18 stories credited to Insider NJ
Latest story Sep 23, 2026 · on ChamberLight since Apr 2026
A story can appear as several articles (copies of the same piece), so counts of stories and of articles differ.
Scores for Insider NJ
Political lean
15 stories · 95% range 37–50 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Originality
3 of those 18 carry an unconfirmed copying flag, which is not evidence either way.
18 stories · updated Sep 24, 2026
Writing quality 65 of 100: the average rating of 15 stories, each rated on its own (separate from credibility). How it is measured
Scores last checked Sep 25, 2026.
Stories ChamberLight collected, by month
Stories credited to Insider NJ, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.
- Stories from Insider NJ
- Shaded: ChamberLight collected no stories, or almost none, from any outlet (a gap in its collection, not in the outlet’s publishing)
Show as a table
| Month | Stories | All outlets |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | 12 | 3,898 |
| May 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| June 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| July 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 (collection gap) |
| September 2026 | 6 | 1,320 |
Top topics
Share of this source’s stories tagged with each topic. A story can carry several topics, so the shares do not add up to 100%.
- Ethics/Corruption7
39% of 18 stories · 58% across all outlets
- Voting Rights7
39% of 18 stories · 19% across all outlets
- Budget/Spending4
22% of 18 stories · 31% across all outlets
- Economy4
22% of 18 stories · 26% across all outlets
- Healthcare4
22% of 18 stories · 8% across all outlets
- Labor/Unions4
22% of 18 stories · 4% across all outlets
- Foreign Policy3
17% of 18 stories · 29% across all outlets
- Taxes3
17% of 18 stories · 5% across all outlets
The thin mark on each bar is the topic’s share across all outlets.
Who they cover
Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 12 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 19 story–official pairs, from 18 stories.
- Democrat42% · 8 pairs
- Party not recorded32% · 6 pairs
- Republican26% · 5 pairs
Most covered
Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 18 stories.
- 1Mikie SherrillD5 stories · 28%
- 2Thomas KeanR3 stories · 17%
- 3Donald TrumpR2 stories · 11%
- 4Analilia Mejia–1 story · 6%
- 5Analilia MejiaD1 story · 6%
- 6Bonnie Watson ColemanD1 story · 6%
- 7Donald NorcrossD1 story · 6%
- 8Joe Hathaway–1 story · 6%
- 9Justin Murphy–1 story · 6%
- 10Sue Altman–1 story · 6%
+ 2 other officials (2 story–official pairs)
Article tone
ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not Insider NJ’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 18 stories.
- Good Look
- 6 (33%)
- Mixed
- 5 (28%)
- Informational
- 2 (11%)
- Bad Look
- 5 (28%)
Related sources
Lean 95% range 41–45 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 2 shared topics
Lean 95% range 39–49 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 1 shared topic
Lean 95% range 40–49 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 1 shared topic
Lean 95% range 43–46 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 43–47 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 39–50 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 1 shared topic
Challenges to these scores
No one has challenged a score on this page yet. Anyone can; editors publish every outcome here.
Articles served from insidernj.com
19
Murphy Beats up on Trump-Bewailing ‘Left’
CLIFTON – “The left is running on hate for Donald Trump.” So said Justin Murphy, the Republican challenging Cory Booker at a “town hall” Tuesday evening in the heart of Passaic County. In many ways, Murphy is right. But he avoided the second part of his observation. Hating Trump works. The president’s approval ratings are[...] The post Murphy Beats up on Trump-Bewailing ‘Left’ appeared first on Insider NJ.
Election NJ 2026: What’s Happening RIGHT NOW
EDITOR’S NOTE: Here and there around New Jersey politics. Many elected officials are less than enthralled with the press, notwithstanding comments to the contrary. Hard to forget that Phil Murphy signed legislation to weaken the state’s Open Public Records Act, or OPRA. Still, Analilia Mejia was quick to criticize the president’s ban on CNN, MS[...] The post Election NJ 2026: What’s Happening RIGHT NOW appeared first on Insider NJ.
Hathaway Proposes Federal Relief for Communities Facing High-Density Housing Mandates
Joe Hathaway, Republican nominee for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, today announced a proposal to provide federal relief to municipalities facing large population growth resulting from state-mandated high-density housing development. Hathaway’s proposed High-Density Housing Relief Act would make federal funding available to qualifying municipalities to help offset three major costs associated with rapid[...] The post Hathaway Proposes Federal Relief for Communities Facing High-Density Housing Mandates appeared first on Insider NJ.
Mejia Takes a Swipe at Kean, McConnell
ROCKAWAY – The question was about health care, or more specifically, Medicare for All. That’s an easy one for CD-11 Congresswoman Analilia Mejia. She strongly supports Medicare for All, but as she spoke at a Friday night “town hall” at the Islamic Center of Morris County, she deviatred a bit. “I look at Mitch McConnell[...] The post Mejia Takes a Swipe at Kean, McConnell appeared first on Insider NJ.
NJSDC: Trump Sending $3,300,000 to Tom Kean, Jr.
The New Jersey State Democratic Committee today slammed the millions of dollars being deployed by two Epstein File headliners, Donald Trump and Elon Musk, to support Tom Kean Jr. A Trump super PAC directed approximately $3.3 million toward supporting Tom Kean Jr. in the midterms. The spending comes as Trump and the NJ GOP ramp[...] The post NJSDC: Trump Sending $3,300,000 to Tom Kean, Jr. appeared first on Insider NJ.
