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>>> WITH THE MIDTERMS NOW BEHIND US, DID PROGRESSIVES MAKE ANY PROGRESS?

HI EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO REPORTERS ROUND TABLE I'M DAVID CRUZ.

OUR PANEL COLLEEN O-DAY SENIOR WRITER AND EDITOR FOR SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

THE STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR WHYY RADIO AND MATT FREEDMAN REPORTING FOR POLITICO AND AUTHOR OF NEW JERSEY PLAY BOOK.

WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PANEL IN A FEW MINUTES BUT BEGIN WITH A DISCUSS OF LAST WEEKS MIDTERM RESULTS AND IMPACT ON THE PROGRESSIVE AGENDA.

SUE ATMAN IS THE STATE DIRECTOR FOR NEW JERSEY WORKING FAMILIES PARTY AND VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND JOINS US NOW.

SUE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE, I GUESS IT WAS LATE LAST WEEK EARLY THIS WEEK, WE STARTED FROM THE CONTEXT OF THE MALANOWSKI RACE.

YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE DIDN'T PIN THAT LOSS ON PROGRESSIVES.

THAT WAS ALMOST A SUICIDE MISSION CONSIDERING HOW THAT DISTRICT WAS REDRAWN.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FACTORS.

IN CD 7 CASE TOM WAS AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE.

PROGRESSIVES UNIFIED WITH THE PARTY DEMOCRATS TO PUSH REALLY HARD TO GET HIM ELECTED.

I THINK IT WAS A REAL SHOW OF UNITY AND STRENGTH.

OVERALL, I THINK IN MANY WAYS IT LAYS THE GROUND WORK.

IF I WAS TOM CANE I WOULDN'T GET COMFORTABLE.

THERE ARE PLANS UNDERWAY TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

THIS WILL BE A TOP RACE IN 2024.

WE'RE THINKING OF DEEP LEGISLATIVE RACES IN 2023.

I DON'T SEE IT AS A PROBLEM FOR PROGRESSIVES AND DEMOCRATS.

THE RESULTS ON TUESDAY WERE REALLY POSITIVE.

>> WE HEAR ABOUT NEW JERSEY HAVING THE MOST PROGRESSIVE GOVERNOR IN AMERICA.

I GUESS ON PAPER HE IS BUT IS HE AS PROGRESSIVE OR IS HE PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH FOR PROGRESSIVES IN NEW JERSEY?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, DAVID.

LOOK.

THE GOVERNOR'S FLAWED.

HE'S ALSO GREAT.

BOTH THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT ONCE.

IS HE PERFECT?

NO.

IS ANYONE PERFECT?

NO.

ARE PROGRESSIVE AND GENERAL LABOR PRETTY HAPPY WITH WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED IN OFFICE?

>> YES.

IS HE BETTER THAN A REPUBLICAN WOULD BE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

DO I THINK HE'S BETTER THAN OTHER MEMBERS SOMEONE LIKE STEVE SWEENIE RUNNING THE RACE OH SO MANY YEARS AGO?

ABSOLUTELY.

DID THE GOVERNOR HAVE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT STAND OUT NATIONALLY?

ABSOLUTELY.

THE WORLD IS COMPLICATED.

WE'RE STILL FANS OF THE GOVERNOR AND THINK HE DOES A GREAT JOB.

>> WOULD YOU SAY DEMOCRATS IN NEW JERSEY ARE PROGRESSIVE?

THERE SEEMS TO BE THE DIVIDING LINE OVER SO CALLED MODERATE DEMOCRATS AND PROGRESSIVES IN THE PARTY.

IS THERE A FAULT LINE THERE?

>> WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING IS -- THERE'S A THINKING ABOUT COALITION DIFFERENTLY HAPPENING NOW.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CD 7 RACE.

IT WAS A UNIFIED FRONT AGAINST FASCISM AND THAT IS TO BE CELEBRATED.

IN THAT COALITION YOU HAVE LABOR, YOU HAVE MODERATE REPUBLICANS WHO DIDN'T LIKE TRUMP AND DIDN'T LIKE TOM CANE WAS PRESENTED AS A MAGA CANDIDATE.

