the lawsuit that killed the state’s old voting model two years ago, has only restored its powers. In a nod to Malinowski’s strength, outside groups and Gill’s campaign targeted him with negative ads and phone calls.

The smallest part of the district is in Passaic County, where the Democratic organization has essentially decided to set up shop, offering support to both parties. Tahesha Waywho had been lieutenant governor under the former governor. Phil MurphyAnd John Bartletta Passaic County commissioner. That joint endorsement might not help much either, but Way also benefits from a flood of outside spending, including from the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, which has spent well over $1 million on television ads for her. Large-scale outside spending against Malinowski and for Way has added uncertainty to the race.

The wild card in the race is Analilia Mejíaa progressive organizer who was the political director of Bernie Sanders“2020 presidential campaign. It has the support of Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Mejia is positioning herself as an outsider, and her left-leaning politics could have considerable resonance with the Trump-era Democratic base.

After Republicans push Clintons to testify about Epstein, Democrats warn they’ll call Trump

By Scott Wong, Melanie Zanona, Sahil Kapur and Ryan Nobles

Faced with the threat of being tried for contempt of Congress, Bill And Hillary Clinton agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrats now say Republicans have set a new precedent for Congress’s ability to subpoena and put former presidents, first ladies and their family members on trial under threat of criminal charges if they refuse – a precedent they warn the GOP and the president will watch over. James ComerR-Ky., will soon regret.

“We are absolutely going to ask Donald Trump to testify under oath” when the Democrats regain power, said the California representative. Ted Lieumember of the Democratic leadership, told NBC News.

representative Maxwell FrostD-Fla., a younger progressive who sits on the oversight panel, said Democrats would “100%” benefit from the new precedent set by Republicans.

“This sets a precedent, and we will follow it. … Donald Trump, all his children. Everyone,” Frost said.

representative Marc PocanD-Wis., agreed with his colleagues: “This will please Donald Trump in the short term, but in the long term, in a year, we will have subpoena power.” »

He warned: “What goes around comes around. »

The context: The House was expected to move forward this week with a vote to convict the Clintons of contempt of Congress after they refused to comply with a subpoena for their testimony in the panel’s investigation into Epstein. The vote was expected to be bipartisan, with some Democrats saying they would vote alongside Republicans.

Seeing what was happening, the Clintons agreed to testify before the committee. Comer said the Clintons will appear before his committee on Feb. 26 and 27 “for transcribed and videotaped depositions,” although the Clintons’ attorney said the former first couple would prefer to appear in public. The two parties are engaged in a confrontation over the format of the interview.

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That’s all that’s coming from the politburo for now. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Owen Auston-Babcock.

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