Mejia Wins in CD-11
MONTCLAIR – Former union organizer Democrat Analilia Mejia tonight prevailed in her special CD-11 general contest with Republican Joe Hathaway. The election ended early. But the party just began. Unlike the primary, there was no confusion, no uncertainty. The race was called by the AP as soon ad the polls closed. The crowd at the Montclair Museum is jpyous and the speeches have just began. One presumes Analilia Mejia will be here soon to claim victory. LeRoy Jones, the state Democratic chair, was in fine rhetorical form as he addressed the crowd. He said Mejia’s win will reverberate across the nation and that she will stand up to Donald Trump, who he called the “anti-Christ.” Hathaway released the following statement: “I want to congratulate Analilia Mejia on her victory in this special election and wish her well as she prepares to represent New Jersey’s 11th District. We fought a spirited campaign, and I’m proud of the race we ran. From the very beginning, our campaign focused on bringing people together around a simple idea: that our district deserves common sense, practical leadership that puts families first, not a political party, not a president, and certainly not a squad. Along the way, we built a coalition of supporters from across the political spectrum who believe in that mission, and that is something worth continuing. While the result tonight is not what we hoped for, our work is only just beginning. I will continue fighting for affordability, public safety, accountable government, and I will continue to stand up for the families of NJ-11. We will also be watching closely and holding Congresswoman-elect Mejia accountable for the votes she casts and the policies she supports, and how they impact our NJ-11 communities. This was a unique and, frankly, unusual election. The structure and timing, set by a partisan Democratic governor, produced exactly the kind of low-turnout environment that benefits one party. We saw heavy vote-by-mail participation, limited Election Day turnout, and far too many Republican and unaffiliated voices left out of the process. The result is that Analilia Mejia has now won two elections decided by a small share of the overall electorate, 3.2% of the total electorate in the primary, and just north of 10% of the total electorate tonight. I still believe the broader electorate in NJ-11 is looking for balanced, pragmatic leadership, not the kind of far-left policies embraced by Ms. Mejia. That conversation is not over. I’ve said from the beginning that we’re running through the tape, and I mean it. I’m looking forward to the rematch in November, when more voices will be heard and the full electorate will have its say. Finally, I want to thank my wife Whitney and my family for their unconditional love and support throughout this campaign. And to every supporter, volunteer, and financial contributor who stepped up, knocked on doors, made calls, invested in this campaign, and helped us build something real, I am deeply grateful. You didn’t just support a campaign, you helped build and strengthen a movement for common sense leadership in NJ-11, and we are just getting started. This is not the end, it’s the start of the next chapter.” Following Analilia Mejía’s decisive win in the special election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler released the following statement: “EMILYs List congratulates Analilia Mejía on her win in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. She ran a campaign grounded in the priorities of working families, and she now takes that fight to Washington. We are confident she will be a strong voice in Congress for pushing for policies that raise wages, lower costs, and expand health care.” More Labor celebrating: The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to announce that tonight we have sent another union member to Congress to represent our one million members and their families, as Analilia Mejia (SEIU) has won her special election in CD-11. Analilia Mejia will be the second union member in New Jersey following our union brother, Congressman Donald Norcross, (CD-1) (IBEW 351) to serve in Congress. With two union members in Congress, our state is the first to achieve this impressive feat for working families. Many of our unprecedented achievements are made possible by the success of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s Labor Candidates Program and our Central Labor Councils which have resulted in the election of 1,355 union members to date. “Increasing worker political power is directly linked to electing working people through our labor candidates program,” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech. “Our Labor Candidates Program recruits and elects union members to all levels of government, from school board to Congress, so working people have a seat at the table when policy decisions are being made,” he concluded. Tonight we are proud to celebrate yet another significant victory, as we look towards the future of our labor movement. With roots in our labor movement as a union organizer, Analilia Mejia will continue the work to expand the rights of working people in our state. Through her experience in the U.S. Department of Labor and work on campaigns fighting for higher wages and paid sick leave, Analilia Mejia has proven herself to be a fierce advocate for working people. Her support of investments in roads, bridges, public transportation, prevailing wages, project labor agreements and the right to join or form a union, will go a long way as we work together to raise the standard of living in New Jersey. Congratulations again to our union sister Analilia Mejia! We look forward to working with Congresswoman-elect Mejia to amplify the voice of working people! Nedia Morsy, Director of Make the Road Action New Jersey, issued the following statement on behalf of the organization’s nearly 7,000 members: “Tonight, we are sending one of our own to Congress. Together, we have done the steady work of organizing to grow a movement that delivers for all of us. With Analilia, we not only forcefully called the question of whether or not we should spend billions on a masked paramilitary that separates our families while we cut healthcare funding but we also articulated a vision of what a country that welcomes immigrants can do. Make the Road Action members are proud to have knocked on 25,100 doors and drive 151,571 calls to beat back the influence of big money and build the power needed to shape our future. Tonight’s victory is more than a testament – it is a call to action to do away with outdated playbooks that favor the billionaire class and power the authoritarianism regime. Progressive power is building every day in New Jersey and across this country. We look forward to ushering in a New Jersey alongside our new Congresswoman where we guarantee the rights and protections of all people including immigrants, strengthen our shared economic and civic life, lifts wages, and counter corporate exploitation.” Make the Road Action helped deliver a decisive win for Mejia. Since December 2025, Make the Road Action members have engaged thousands of voters, making 151,571 phone calls and knocking on 18,160 doors. Throughout this massive outreach effort spanning four months, voters expressed strong support for Mejia’s platform: abolish ICE, healthcare for all, billionaire and corporate accountability, affordable housing, and lower utility and grocery prices The post Mejia Wins in CD-11 appeared first on Insider NJ.