YOU HAD PROGRESSIVES AND DEMOCRATS FROM THE PARTY ALL ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

THAT WAS APPROPRIATE IN A GENERAL ELECTION ESPECIALLY WHEN DEMOCRACY AND FASCISM IS ON THE LINE.

THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.

THEN SEPARATELY, AS EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE AS PROGRESSIVE AS I WISH THEY WERE?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THAT IS NOT TO SAY WE WON'T FIND WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER IN RACES IN 2023 WHERE PROGRESSIVES CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE AND THE POWER AND THE LEVERAGE TO O PUSH FOR THINGS WE WANT AND WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

ALL THESE THINGS, POWER IS COMPLICATED.

THE PARTY IS COMPLICATED.

THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY DIVERGENT OPINIONS IN THIS PARTY.

THAT MAKES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY INTERESTING.

I WOULD STILL RATHER BE DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO FIGHT OFF TRUMP AND MAGA FACTION THE WAY THE REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS HAVE TO DO NOW.

I'M POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC THE PROGRESSIVE AGENDA CONTINUES TO BE POWERFUL AND GROWING POWER IN TRENTON AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

GL I DON'T BELONGED TO AN ORGANIZED POLITICAL PARTY I'M A DEMOCRAT, SHE SAYS.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WORKING FAMILIES AND YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, SPECIFICALLY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS THIRD PARTY SUIT.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT AND WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT BE OF ABOLISHING OR ALLOWING THIRD PARTIES TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW JERSEY?

>> THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC TYPE OF THIRD PARTY SUIT.

THIS IS BRINGING BACK FUSION VOTING TO NEW JERSEY.

A PRACTICE THAT WAS OUTLAWED OVER 100 YEARS AGO AS WOMEN WERE GETTING THE VOTE IN 1920.

AND FUSION VOTING ALLOWS MINOR THIRD PARTIES TO CROSS ENDORSE MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES.

STATES LIKE NORTH CAROLINA AND CONNECTICUT STILL HAVE IT.

THEY HAVE IT IN AN ONGOING WAY.

IT WOULD ALLOW THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY TO BE A PARTY IN NEW JERSEY BUT NOT FALL PREY TO COMMON PITFALLS OF THIRD PARTIES IN GENERAL.

AS A VOTER YOU DON'T WASTE YOUR VOTE IF YOU VOTE ON THE WFB LINE.

IT'S COUNTED AS A WFB VOTE BUT CROSSED TO JOE BIDEN THAT WOULD GET ADDED ONTO JOE BIDEN'S TOTAL.

THAT PRESENTS POWER.

SO THE WORKING FAMILY PARTY IN NEW YORK CAN POINT TO A NUMBER OF VOTES THEY HAVE AND SAY HEY.

TAKE IT SERIOUSLY YOU WON BY TWO THOUSAND VOTES AND OUR LINE GATHERED BY FIVE THOUSAND VOTES FOR YOU.

NEGOTIATE WHAT TURNS YOU WANT.

>> WHERE DOES THAT STAND RIGHT NOW?

>> THE CASE IS IN THE COURTS.

IT'S IN THE NEW JERSEY STATE COURT SYSTEM.

IT'S WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, THE RECORD IS SOLID.

THERE'S SOME REALLY EXCITING RESEARCH BEING DONE ABOUT IT AND IT'S WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS.

>> WHAT ABOUT ALSO THIS MOVE TO ABOLISH THE LINE?

THAT'S ANOTHER BIG ONE.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT RIGHT NOW?

>> WE LIKE TO THINK OF THIS AS THE ONE, TWO DEMOCRACY PUNCH IN LAWSUIT EDITION.

ONE IS FOR THE PRIMARY CAMPAIGN AND ONE IS FOR THE GENERAL CAMPAIGN.

THE PRIMARY CAMPAIGN IS FOR THE -- IS THE LINE LAWSUIT.

THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THE BALLOT IN NEW JERSEY WHICH GIVES INCUMBENT AND PARTY FAVORITES AN ADVANTAGE WOULD BE NEGATED ON THE BALLOT.

PARTIES COULD ENDORSE CANDIDATE.

