By Ry Rivard

Presented by AARP New Jersey

Good Tuesday morning and sorry for the delay!

New Jersey Republicans are certainly planning to run against Gov. Phil Murphy’s agenda as they attempt to succeed him — but what will Democrats say about their governor?

While Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is so far the only candidate in the race to replace Murphy, some of his early talk gives a glimpse at how Democrats may position themselves in 2025 — attempting to draw some contrasts and build their own vision, while also not fully throwing Murphy under the bus.

Of course, the party doesn’t have a lot of experience running to succeed a two-term governor, since Murphy is the only Democrat elected to a second term in 44 years.

Murphy has done “OK or well” on transportation issues, Fulop said at a Monday press conference where he put out a transportation policy agenda — heavy on mass transit and North Jersey issues.

Then he questioned how Murphy and his administration had managed NJ Transit’s budget, handled the fight with New York over congestion pricing, dealt with the Port Authority and backed highway expansion near the mouth of the Holland Tunnel.

Taken together, that sounds like a sweeping critique. But asked directly if he was critical of Murphy, Fulop was more positive. “I think Governor Murphy has done a pretty good job in a tough situation, losing a couple of years of COVID and coming in post-Christie,” Fulop said. He also was a bit zen about the capacity of any person to take on such a large job.

There are already other glimpses of potential candidates trying to build their own agendas: Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin proposing his own property tax relief plan, a talking point that got somewhat muddled by a compromise with Murphy, whose administration criticized the original plan as fiscally unsound.

On energy, some lawmakers have begun backing away from Murphy — including Coughlin, who supported one controversial offshore wind bill but then said he had concerns about the direction. But without others being declared candidates — and some potential candidates unable to truly run for governor until after they’ve run in 2026 to keep their seats in Congress, Fulop’s tea leaves may be the only ones we have to read.

But speaking of those undeclared candidates, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) weighed in on one of Fulop’s ideas to toll some drivers coming into New Jersey in the same way that New York is planning new tolls for drivers heading into part of Manhattan. Gottheimer said Fulop was suggesting Jersey commuters "should be tolled yet a third time when they come home from New York City," which makes "zero sense." Gottheimer added, "Here in Jersey, we all need to stand together against New York’s absurd Congestion Tax. Bottom line: the Fulop Tax is wrong for Jersey."

Maybe 2025 isn’t so far away after all.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Matt’s off most of this week worried about bears. Dustin Racioppi and I will be here until he returns for Friday’s edition.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I don't think it's going to kill him if he doesn't fix it. I don't think it's going to be fixed.” — Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop on Gov. Phil Murphy’s pledge to fix NJ Transit “if it kills me.”

WHERE’S MURPHY? — Signing the Boardwalk Fund bill at 11 a.m. in Atlantic City, then “Ask Governor Murphy” at 7 p.m. on WHYY.

A message from AARP New Jersey:

New Jersey’s affordability crisis has hit older residents particularly hard. Too many seniors have been forced to choose between paying for life-saving medications and meeting other critical needs, like paying rent and buying food. But help is on the way. AARP thanks state lawmakers for passing landmark legislation that will strengthen the health and financial security of older New Jersey residents and help them remain in their homes and communities—where they want to be.

THE ONE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF HIS GENERATION WHO DIDN’T LEAVE IN DISGRACE — “Codey to retire after 50 years in office,” by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: State Sen. Richard Codey, the longest-serving lawmaker in the Legislature who stepped in as acting governor when Jim McGreevey resigned, plans to retire at the end of his term, he said Monday. Codey's service in the Legislature began in 1974, and he served as Senate president between 2002 and 2010. "Fifty years is enough," Codey (D-Essex), said in an interview. "Another four years? I’m not doing it." Codey's pending retirement was first reported by NJ Advance Media after the senator posted the decision on his Facebook page. In the post, he called it a "tough" and "emotional" day for him, but Codey, a funeral home operator known for wisecracks, made light of his decision. "No, I am not dying," he wrote, "but if you or someone you know is, please call Codey Funeral Home in Caldwell or Codey & Mackey in Boonton."

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— “New Jersey's longest serving legislator retires after 50 years” (WNYC)

— “Sen. Richard Codey, NJ's longest-serving legislator and a former governor, is retiring” (NorthJersey.com)

— “Longtime state Sen. Dick Codey won’t seek reelection” (NJ Monitor)

— “Codey will retire, drops bid for re-election to N.J. Senate” and “The Dick Codey Story” (NJ Globe)

— “‘End of an era in New Jersey politics.’ Former Gov. Richard Codey retires from New Jersey Senate” (News 12)

— “McKeon in Position to Succeed Codey” (Insider NJ)

DON’T MISS POLITICO’S TECH & AI SUMMIT: America’s ability to lead and champion emerging innovations in technology like generative AI will shape our industries, manufacturing base and future economy. Do we have the right policies in place to secure that future? How will the U.S. retain its status as the global tech leader? Join POLITICO on Sept. 27 for our Tech & AI Summit to hear what the public and private sectors need to do to sharpen our competitive edge amidst rising global competitors and rapidly evolving disruptive technologies. REGISTER HERE.