Sherrill’s Mission to Deliver PAC Has $1 Million Cash on Hand after First Quarter of 2026
Mission to Deliver PAC, Governor Mikie Sherrill’s federal political action committee that will support candidates across New Jersey and the country in federal and statewide races, announced it raised $895k in the first quarter of 2026, ending with a total cash on hand of $992k. “As with all Mikie Sherrill endeavors, Mission to Deliver PAC hit the ground sprinting, and we are overwhelmed by the support we received at the start of the year. It speaks to a deep desire across the country to build a bench of leaders like Mikie Sherrill who put service first, and relentlessly attack problems that keep families up at night—from the cost of living, to daily commutes, to standing up for the rule of law. The 2026 midterms are critical for putting a check on an out-of-control president and showing Americans what a different path forward looks like. Mikie Sherrill showed what’s possible when Democrats compete with confidence everywhere and refuse to write off anyone. Mission to Deliver is dedicated to helping more Democrats run that same race,” said Jennifer Holdsworth, Mission to Deliver PAC Chair. The groundswell of support for Mission to Deliver PAC comes as Mikie Sherrill approaches 100 days in office and demonstrates what effective, responsive leadership looks like. New Jerseyans like what they see from Governor Sherrill — a recent independent poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University has her with a 58% approval rating, including 88% of Democrats, 88% of progressives, 22% of Republicans, 25% of conservatives, and 14% of MAGA voters. About Mission to Deliver PAC: Mission to Deliver PAC is a federal political action committee that supports strong, clear-eyed leaders who are unafraid to challenge the status quo, have a proven track record of delivering for people, and will be relentlessly focused on growing economic opportunity and upholding America’s core values. The post Sherrill’s Mission to Deliver PAC Has $1 Million Cash on Hand after First Quarter of 2026 appeared first on Insider NJ.
Sherrill Anticipates ‘Really Good Results’ in CD-11
You figure Mikie Sherrill knows something about CD-11, a place where she was elected four times. Speaking Wednesday night on the eve of the district’s special election to fill her old House seat, Sherrill said she sees the electorate “really upset” at what Donald Trump is doing. The governor supported that position by referencing last month’s huge No Kings rallies and a good turnout in the special February primary. “I think we’re going to see really good results,” she said. That means she thinks Democrat Analilia Mejia, who the governor has endorsed, is going to have no trouble winning. The governor spoke on her inaugural Ask the Governor show on radio station WNYC. Regarding Trump, who periodically stays at his golf club in Bedminster, Sherrill was asked how often they speak. “Not often.” she said. “Look, I will work with anyone to get things done for the people of New Jersey,” she added. But so far, “It’s been a lot of standing up to the president,” She mentioned fighting him in court over Gateway project funding and access to the state’s voter rolls. Sherrill hasn’t been in office 100 days, but she may have ruffled some feathers in the Legislature by opposing so-called Christmas Tree items. These are grants to towns and organizations generally put into the state budget at the last minute. Some Democratic lawmakers have pushed back, contending these monetary awards are essential. The governor did not necessarily disagree with that, but she said the problem is “the process.” By that she meant these grants should be discussed and justified, not merely inserted into the budget. “There has to be some accountability,” she said. We will see how all this plays out when the 2026-27 budget is adopted by June 30. She made no apology for her views, saying, “I was elected to take on the status quo.” The first question aimed at Sherrill was about a very old issue. Why are property taxes so high and what can be done about it? So asked Steven. “I hear this again and again,” the governor said. That’s not a surprise Property taxes are probably the main reason for New Jersey’s reputation as a high tax state. This is a hard issue for any governor because property taxes are set and collected by local governments, meaning town councils and school boards, not the state. Sherrill did say that her proposed budget increases state aid to local school districts, but she admitted many districts are struggling. She said one answer is consolidating services – like busing – and programs. This sounds good – and it is good – but consolidations in a home rule state are hard to pull off. The governor was also asked about helicopters. No, this was not a sarcastic question from someone ridiculing the governor’s penchant of talking about her military service. Nick from Jersey City said helicopters are constantly flying very low over his house. Sherrill said she would have her transportation department investigate. And notwithstanding her affection for helicopters, the governor said she would not want them flying low over her house. The post Sherrill Anticipates ‘Really Good Results’ in CD-11 appeared first on Insider NJ.