WE HOPE THEY STILL ENDORSE CANDIDATES.

WE BELIEVE IN PARTIES AS INSTITUTION FOR DEMOCRACY BUT WOULDN'T HAVE THE ADVANTAGE ON THE BALLOT ITSELF THE WAY THEY DO IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW JERSEY ALONE.

THAT IS WINDING ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS AND THESE TWO CASES COULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR NEW JERSEY, FOR DEMOCRACY, HEALTH OF DEMOCRACY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT MORE BROADLY.

THIS COULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE TO THE STATE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE WORKING FAMILY'S PARTY WHICH IS WHAT THE NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION IS NOW.

BEING ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE MORE DIRECTLY IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT SOMEONE LIKE SUE ALTMAN IS LOOKING TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR SOMETHING?

I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THIS QUESTION.

>> DAVID, DAVID, DAVID.

YOU'VE GOT PAY ME A DOLLAR EVERY TIME YOU ASK ME THAT.

TO A CAMPAIGN I HAVEN'T STARTED YET.

LOOK.

I AM REALLY FOCUSED ON THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE RACES.

THAT'S PRIMARY FOCUS FOR US RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE TO HOLD ONTO MAJORITY.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD POWER SO THAT PROGRESSIVES, LABOR AN COALITIONS WHICH ARE CHANGING AND GROWING.

THOSE COALITIONS CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD POWER.

>> THAT WASN'T WHAT I ASKED YOU BUT GO AHEAD.

SOON AFTER THE ELECTION WE'LL SEE WHAT SHAKES OUT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FLIP THE 7th DISTRICT.

IT'S CLOSE TO HEART FOR ME.

IT'S WHERE I'M FROM.

IT'S MY HOME.

IT'S WHERE I LIVE NOW.

MY HEART IS THERE BUT WE HAVE ORGANIZING TO DO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND NOT TO MENTION STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES IN BETWEEN.

FIRST THINGS FIRST.

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES.

GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU, TOO.

>> COLLEEN TENISON, MATTHEW.

MATT THE 7th DISTRICT COULD BE A POSSIBLE GET FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2024.

DO YOU THINK SUE ALTMAN IS THE CANDIDATE TO DO IT?

>> I DON'T MEAN TO TO RATE CANDIDATES.

I THINK SUE HAS CLEARLY PROVEN ORGANIZING ABILITY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

>> I SHOULD SAY IS SUE ALTMAN THE CANDIDATE WHO WOULD DO IT?

WOULD ATTEMPT IT?

>> I THINK THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE INTERESTED.

ALSO AS TOM RULED OUT RETURNING?

IT'S A DISTRICT FROM THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IS RIGHT DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO RECLAIM IF CANE ONLY WON BY FIVE POINTS.

WHO KNOWS WHAT THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT WILL BE TWO YEARS FROM NOW BUT SUE ALTMAN, YOU KNOW SHE'S OBVIOUSLY A PROGRESSIVE.

IT'S MAYBE REPUBLICAN LEANING DISTRICT, SLIGHTLY.

I KNOW IT WENT FOR BIDEN BY THREE OR FOUR POINTS.

THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE THAN ONE PERSON INTERESTED IN THAT SEAT.

MY GUESS DEPENDING ON THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.

>> TENISON WE HEAR ABOUT HOW SOLIDLY BLUE NEW JERSEY IS.

IS IT AS PROGRESSIVE AS SOME PEOPLE SUGGEST?

THE LEGISLATURE CAN BE A BIT TIMID SOMETIME, NO?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT I HEAR A LOT FROM FOLKS WHO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC INTEREST POLLS IN NEW JERSEY IS THAT NEW JERSEY IS A PRETTY PURPLE STATE.

YOU SEE THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH OUR GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS.

IT LOOKED LIKE REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR WERE INCHING CLOSER TO RECLAIMING A MAJORITY THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IN 20 YEARS.

DESPITE THE FACT WE HAVE A PRETTY SOLIDLY BLUE, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATURE.

WE SAW EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH CERTAIN ISSUES LIKE THE FREEDOM OF REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE ACT.

