Primary 2021: Steinhardt Wins Round 1; Singh Tries To Appear Relevant

Michael Lavery

Last evening, via Zoom, Republican state committee members elected Michael Lavery Chairman of NJGOP by a vote of 24 – 18.

The election was viewed as the first battle in the 2021 Republican gubernatorial primary between former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and now former NJGOP Chairman Doug Steinhardt. The third candidate in the race, former beauty pageant winner Hirsh Singh was a non-factor.

Lavery is an ally of Steinhardt, one of his best friends according to InsiderNJ and was the first announced candidate for Chair. Lavery’s candidacy didn’t sit well with some so former US Senate candidate Bob Hugin jumped in and was endorsed by Ciattarelli.

The battle was perhaps best summed up by Matt Rooney’s SaveJersey blog who wrote, in part, “The contest boiled down to a proxy battle between the party’s two major 2021 primary candidates – Doug Steinhardt and Jack Ciattarelli – who backed opposing chair prospects.”

Make no mistake both the Ciattarelli and Steinhardt camps worked this one hard. I spoke to a committee woman who was listed as a vote for Lavery by New Jersey Globe who told me she was called by “a couple of people” trying to convince her to change her vote.

Bob and I spoke with a few other committee people too. They were all being worked hard.

While the chairman election was a battle between the Ciattarelli and Steinhardt camps, Singh was a non-factor who tried to appear relevant by claiming some sort of a victory on social media.

Obviously, Singh paid no attention to what the party chair election was really about. Contrary to what Singh wants it to be, the party chair election was not a victory for supporters of President Donald Trump. It was an early test of the organizational strength of the gubernatorial campaigns. Unfortunately for Team Ciattarelli some also saw it as an attempted takeover by Christie folks.

So at the end of the first round of the boxing match that is our gubernatorial primary Steinhardt is ahead on points. It’ll be interesting to see how Ciattarelli comes out of his corner for round 2. And, Singh continues to sit ringside begging for a chance to get into the ring and thus far is much less of a factor in this primary than he was in the US Senate primary.

On a personal note, it is fun sitting on the sidelines and watching this one.

The First Skirmish In Primary 2021

The 2021 NJ GOP Gubernatorial Primary is heating up with the first skirmish being the battle for an interim state party chair. If you want actual unbiased coverage of the interim state party chair race head on over to the New Jersey Globe. They’re doing a great job covering the race.

In a nutshell, the interim NJGOP state party chair race is a skirmish between the two frontrunners in the gubernatorial primary. Michael Lavery, an ally of Chairman Doug Steinhardt was first to announce his intention to seek the post on December 10.

Apparently, this did not sit well with folks in the Jack Ciattarelli camp. Enter former US Senate candidate Bob Hugin. Ciattarelli has endorsed Hugin.

Never mind that this skirmish led me to ask why our state committee people bother electing a vice chair if the vice chair doesn’t simply step into the role of chair until the next regular election. The answer to the question, according to the party’s Constitution and By-laws, is that a vice chair is elected to fill the chair’s seat for 30 days should the chairmanship become vacant. From the by-laws:

In the event of a vacancy in any office due to death, resignation or for any reason whatsoever, an election to fill such a vacancy shall be held within thirty (30) days. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the State Chairman, then during the limiting thirty (30) day period, the Vice-Chairman shall be Chairman. In the event the vacancies in the offices of State Chairman and Vice-Chairman, the Secretary shall be State Chairman. The Treasurer shall be next in line of succession.

In my opinion it is kind of dumb to elect a vice chair if said vice chair doesn’t become chair until the next regular election. But what do I know?

Furthermore, the by-laws are fairly clear that it does not matter who the chair is during the primary because the party’s responsibility is to support candidates who are nominated at the primary election. From the by-laws:

The State Committee is the sole Republican organization with state-wide representation which is given official standing by law. It is authorized to choose the members of the National Committee of the Republican Party from New Jersey, and it shares with Republican county and municipal committees the common authority to receive and disburse moneys for the purpose of maintaining Party organization, for publicizing the policies and candidates of the Republican Party nominated at the primary election.

So, basically we’re having a skirmish to see who gets to sit back and say nothing about the primary. The interim chair will have the responsibility of raising money to keep the doors open.

As to the combatants, Lavery, I don’t know him and wouldn’t know the guy if I tripped over him. Hugin, I met but don’t know him. I voted for Goldberg in the primary. I did the right thing and supported Hugin in the general election even though he distanced himself from President Donald Trump in a campaign ad.

What I’m really wondering is that with three announced gubernatorial candidates why only two camps have weighed in on this.

Where’s Hirsh Singh? Who does he back for interim chair? Is he content to just sit back in the comfort of his mom and dad’s basement and continue to post things about the presidential election on social media in an effort to get more likes?

As to the frontrunners, Ciattarelli and Steinhardt, the interim chair race could give us a little insight into how county lines might fall. The sides are definitely still working committee people for votes. I spoke to a committee woman who already committed but was called by the other camp this morning with a list of reasons she should vote the other way.

2021 is getting exciting and it’s not even Christmas yet! Stay tuned.

US SENATE: Singh Has Raised $446K, But Campaign Has A Lower “Net Value” Than Flanagan Campaign

Thanks to COVID-19 there really hasn’t been much to write about lately. How many times can we say we are being stripped of our civil liberties?

Reading the stories of how much money the Republican candidates for US Senate have raised, and how much they have in the bank, got me thinking. My first thought? How in the hell did Hirsh Singh spend $418,287!

Seriously, Singh spent $418,287! He’s won four county lines. By my math he has spent $104,571.75 per county line. Even Bob Hugin didn’t spend that much to win a county line, and he spread some serious money around.

According to New Jersey Globe Singh has raised $445,969 so far, spent $418,287, has $26,582 cash-on-hand and debt of $45,355. This means the Singh campaign has a “net value” of ($18,773). NEGATIVE $18,773!

Conversely, long-shot social media campaigner Tricia Flanagan, according to New Jersey Globe, has raised $14,836 to date and has $2,234 on-hand. She lists no debt meaning her campaign has a “net value” of $2,234. $21,007 more value than the Singh campaign.

The fact that I’m writing the Flanagan campaign has more financial value than the Singh campaign speaks volumes!

Frontrunner candidate Rik Mehta has $181,164 cash-on-hand. To be fair I would imagine his campaign is carrying some debt, but like for Singh and Flanagan I’m only writing what was reported. Debt or not, Mehta’s campaign obviously has the highest net value of the candidates.

Basically, this means that the person connected to the Singh campaign who called me on March 23 at 4:20PM and spent 12 minutes and 30 seconds telling me that Mehta’s campaign was broke and had no money was talking out of their butt.

I guess this means the continued not always completely honest attacks on Mehta are going to continue. I suppose that’s the price one pays for being the clear frontrunner.