Senator Kim: ‘Ending this War is an Urgent Matter’
Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) spoke on the Senate floor in support of immediately passing a War Powers Resolution to end Donald Trump’s war in Iran, asserting: “The American people can’t wait for this president to act like a responsible Commander in Chief. They can’t wait for this Republican Congress to wake up. They need relief, and they need and deserve it now.” Senator Kim called out the administration for not caring about the consequences of their illegal war, and Senate Republicans for acting as bystanders as Americans drown under the cost of Donald Trump’s war tax. He demanded Congress step up and act by passing a War Powers Resolution to end the war and make clear that the president cannot wage a war without any clear mission and without the American people’s say. WATCH AND SHARE SENATOR KIM’S FULL REMARKS (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, Substack) This week, Senator Kim filed his own War Powers Resolution as Senate Democrats continue to take action to force Senate Republican leadership to hold debate and vote to end this war. As Senator Kim pointed out in today’s remarks, a month and a half in, Republican leadership have still not held a single hearing about the realities of the war in Iran. Addressing his colleagues, the Senator stated: “Every one of our offices gets a flood of calls every day from people tired of this war…Donald Trump. This Administration. This Republican Congress. They have all just stood by and watched as the American people feel like they’re drowning.” The post Senator Kim: ‘Ending this War is an Urgent Matter’ appeared first on Insider NJ.
New Ads Pressure Rep. Kean Jr. to Oppose Big Oil Immunity - Insider NJ
New Ads Pressure Rep. Kean Jr. to Oppose Big Oil Immunity Insider NJ
CD-12 Candidates Tangle in Princeton
PRINCETON – One of the buildings here with a north-facing facade that resembles the Parthenon houses the American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Upstairs on the second floor Monday night, the chairs sat sedately in front of a crowd of Princetonians ready to scrutinize the candidates running in the Democratic Primary for Congress in the 12th District. GO HERE FOR A LIVE STREAM OF THE DEBATE The contenders walked in looking like crew members of a NASA space mission, waving to the crowd, self-possessed, fresh and exuberant, collegial, as if they were all part of the same team and not obviously intent on knocking one another’s block off for the sole privilege of manning that elusive CD-12 capsule currently occupied by retiring U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. Eleven of the 14 candidates showed up: Squire Servance, Sujit Singh, Kyle Little, Sue Altman, Adam Hamawy, Shaniel Robinson, Adrian Mapp, Elijah Dixon, Matt Adams, Jay Vaingankar, and Sam Wang. Team Wang had immediately tried to assert dominance over the campus with a student-manned stand, reminding people of his home field advantage here as the only Princeton University neuroscience professor in the contest. They started with priorities. What policy priority separates you from the rest? Altman: universal healthcare. Servance: More aggressive oversight. “Make sure everybody gets held to account.” Robinson: Affordability. “I would set policy that would address affordability issues.” Wang: Restoring Congress to oversee a runaway executive and a runaway judiciary. Adams (a retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Colonel): “The administration is literally doing nothing to stop what could literally be the end of humanity. We need human intervention. We need to regulate AI.” Little: Revitalize our state capital. Vaingankar: Abolish ICE. Dixon: Impair the influence of dark money in politics. Mapp: Eliminate the endowment tax. “The endowment tax is a tax on working families. Endowments were intended for research and to provide relief for poor families.” Hamawy: We all want to unrig the economy. “I would start taxing the billionaires.” What steps would you take to reform elections? Hamawy: Make sure the SAVE Act doesn’t pass. Make election day a federal holiday. Let’s pass the John Lewis Voter Act so voters can vote without restrictions. Mapp: Fierce advocate against the SACE ACT. “It is a poll tax.” Dixon: More information to leverage community-based organizations. Vaingankar: Get big money out of politics. Get rid of super PACS and dark money. Little: Talk to people. Educate people. Adams: John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Pass it. Also, ditch gerrymandering. “Has anyone looked at NJ-12 lately?” Wang: Make democracy work better for everyone. Short term challenge: Turn out to protect the vote this November. Long term challenge: independent citizen commissions. Robinson: “We have to embrace all who have a voice and a stake in building America back better.” Servance: Make sure SAVE Act does not pass. Ensure people automatically get registered. Altman: The fight for democracy and the fight for our economy two sides of the same coin. The Democratic Party [the political establishment]… has not delivered for people for decades. Fought to get rid of the county line. Singh: Get rid of dark money. Strategy of Dems if the party remains in the minority? Mapp: “What we have to do is hold the executive branch accountable. Work across the aisle. Work with the problem solvers.” Dixon: A self-professed socialist. “The enemy is corporate interests.” Altman: If Dems don’t win back the House, the candidate said she is concerned about a peaceful transfer of power and would work with the governor to protect New Jerseyans. The large number of candidates in the contest continued to impair the amount of time for the contenders to dive into the issues at length. Asked if they would back another candidate if they themselves weren’t running, Altman said she would support Robinson – an easy choice. Adams picked Wang. Dixon singled out Hamawy. No one else choose one person. Mapp: “I intend to be in the race [for the duration].” “Now that the county line is gone, everyone has a chance,” said Vaingankar. “I’m not a politician.” – Servance. “I’m not a politician, I’m a political leader.” – Robinson. Little at one point said the only people who should vote Republican are straight white males. Due to go next, Adams (pictured, top) warily stood up with the microphone in his hand as the crowd laughed. He’s straight, white, and male – and a Democrat. “Some people don’t think I should be here,” he cracked later. “I like Matt Adams,” Little shot back. The post CD-12 Candidates Tangle in Princeton appeared first on Insider NJ.