ORIGINALLY THAT WAS A MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE BILL.

THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT.

LAWMAKERS, THE GOVERNOR ENDED UP SIGNING A PAIRED BACK BILL.

THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM ANALYSTS AND FOLKS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF MODERATE DEMOCRATS.

>> I DO FEEL THERE'S BEEN A PRETTY CLEAR SPLIT ON SOME ISSUES WHERE OUR LEGISLATORS ARE OLDER AND, IN SOME WAY, MORE SOCIALLY CONSERVATIVE THAN CONSTITUENTS.

I THINK LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IS ONE EXAMPLE.

WHEN THE BALLOT QUESTION PASSED IT WAS OVER TWO THIRDS, RIGHT, PASSED THAT BALLOT QUESTION.

DMOTS WHO OPPOSED THIS WHO HAD NO DANGER OF LOSING ANY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT IF THEY SUPPORTED IT.

SOME OF IT IS OUR LEGISLATORS ARE OLDER AND HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP ON SOME OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES.

I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT.

IN GENERAL, I THINK IT'S TOO SIMPLE TO CALL NEW JERSEY A PREROGATIVE STATE, NECESSARILY.

CERTAINLY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS THE STATE IS INCLINED TO VOTE BLUE CON SIS TENIALLY.

NEW JERSEY VOTERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING ON THE STATE LEVEL TO GIVE REPUBLICANS A CHANCE.

>> YOU ALWAYS SEE TIMIDITY THERE IN THE LEGISLATURE WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE REFORM, AS WELL.

COLLEEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE FDU POLL ABOUT VOTERS WANTING COUNTIES TO HAVE LESS SAY ON THE COUNTY LINE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHY THE COUNTY LINE IS SO POWERFUL?

>> SO THE POLL FOUND THAT 65% OF NEW JERSEY DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE COUNTY LINE.

ONLY 19% DID.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE THERE WHO DON'T, I GUESS, KNOW ABOUT IT.

I'M SURPRISED AS MANY PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT IT AS DID.

THE REASON THAT IT'S SO POWERFUL IS BECAUSE YOU SEE A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES EITHER IN, USUALLY IN A COLUMN BUT SOMETIMES ACROSS IN A ROW, WHO ARE ALL RUNNING TOGETHER.

TYPICALLY, THEY ARE IN THE FIRST COLUMN OR SECOND.

IF YOU'RE A VOTER GOING IN THERE, MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH, OR IF YOU ARE A FAITHFUL PARTY VOTER AND SEE THAT LINE.

YOU SEE THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER.

YOU PROBABLY THINK TO YOURSELF, OH, THESE ARE ALL THE GOOD GUYS.

THESE ARE THE GUYS THEY WANT ME TO VOTE FOR AND JUST GO DOWN THE LINE AND CLICK ALL THE BUTTONS OR PUSH OR HOWEVER IT IS WE VOTE TODAY SINCE THINGS CHANGED.

SO YOU CHOOSE ALL THOSE CANDIDATES.

THE FOLKS WHO DON'T GET THAT ENDORSEMENT ARE PUSHED IN COLUMN FIVE OR SIX OR SEVEN AND VOTERS MAY NOT EVEN LOOK OVER IN THAT AREA TO CONSIDER VOTING FOR THEM.

>> RIGHT.

THEY CALL IT BALLOT SIBERIA FOR A REASON.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL THE WAY OVER THERE.

THEY SAY IT'S ABOUT 35-40% IS THE -- HOW MUCH FAVORED SOMEONE WHO IS ON THE LINE CAN BE.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES DONE.

ONE DONE BY A PROFESSOR WHO FOUND, IN PARTICULAR WHAT I THINK SHE LOOKED AT, WAS IF YOU LOOKED AT THE MURPHY RACE IN 2017, THE FIRST TIME THE GOVERNOR RAN.

HE GAVE MONEY TO COUNTY PARTIES ENDORSED EVERYWHERE BY DEMOCRATS.

THE ONE TOWN DEMOCRATS DIDN'T HAVE A LINE WAS SALEM COUNTY.

