Well with President Trump in the white House and GOP control of Congress, Republican leaders in new Jersey feel stronger than ever.

They can turn this blue state red from planned visits by prominent national figures to big campaign war chest that'll help fund the party's candidates.

Republicans see real inroads here.

For the first time in a long time, especially with the governor's seat up for grabs.

New Jersey Republican State Committee Chairman Bob Hugin joins me to talk about that and the local effects of President Trump's executive orders.

Bob Hugin, good to talk to you.

First GOP primary debate.

Pretty fiery.

A lot of shouting, bickering.

What did you make of it?

Did anyone stand out to you?

I think that the Republicans, as far as I'm concerned, bickered a little bit too much, but the substance was good.

I secure the border, improve the economy, make it safe for people, get rid of people who are criminals in our country, and let's secure the border.

So, all in all, a good week for Republican.

What do you think voters took from it?

Do you think they were able to pass through the shouting to get those messages?

Yeah, I think it's always hard.

I think the the unfortunate part of these situations were so far before November that who watches these things.

But people have already made up their mind.

Hardcore Democrats, hardcore Republicans.

So I do worry about turnout.

I mean, we had a 64%, the lowest turnout in our presidential history and in new Jersey, which was still very good, compared to 41% for gubernatorial races and 27% turnout in 2023 for all the state Senate and Assembly races.

So the big issue I worry for our democracy is we need people to go out and vote and vote in primaries to vote in general elections.

So and I don't think either of the debates, helped us in that regard.

Are you shifting?

Is the party shifting its ground game?

I mean, talking about, voter apathy, what seem to be voter apathy this last go around?

I mean, however you want to characterize it are you are shifting your ground game.

No, I think that I think the ground game for both parties has been a fundamental part of the Arsenal the last 20 years.

And and elections really are about turnout.

Who comes out to vote.

So it's a combination of policy, the the quality of the candidate, but also the issues.

Right.

What what are the issues that get people out to vote.

And I do think in gubernatorial elections, people do come out to vote more than they do in non gubernatorial elections.

The other two years that we have the four years.

And that's because they know the governor can change their life.

The louder can affect the education system of their kids.

The governor can affect their taxes.

Governor can affect their safety.

Sure.

We do believe the gubernatorial race matters, but we've got to make sure we have the best candidates on both parties for the state to get the state governed well.

And we're going to have people discuss the issues that people care about and get out to vote for.

Well, let me ask you about that will shift gears to the federal government.

Obviously, a slew of executive orders have come out 49, as of this morning, since Inauguration Day, I mean, immigration, you mentioned transgender issues.

I mean, everything from offshore wind.

Did any, though catch you by surprise?

It seems like some folks in the administration were even caught by surprise by 1 or 2.

Yeah, I'm.

I don't I I'd be interested to know which ones you think works by surprise.

I think I do think the president is acting as a president should and taking action on the issues he promised the people secure the border, deport criminals, give them Adderall, the federal funding freeze.

I mean, what about I mean, I think the one thing about President Trump is he is a supreme negotiator, and he's going to give you some warning to say, if you don't negotiate with me, I'm going to put tariffs in place.

But if you will negotiate, I'll take them off.

So I think one of the things that he is a great at both internationally foreign policy and domestically in negotiating these things, he keeps people on edge.

He doesn't they don't know what to expect and how he's going to operate.

He doesn't operate in the way traditionally presidents and and negotiators operate.

And so I think unfortunately for the last 25 years, 30 years, we've had more of conventional politicians and and administrators and we failed.

All of those people have failed to really reform the system that we need.

So I'm open to a new way of doing things, though may not be exactly as I do them, but but I do think we need to we need real reform in our country, and we need somebody in a president who's going to do what he says he's going to do.

And so far, he's doing what he said he would do.

So I haven't been surprised by much.

But, not always easy to surprise me, but, but, I, I'm sure he'll surprise me down the road.

Bob Hugin is the chairman of the new Jersey Republican State Committee.

Bob, thanks so much.

Thanks.

Great to be with you, Brianna.