Sherrill Stumps for Mejia (and MORE!) in CD-11
Editor’s Note: Here and there in CD-11 three days before Thursday’s special election. This is a home game for Mikie Sherrill. And the governor certainly had that in mind Sunday evening when she spoke at a GOTV (Get Out The Vote) rally for Analilia Mejia in Glen Ridge. She took the crowd of about 150 in Christ Episcopal Church back to 2018 when she first ran for Congress in the very same CD-11. Sherrill, who lives in nearby Montclair, said she was told she had no chance against Rodney Frelinghuysen, the 24-year incumbent. “But the people of the 11th District have never taken no for an answer,” she said. We know what happened. Frelinghuysen gave up his reelection bid. Sherrill won in 2018 and was reelected three times before becoming governor. Reiterating a central theme, Sherrill said Mejia is needed to help Congress check and fight against an “out of control” president. Mejia is well aware that Republican candidate Joe Hathaway has labeled her an out-of-touch radical. She responded to some of that by asking what’s “radical” about believing health care is a “human right” and that working people need a decent wage? Mejia said she expects to win and that when she gets to Congress: “I know I will have this incredible group of people at my back – pushing me,” she said. The reference was to the many union members and other supporters in the audience. LeRoy Jones, the state Democratic chair, also spoke and stressed the need for unity. Not a bad point, considering that Mejia won an 11-person primary two months ago. Unity does seem to be happening. Tom Malinowski, who finished second in the primary, has endorsed him. And so did Brendan Gill, who finished fourth. Gill, who was on hand Sunday night, said that when he saw he would not win on Election Night, he downed a glass of Scotch, apparently to compose himself, and then quickly endorsed Mejia. * * * If you are looking for some of the top Republicans in New Jersey Monday night, Randolph in Morris County is the place to be. Christine Hanlon, the state chair, and most of New Jersey’s 21 county chairs, are scheduled to convene at the Grove at the Randolph Diner to give a last-minute financial and moral boost to Hathaway. Hanlon had this to say: “New Jersey Republicans are unified in support of Joe Hathaway for Congressional District 11. The choice could not be clearer: Joe is a proven mainstream leader, with an excellent record of delivering results for his town of Randolph as Mayor and Councilmember. Our County Chairs are all united in this fight because Mejia’s socialist vision for America is wrong for America, New Jersey and this district. Joe Hathaway, on the other hand, will make an excellent congressman, setting aside partisan politics to deliver results and make life more affordable for New Jerseyans.” * * * Republicans know they need to do better with mail-in ballots. In fact, they have known this for a long time. They are trying. Jack Ciattarelli, going back to his 2021 campaign, urged supporters to vote early by mail, dismissing fears of fraud. It just does not seem to be working. So far in CD-11, almost 48,000 have voted by mail or early at the polls. About 30,000 of them have been registered Dems and 11,000, Republicans. The rest are unaffiliated. The problem is obvious. Falling constantly behind in mail-in voting is like losing every football game by two touchdowns after the first quarter. Hard to make-up. The post Sherrill Stumps for Mejia (and MORE!) in CD-11 appeared first on Insider NJ.
CD-12 Candidates Take NACCP Questions at Lincoln Gardens
SOMERSET – Standing in front of the alter packed with CD-12 Democratic Primary candidates inside the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, the Rev. Pastor Dante Quick took the microphone in front of the crowd this morning and spelled out the issues of importance to his community – and defined the constitutional passion and conscience at the heart of the country. Pastor Dante Quick. “ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is a modern-day Klan institution,” said Pastor Quick Quick. “I want to hear from candidates about AI displacement and its impact on black and brown communities.” At this campaign forum sponsored by the New Brunswick Area Branch of the NAACP, he also wanted to hear about how they intend to correct a tax structure that works against the poor. “The middle class does not exist,” the Pastor said bluntly. Between college payments and gas, people are living one paycheck away from getting thrown out of their homes. Pastor Boyer Pastor Dr. Glover Jay Vaingankar After the Rev. Pastor Charles Boyer introduced debate moderator the Reverend Dr. Bernadette Glover, these candidates looking to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) promptly jumped into action. The candidates (above), sitting in alphabetical order from left to right: Matt Adams, Sue Altman, Brad Cohen, Elijah Dixon, Adam Hamawy, Andres Jimenez (Green Party), Kyle Little, Adrian Mapp, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Shanel Robinson, Squire Servance, Jay Vaingankar, and Sam Wang. The scene Battle Preparations. When the Rev. Pastor Boyer invoked the name of Watson Coleman, the crowd rose to its feet to pay tribute to the strong progressive representative who is leaving Congress at the end of the year. The candidates did their best to prove their own respective bona fides. They all pledged to reject corporate tax money. Mapp, Reynolds-Jackson, Robinson “My career as a social worker, I started in housing, making sure people in vulnerable situations had a place to go,” said veteran Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson. “Going forward, I would continue to support the housing trust program, supporting our churches… [with] dollars. … We have to make sure we have a living wage not just a minimum wage.” Servance “Democracy is not for sale – let me say it again,” said business owner Servance. “Democracy is not for sale. “I would change the tax code so corporations would pay more,” said Plainfield Mayor Mapp. “The question was about the wealth gap,” said Cohen. “It exists. We know that in this room. The first thing is to recognize that incredible wealth gap. Billionaires have done incredibly well, and that hurts people in communities of color.” The Mayor of East Brunswick expressed support for baby bonds championed by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). Robinson “We have a representative who has been fighting and representing us,” said Somerset Commissioner Director Robinson. “She has championed universal base income. …What that means is providing those working families to bridge the wealth gap. What we can do is to support those policies.” Little The stage: Adams, Altman, Cohen, Dixon. Said activist (and former State Director for U.S. Senator Andy Kim) Sue Altman, “New Jersey has suffered from centuries of segregation. It was a slave state. We don’t talk about that in our schools…” Regarding economic inequality, “We