THE ONLY COUNTY HE DID NOT WIN.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF EVIDENCE TO ME, VERY SPECIFICALLY, WHERE THE IMPACT IS OF THE LINE.

>> FOR SURE.

AS YOU MENTION I'M SURPRISED, TOO, SO MANY PEOPLE DID KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY LINE WAS AND THAT THEY ARE OPPOSED TO IT.

WHICH IS ALSO KIND OF INTERESTING.

THE 2023 RACE IS OFFICIALLY ON.

REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO GAINING SEATS AND MAYBE FLIPPING ONE OF THE CHAMBERS.

NOW THEY HAVE TRUMP TO BRING THEM DOWN.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGY NOW WITH REPUBLICANS AND IS THERE STILL A BATTLE BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AND THE RIGHT IN THE STATE GOP?

>> THERE CERTAINLY IS STILL A BATTLE WITH THE MIDDLE AND RIGHT.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE JOHN BRAHM AND SCANLIN WARNING ABOUT TRUMP.

JEFF ANDREW GOT ON THE TRUMP TRAIN UNAA WARE OF THE CONDITION OF THE TRACKS AHEAD.

I THINK, LOOK, WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR JERSEY PROGRESSIVES VERSUS LESS PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS.

I THINK THE REALLY CLEARER RESULT FROM LAST WEEK'S ELECTION IS THAT MAGA DOESN'T WIN IN NEW JERSEY OR NATIONALLY ANYMORE.

IT'S CERTAINLY LOSING STEAM.

I'M NOT SAYING IT CAN'T COME BACK.

SO MUCH CAN CHANGE IN ELECTIONS WE CAN'T PREDICT.

I THINK WHAT'S ALWAYS FUNNY WITH THE FAR RIGHT IS WHEN THEY LOSE AND WHEN THEY HELP CAUSE CANDIDATES TO LOSE.

GRANTED THEY HAD SOME VICTORIES AT THE SCHOOL BOARD LEVEL WE CAN TALK ABOUT LATER.

IT'S NOT CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH.

THEY TEND TO THINK THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS TO GET THE MOST RIGHT WING CANDIDATES POSSIBLE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH THE ELECTION RESULTS SHOW TO THE CONTRARY.

I THINK THAT'S THE CLEARER LESSON IS THAT MAGA FAILED IN THE PAST ELECTION WHERE IT'S A DEBATE TO TALK ABOUT PROGRESSIVE POLICIES AND NEW JERSEY GATS.

>> YOU MENTION THE OTHER RACES.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

DID CONSERVATIVES MAKE STRIDES IN BOARD OF ED AND OTHER LOCAL RACES IN JERSEY?

>> YEAH.

THERE CERTAINLY WERE SOME.

I THINK IT WAS MIXED.

I'M NOT AN EDUCATION REPORTER SO I HAVEN'T COVERED THIS CLOSELY BUT READ A LOT OF COVERAGE IN CERTAIN PLACES LIKE SPARTA.

THEY DID WELL AND IN OTHER PLACES, MORE TRADITIONAL LIBERAL TOWNS WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO RUN ON SOME OF THOSE MESSAGES.

MAYBE A LITTLE MORE WATERED DOWN, THEY DIDN'T.

IT WAS A MIXED BAG.

AS I'VE BEEN SAYING IN SPARTA, I GUESS, THEY'LL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT TEACHING WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR TOWN'S NAME SAKE SINCE THESE PEOPLE ARE OBSESSED WITH GROOMERS AND STUFF.

>> TENNISON WERE YOU ON THE GUN BILL THIS WEEK IS THIS WE WAITED FOUR HOURS FOR A COMMITTEE MEETING TO GET GOING.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT?

>> I'VE BEEN COVERING A LOT OF THE ELECTION AFTERMATH.

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE GUN BILL, AS WELL.

WHAT WE HEARD FROM SOME LAWMAKERS, STATE LEADERS, I BELIEVE SPEAKER COUGHLIN AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT WERE TOUTING HOW THIS HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.

THIS BILL WAS SUPPOSED TO ACTUALLY -- WE WERE EXPECTING IT TO GO FOR FULL ASSEMBLY VOTE A FEW WEEKS AGO.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT OFF-DUTY OFFICER AND PROVISIONS FOR THEM AND PEOPLE CAUGHT UP IN LEGAL ISSUES.