TRAINS LATE, ELECTIONS EARLY — “Fulop wants corporate taxes to fund NJ Transit, state to takeover PATH and tax New York commuters,” by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard Steven Fulop, Jersey City’s Democratic mayor who is running for governor, wants to reinstate a corporate business tax to fund NJ Transit, find a way to toll drivers crossing from New York into New Jersey and improve commutes across the Hudson River by taking over the Port Authority’s money-losing PATH service….He said Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, has done “OK or well” on some transportation issues, but Fulop criticized Murphy and lawmakers for allowing a surcharge on the corporate business tax to expire at the end of the year. Fulop would reinstate the surcharge and use its revenue to fill a looming budget gap facing NJ Transit — creating the much-talked about, never-done dedicated funding source the statewide transportation agency does not have. The state's corporate tax rate is 9 percent, and the surcharge adds 2.5 percent on taxable income over $1 million.”

— “Jersey City Council set to vote on measure urging state to take action on A&C Bus routes”

— “Who will control New Jersey’s ports now that the state has withdrawn from Waterfront Commission?”

A message from AARP New Jersey:

— CLIMATE CHANGE HITS BURMA-SHAVE JINGLE — “2 years after Ida, flooded NJ homeowners face a choice: Pay up or move out,” by Gothamist’s Karen Yi: “A change to state policy has left some New Jersey residents in one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ida two years ago with two choices: Pay for repairs themselves or sell the state their property so it can be razed to the ground. State officials say dozens of residents in parts of Manville that were deemed high risk for flooding are no longer eligible for federal aid that the state administers for rebuilding. ‘We were not warned, we were not involved in the process,’ said Robert Leigh Simpson, 75, who has been living in a hotel since the storm destroyed his home. Simpson used most of his insurance money to structurally repair and elevate his single-story ranch house, but was hoping to get federal aid to finish interior repairs. Now, he’s stuck with an unfinished home — 10 feet off the ground.”

— NUN YA BUSINESS — “Catholic school could fire unwed pregnant teacher over religious tenets, N.J. Supreme Court says,” NJ.com’s Ted Sherman: “In a battle over whether a Catholic school art teacher could be fired for having premarital sex, the New Jersey Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a religious entity was not bound by the state’s discrimination laws when following the tenets of its faith. Absent further appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the decision likely brings to an end a nearly decade-long fight by the teacher, Victoria Crisitello, who lost her job at St. Theresa’s School in Kenilworth after disclosing to its principal that she was not married and was pregnant.”

— LT GOV — “Who will be Phil Murphy's pick to succeed Sheila Oliver as NJ's next lieutenant governor?” by NorthJersey.com’s Katie Sobko: “It’s a direct appointment, meaning Murphy does not need the consent of the Senate. The governor's choice is still unknown, though. If he selects someone currently serving in the Legislature, the vacancy that would create would be temporary. It would be up to the local county committee to appoint someone to fill the seat for the rest of the year, since all 120 seats are up for grabs in November anyway.”

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Inflation has made the already high cost of living that much more of a struggle for New Jersey residents. Especially seniors living on a fixed income. But thanks to the leadership of New Jersey lawmakers, important financial relief is on the way to help make our state more affordable.

Thanks to our state lawmakers:

• Older New Jersey homeowners and renters will receive more property tax relief through the Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and the new StayNJ programs
• Life-saving medications like insulin, inhalers, and epi-pens will be more affordable
• A newly created Prescription Drug Affordability Council will help rein in skyrocketing prescription drug costs
• More residents will be eligible for help paying for their prescription drugs 
  

— MOB REBRANDS SWIMMING WITH THE FISHES — “Fish dropped from the sky knocks out power in N.J. town,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brianna Kudisch: “The crime scene was fishy from the start. On Saturday, a large section of homes in Sayreville lost power after a fish was found on top of a damaged transformer, Sayreville Police Department Lt. James Novak said. ‘The hypothesis is that a bird dropped it,’ Novak told NJ Advance Media. ‘It just landed perfectly and destroyed the transformer.’ TAPinto Raritan Bay first reported the incident.”

— “Christie seeks to win by getting under Trump’s skin”

— “Former Brick woman accused of taking part in Jan. 6 Capitol riot”

— “NJ bill to cap towing charges is signed by acting governor and retroactive for 15 years”

— “Number of lawsuits against North Jersey real estate influencers reaches double digits”

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