see that in the way we distribute economic wealth. When I get to Congress I will fight like hell to hold accountable those billionaires who are taking every dime of our taxpayer money and using it to line their pockets.” Dr. Hamaway Medical Doctor and military veteran Hamawy: “Dealing with the results of policies from Congress, I see the disadvantages. The wealth gap is the result of structured raciim and policies enacted in this country. I can only imagine what it feels like to be born to a disadvantaged family.” Retired Lieutenant Colonel Adams, taking a crack at a question about how he would respond as a congressman in a national disaster, “I served in the National Guard. I know I would call FEMA, what’s left of it, hopefully by this time we would be able to build it back up.” Altman, right, and Adams. Hamawy and Jimenez. Reynolds-Jackson Those are some highlights. The videos herein show the candidates handling various questions at the forum, where Glover maintained a strong hand to keep the program moving. Vaingankar got a laugh when the moderator mistakenly stopped him short of his allotted time, then gave him five seconds to continue. He had lost his train of thought in answer to the question, so just flashed a smile and said in five seconds, “Vote for Jay Vaingankar.” Dixon and Little came up the questions with youth and local energy. A Princeton Professor, Wang received a laugh, too, when someone sneezed a couple of times behind him, and the candidate deadpanned, “I want five seconds back.” The crowd included a strong showing of local citizens, among them Rutgers University Danielsen Professor Bill Davis and Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17). “Our problem is not that we lack a good candidates, it’s that we have too many,” said the lawmaker. Davis agreed. “There are too many damn candidates in the race,” he told InsiderNJ. “The question is how do we find a way to reduce the number of people in here. I don’t know what it’s going to take. I can’t say one stands out at the moment. All the electeds did well. They presented good ideas and the ability to provide leadership to resist things these crazy people are doing. They hit the major issues, including black maternal health, housing, the attack on Iran.” Boyer said he felt heartened by the forum and cited the strong preparation by the contenders. “I felt good that all these candidates did some level of homework on black issues,” the Reverend told InsiderNJ. “I may not agree with every one of them but I was impressed. None came empty-handed. In my judgment, this was a testament to why it’s important to have these focus forums, to listen for a clear-eyed approach and for different perspectives to determine who’s ready for leadership.” The Reverend is in the House. The post CD-12 Candidates Take NACCP Questions at Lincoln Gardens appeared first on Insider NJ.
CD-12 Candidates Take NACCP Questions at Lincoln Gardens
SOMERSET – Standing in front of the alter packed with CD-12 Democratic Primary candidates inside the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, the Rev. Pastor Dante Quick took the microphone in front of the crowd this morning and spelled out the issues of importance to his community – and defined the constitutional passion and conscience at the heart of the country. Pastor Dante Quick. “ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is a modern-day Klan institution,” said Pastor Quick Quick. “I want to hear from candidates about AI displacement and its impact on black and brown communities.” At this campaign forum sponsored by the New Brunswick Area Branch of the NAACP, he also wanted to hear about how they intend to correct a tax structure that works against the poor. “The middle class does not exist,” the Pastor said bluntly. Between college payments and gas, people are living one paycheck away from getting thrown out of their homes. Pastor Boyer Pastor Dr. Glover Jay Vaingankar After the Rev. Pastor Charles Boyer introduced debate moderator the Reverend Dr. Bernadette Glover, these candidates looking to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) promptly jumped into action. The candidates (above), sitting in alphabetical order from left to right: Matt Adams, Sue Altman, Brad Cohen, Elijah Dixon, Adam Hamawy, Andres Jimenez (Green Party), Kyle Little, Adrian Mapp, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Shanel Robinson, Squire Servance, Jay Vaingankar, and Sam Wang. The scene Battle Preparations. When the Rev. Pastor Boyer invoked the name of Watson Coleman, the crowd rose to its feet to pay tribute to the strong progressive representative who is leaving Congress at the end of the year. The candidates did their best to prove their own respective bona fides. They all pledged to reject corporate tax money. Mapp, Reynolds-Jackson, Robinson “My career as a social worker, I started in housing, making sure people in vulnerable situations had a place to go,” said veteran Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson. “Going forward, I would continue to support the housing trust program, supporting our churches… [with] dollars. … We have to make sure we have a living wage not just a minimum wage.” Servance “Democracy is not for sale – let me say it again,” said business owner Servance. “Democracy is not for sale. “I would change the tax code so corporations would pay more,” said Plainfield Mayor Mapp. “The question was about the wealth gap,” said Cohen. “It exists. We know that in this room. The first thing is to recognize that incredible wealth gap. Billionaires have done incredibly well, and that hurts people in communities of color.” The Mayor of East Brunswick expressed support for baby bonds championed by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). Robinson “We have a representative who has been fighting and representing us,” said Somerset Commissioner Director Robinson. “She has championed universal base income. …What that means is providing those working families to bridge the wealth gap. What we can do is to support those policies.” Little The stage: Adams, Altman, Cohen, Dixon. Said activist (and former State Director for U.S. Senator Andy Kim) Sue Altman, “New Jersey has suffered from centuries of segregation. It was a slave state. We don’t talk about that in our schools…” Regarding economic inequality, “We see that in the way we distribute economic wealth. When I get to Congress I will fight like hell to hold accountable those billionaires who are taking every dime of our taxpayer money and using it to line their pockets.” Dr. Hamaway Medical Doctor and military veteran Hamawy: “Dealing with the results of policies from Congress, I see the disadvantages. The wealth gap is the result of structured raciim and policies enacted in this country. I can only imagine what it feels like to be born to a disadvantaged family.” Retired Lieutenant Colonel Adams, taking a crack at a question about how he would respond as a congressman in a national disaster, “I served