The race of New Jersey governors is offering early tests for Democrats trying to navigate the troubling issues of immigration and border security following Donald Trump’s victory, and these issues are already part of the party’s candidates They divide the people.
“These national issues will be on the rise in this governor’s race,” said New Jersey Democratic Chairman Leroy Jones. “I already have it.”
The crowded Democrat field, which includes mayors, council members and former Senate leaders, is competing to replace the Phil Murphy government of the Term Restrictions Democrat. Elections in 2024. Trump lost six points to New Jersey, but saw a 10-point swing in his direction compared to 2020.
When the top Democratic candidates met for discussion last week, immigration emerged as a clear divide between progressive and more moderate hopes.
“I think we have to be honest here, No. 1. You can’t say you support immigrants in New Jersey, but I’ll vote for the Laken Riley Act,” Mayor Newark said. Las Baraka of the United States, who essentially calls on Democrat Josh Gottimer, a Democrat, but to support this measure, US immigration and customs enforcement agencies arrested or found guilty of various crimes. It calls for detention of undocumented immigrants who have been sentenced.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Flop called the Laken Riley Act “dangerous” and said it “helps undermining the powers of the Attorney General here in New Jersey.” Flop pushed Gottimer on the Immigration Trust Act, a state bill that restricts state and local enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Gotheimer refused to admit Fulop’s question, and the moderator proceeded. Gotheimer defended the vote against the federal Laken Riley Act during a New Jersey Grove debate at New Jersey and Ryder University.
“If you’re a murderer, criminal, rapist, if you’re breaking into people’s houses in the middle of the night with guns while your kids are sleeping, you’re not documented, you’re here You shouldn’t, right?” Gottheimer said. “And you shouldn’t be in this state. You shouldn’t be in this country.”
Gotheimer was one of the 46 House Democrats who voted for the measure, but the only Democrat from New Jersey to support it.
Rep. Mikie Sheryl, who runs for governor and is one of the leading candidates, voted against the bill, saying in a statement that “mandates detention and eliminates legitimate process rights for some people, including DACA recipients.” I will.” Convicted of a crime or charged with a crime. ”
At the stage of discussion, Cheryl sought a path to citizenship for “basic humanity” that is often lacking from the discussion of immigration, and “comprehensive immigration reform” and undocumented immigration. He said there was.
“And we need better border security,” Sheryl added.
Former Senate President Steve Sweeney opposed the recent migrant attacks but suggested that people who commit crimes should be deported.
“Look, we don’t want to round up people who haven’t done anything wrong, absolutely,” Sweeney said. “But, those who broke the law in this country, sorry, but they need to leave it.”
Jamaican immigrant and president of the New Jersey Teachers Union, Sean Spiller also raised concerns about the recent ice attacks, saying, “They come for all of us and it scares each and every one of us.” It should.”
The candidates united against Trump’s plans for widespread deportation.
He was asked if one of the next governor’s goals was to illegally protect immigrants in the state.
Cheryl was the only candidate to not raise his hand and refused to participate in the hand-grab question. But she replied, “We should protect the people of New Jersey, especially the constitution.”
The looming attack
Republicans jumped straight away at the moment, sharing a clip from the Republican Governor’s Association of X’s discussion, “When asked if #NJGOV candidates would protect immigrants*, including those who are illegal here. , *All Democrats said: Yes.
“New Jersey Democrats have shown that they place a far left and right politics on common sense policies, especially when it comes to immigration,” Courtney Alexander, director of RGA Communications, said in a statement. The first democratic argument that all candidates raised their hands and raised their hands to say that the next governor’s goal should be to protect illegal immigrants. ”
Julie Loginsky, a Democratic strategist who worked on a New Jersey race but has not been involved in the governor’s race, said it is not yet clear whether the GOP will effectively utilize the issue in the general election. I stated.
“It depends on how they package it. The Republican Governor’s Association is packaging it like Trump’s arms. It’s documented just because they’re who they are. It’s about slandering immigrants who have not been in New Jersey. “It’s not popular in New Jersey. It’s acknowledged that undocumented immigrants are making financial sacrifices to the state. Because there is.
Loginsky said affordability is “always the name of the game” in state elections, promoting Republican success at the state level. She said Murphy was the first Democratic governor to win a second term since the 1970s, and in 2021 he won reelection with just three points.
“For those who have actually campaigned in New Jersey, I understand that while New Jersey is a democratic state, it is always a little less democratic state,” Loginsky said.
On the Republican side, former state legislator Jack Chatterelli, Murphy’s GOP opponent, is running again in 2021, with top candidates for GOP primary and radio host Bill Supadere and former state senator. Ed Dule also appeared and defeated Sweeney. Senator John Bramnick was upset in 2021.
Democrats pointed to their embrace of Trump’s immigration policies, including ending their natural citizenship.
“Unlike Democrats who agree that they need to modernize their immigration system, secure borders and keep their communities safe, Republicans running for governor in New Jersey want to tear their families and rip their constitution apart. I think so, Izzi Levy, senior communications advisor for the Democratic Governors Association, said:
Democrats need to decide on candidates before they can face Republicans on the issue. And it will appeal to both progressive major voters, as well as start from future GOP attacks.
Jones, party chairperson of Essex County Democrats, said Democrats have an agenda that focuses on “protection and ensuring individual rights and freedoms.” (Jones also said he is expected to deny the New Jersey Globe Report and support Cheryl as chairman of the Essex County Party.
Jones said immigration was “obviously a problem” in the 2024 election, but he added that other issues are happening in New Jersey, including the economy and education.
“What we didn’t do, and what’s coming, is drilling down to the kitchen table issues that affect all New Jerseys and Americans across the country,” Jones said.
Bringing voters back with immigration is not an easy task for Democrats. In recent years, voters say they trust Republicans to handle the issue better.
“I think Democrats are trying to understand their ideals, their sense of fair play for everyone, and their truest processes for everyone. Ryder University’s New Jersey Institute of Political Studies. He is the director of the Levovich Institute and is a co-creator of recent Democrat debates.
Rasmussen said Democrats are expected to focus less on the governor’s racial immigration, instead focusing on economic issues like high cost of living.
But he said Democrats are also risking that if Republicans don’t talk about immigration at all, they can define them on the issue.
“It’s a needle they have to pass through,” Rasmussen said.