in the National Guard. I know I would call FEMA, what’s left of it, hopefully by this time we would be able to build it back up.” Altman, right, and Adams. Hamawy and Jimenez. Reynolds-Jackson Those are some highlights. The videos herein show the candidates handling various questions at the forum, where Glover maintained a strong hand to keep the program moving. Vaingankar got a laugh when the moderator mistakenly stopped him short of his allotted time, then gave him five seconds to continue. He had lost his train of thought in answer to the question, so just flashed a smile and said in five seconds, “Vote for Jay Vaingankar.” Dixon and Little came up the questions with youth and local energy. A Princeton Professor, Wang received a laugh, too, when someone sneezed a couple of times behind him, and the candidate deadpanned, “I want five seconds back.” The crowd included a strong showing of local citizens, among them Rutgers University Danielsen Professor Bill Davis and Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17). “Our problem is not that we lack a good candidates, it’s that we have too many,” said the lawmaker. Davis agreed. “There are too many damn candidates in the race,” he told InsiderNJ. “The question is how do we find a way to reduce the number of people in here. I don’t know what it’s going to take. I can’t say one stands out at the moment. All the electeds did well. They presented good ideas and the ability to provide leadership to resist things these crazy people are doing. They hit the major issues, including black maternal health, housing, the attack on Iran.” Boyer said he felt heartened by the forum and cited the strong preparation by the contenders. “I felt good that all these candidates did some level of homework on black issues,” the Reverend told InsiderNJ. “I may not agree with every one of them but I was impressed. None came empty-handed. In my judgment, this was a testament to why it’s important to have these focus forums, to listen for a clear-eyed approach and for different perspectives to determine who’s ready for leadership.” The Reverend is in the House. The post CD-12 Candidates Take NACCP Questions at Lincoln Gardens appeared first on Insider NJ.
Assemblyman Abdelaziz: Sherrill is ‘A Get-Things-Done’ Gov
PATERSON – Silk City is the melting pot. “All roads lead back to Peterson,” says Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz (D-35). “I’m a proud Palestinian American. In Paterson, we all come together, regardless of your race, your gender, we support building that American Dream,” the Assemblyman said in response to a question by InsiderNJ regarding the divisiveness of President Donald J. Trump and what Paterson stands for in opposition to Trump’s miniaturization of the country. Abdelaziz supported the bill Governor Mikie Sherrill signed into law that prevents law enforcement from wearing masks when it interacts with the public. “Anything that is going to help build trust among law enforcement and our residents is always a step in the right direction,” he said. “I grew up having respect for law enforcement. You saw their faces. “I’m a big fan of Governor Sherrill,” Abdelaziz added. “She is a ‘get-things-done governor.” The Assemblyman said he favors the Governor’s efforts to thwart Trump’s unconstitutional calls to nationalize elections. “Whatever makes voting more accessible and more safe is something I’m going to support,” he said. In Washington, they’re trying to roll back those rights and set up more roadblocks.” For (the FULL!) Abdelaziz interview with InsiderNJ, please see below: The post Assemblyman Abdelaziz: Sherrill is ‘A Get-Things-Done’ Gov appeared first on Insider NJ.
Hathaway: Pop the Hood on CD-11 and Go with Joe
MADISON – Joe Hathaway is asking voters to just give him a look-see – as if they are buying a car. “They can test drive a Republican if they want,” he said Wednesday night after a “meet and greet” in this Morris County town. About 70 people attended. By that intriguing analogy, he meant voters in CD-11 could support him in the April 16 special election and send him to Congress for the rest of the year. If they don’t like the “ride,” they can always vote him out in November. Just a reminder. Next week’s election will fill Mikie Sherrill’s old House seat until the 2027 Congress begins. The November election will fill the seat beginning in 2027. There was a very practical reason why Hathaway said what he did. The district leans Democratic registration wise by a bit more than 60,000 voters. So to win, Hathaway needs Democrats to vote for him. Thus, the line about giving him a “test drive.” To that end, Hathaway said he has made in-roads in such Democratic areas as Maplewood, Montclair and South Orange. He spoke of town halls in those places with “not a Republican in sight.” The Democrats who showed up, he said, may indeed vote for him, simply because they see Analilia Mejia, the Democratic candidate, as too extreme. This is Hathaway’s central thesis. As a Bernie Sanders supporter, Mejia’s views on health care, government spending and most of all Israel, are too liberal for a district that is mostly suburban and affluent. CD-11 covers parts of Essex, Passaic and Morris counties. Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Hathaway said he thinks Jewish voters, especially, are wary of Mejia. She has called Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal.” But at the same time, she says she opposes anti-Semitism in the United States and as a minority herself, feels kinship with Jews who feel threatened. Hathaway sees things differently. He said that Mejia’s anti-Israel rhetoric can put Jews in the district and state at risk, because it can encourage “maniacs” to do such things as throw Molotov cocktails though windows of synagogues. During the meet and greet, Hathaway stressed that as a municipal official in Randolph, he knows how to solve mundane, but important, problems (think fixing a road) and working with all people. He said that Mejia, who has no elected government experience, can’t do that. More broadly, Hathaway said this special election is more important than one district. Not only is it at the beginning of the midterm cycle, he said a win by a left winger like Mejia will be a troubling sign for the future. Obviously, that makes it more urgent for Republicans to stop her. In fact, he said that a GOP win next week in CD-11 would reverberate throughout the country. Few would quibble with that assessment., Stll, the signs are not good for the GOP. Democrats have done well nationwide in just about all recent elections and in CD-11, Dems lead in the mail-in and early voting by about 3-1. That means votes from registered Democrats exceed those from registered Republicans by that margin. A registered Democrat, of course, can vote Republican. Asked about the mail-in data, Hathaway said: “I think there’s a ton of Democrats not going her way.” The post Hathaway: Pop the Hood on CD-11 and Go with Joe appeared first on Insider NJ.
CWA Backs Reynolds-Jackson and Bennett in CD-12 and CD-7
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 1 today released its Bennett endorsements in two closely watched New Jersey congressional primary contests. In New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, CWA District 1 is endorsing Rebecca Bennett in the primary, ahead of a general election in November that is expected to be one of the most competitive congressional contests in the nation. As a battleground district, this race could have significant implications for control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2027. “Rebecca Bennett is the strongest candidate to flip this seat in November,” said Billy Gallagher, Assistant to the Vice President, CWA District 1. “She has real swing-voter appeal, a strong campaign infrastructure, and a message centered on affordability and healthcare that speaks directly to the concerns of working families.” In New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, CWA District 1 is endorsing Verlina Reynolds-Jackson in the Democratic primary for the open seat being vacated by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. Union members and public sector workers make up a significant share of the NJ-12 electorate, making this a pivotal contest for labor. “CWA District 1 has a long-standing relationship with Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, a labor ally who has consistently demonstrated strong leadership on healthcare affordability, higher education, and workers’ economic security,” said Anna-Marta Visky, CWA District 1 New Jersey Political and Field Director. CWA District 1 was also an early endorser of Analilia Mejia in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District special election and remains fully behind her as she enters the final stretch of the race ahead of the April 16 special election. After that, Analilia will continue to have the union’s unwavering support in the regular election. CWA District 1 has already endorsed incumbents Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), and LaMonica McIver (NJ-10). The endorsements reflect CWA’s commitment to electing leaders who will fight for working families, protect public services, defend workers’ rights, and ensure New Jersey has strong advocates in Congress on healthcare, affordability, and economic justice. With the endorsements of Bennett in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District and Reynolds-Jackson in NJ-12, CWA is continuing to invest in races where workers can shape both the outcome and the future of representation in Congress. About the Communications Workers of America, District 1: CWA District 1 represents 145,000 workers in New Jersey, New York, and New England, including 70,000 workers in New Jersey. CWA members work in public service, telecommunications, healthcare, higher education, manufacturing, broadcast and cable television, commercial printing and newspapers, and more. The post CWA Backs Reynolds-Jackson and Bennett in CD-12 and CD-7 appeared first on Insider NJ.
Deaths in Iran Hit Home for Mom, Military Veteran Robinson
Shanel Robinson, a mother and a military veteran, denounced the Trump Administration’s strategy in Iran and described the bombing of a girls’ school as “a war crime.” Context, via The Guardian: “On the first morning of Operation Epic Fury, 28 February 2026, American forces struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab, in southern Iran, hitting the building at least two times during the morning session. American forces killed between 175 and 180 people, most of them girls between the ages of seven and 12.” In an InsiderNJ interview this morning, Robinson, an eight-year veteran of the Air Force Reserves running in the CD-12 Democratic Primary, said: “I thought about my own children a mother, my own grandchildren. At this moment we don’t have to worry about sending them to school and getting bombed by our enemies but sometimes on American soil domestically, active shooters, we are devastated time and time again by that news. It broke my heart into millions of pieces. “It’s a war crime, and we can’t stand for it.” To date, Donald Trump never assumed responsibility for the deaths of the schoolgirls. For (The FULL!) interview with Commissioner Director Robinson, please see below: In the highly contested CD-12 Primary for the seat currently occupied by retiring U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12), Robinson last month won the backing of the party committee in her home county of Somerset: “New Jersey’s 12th District deserves a Member of Congress who doesn’t just talk about change but is someone who has already delivered it. Shanel Robinson is that leader. Over the past six years as Commissioner Director, she has fought for working families struggling with the cost of living, expanded access to critical services for communities too often left behind, and steered Somerset County through one of the most challenging public health crises in a generation. She didn’t flinch. She led. “We have watched Shanel make the tough calls, build unlikely coalitions, and deliver concrete results for real people. Washington needs more of that. We are proud to endorse Shanel Robinson and confident that she will be a fierce, effective, and unifying voice for the 12th District in Congress.” — Commissioners Paul Drake, Sara Sooy, Melonie Marano, and Elizabeth Graner The post Deaths in Iran Hit Home for Mom, Military Veteran Robinson appeared first on Insider NJ.