IT DOES LOOK LIKE COMING UP NEXT WEEK THE ASSEMBLY WILL VOTE ON THIS UNLESS IT GETS PULLED AGAIN.

>> COLLEEN, HERE WE ARE ALMOST TWO WEEKS PASSED ELECTION DAY.

HOW DID WE DO?

MERCER COUNTY NOW WITHSTANDING.

>> LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT MERCER COUNTY OR LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

OTHER THAN MERCER COUNTY WE HAD RACES CALLED, AT LEAST AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WITHIN 24 HOURS.

IT WAS ONLY THE MALANOWSKI AND CANE RACE THAT WAITED THE NEXT DAY TO BE CALLED.

WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN TERMS OF PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH RESULTS.

IF YOU WERE TO LOOK TODAY AT THE COUNTY WEBSITES WHERE THEY REPORT RESULTS, YOU WILL STILL FIND THERE ARE QUESTIONS.

DOES THIS COUNTY INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, VOTE BY MAILS AND EARLY VOTES?

THERE ARE SOME COUNTY WHERE YOU HAVE TO DO MATH AND COMBINE A REPORT ON THE VOTE BY MAILS WITH THE IN PERSON VOTES TO FIND THE TOTALS.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND I'M NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF OUR HOME RULE BENT IN THE STATE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO TRY TO STANDARDIZED THE REPORTING OF RESULTS TO GIVE PEOPLE ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN THE RESULTS THEY ARE SEEING.

>> AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO NOT ONLY 23 BUT ALSO 24, DO WE NEED TO GET OUR SYSTEM TOGETHER BEFORE THOSE BIG ELECTIONS?

YOU CAN'T HAVE BALLOTS THAT ARE TOO BIG FOR MACHINES.

>> YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IN MERCER COUNTY I'M EAGERLY AWAITING THE RESULTS OF WHATEVER THAT INVESTIGATION FINDS.

CERTAINLY YOU DON'T WANT A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2024 WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE GOING TO TRY TO SCAN BALLOTS AND THEY ARE NOT WORKING BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CODED PROPERLY AND THE MACHINES AREN'T CODED PROPERLY TO READ THEM.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

THAT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN IN THE KIND OF CLIMATE WE'VE HAD AND HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING UP WITH CONSPIRACY THEORIES OVER MUCH LESS THAN MACHINES ACTUALLY NOT FUNCTIONING.

>> IT'S TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY MOMENT.

HEADLINES AND NOTES THAT ARE KWENT SENSUALLY JERSEY.

>> MAYBE NOT ONLY IN JERSEY BUT IT'S WEIRD I FIGURED I WOULD MENTION IT ANYWAY.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FAR-RIGHT BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I POINTED OUT A CANDIDATE TALKING ABOUT EXECUTING YOUS AND YOUS ARE SATANISTS.

HE WAS FORCED TO GET OUT OF THE RACE BUT HIS RUNNING MATES WON.

THEY PRESSURED HIM TO GET OUT OF THE RACE BUT THIS GUY WAS AN QNON ADVOCATE.

THERE'S NO WAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS AN INSANE CONSPIRACY GUY.

HE WAS ON CNN TALKING.

THEY WOUND UP WINNING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION AND IT JUST SHOWS YOU THESE LITTLE ELECTIONS -- I DON'T MEAN TO TOOT MY OWN HORN BUT IF I TALK ABOUT THE GUY'S GAB POST.

THERE'S A CHANCE THIS GUY TALKING ABOUT THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN AND HOW HITLER HAD THE RIGHT IDEA.

COULD HAVE BEEN A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IN HAMILTON.

>> COLLEEN YOU GOT ONE?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS DEFINITELY JERSEY.

YOU KNOW THOSE ROAD SIGNS YOU SEE CLICK IT OR TICKET, DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER.

NEW JERSEY TRIED TO PUT ITS OWN ATTITUDE IN TO THE SIGNS AND WE HAVE ATTITUDE IN NEW JERSEY.

WE'VE GOT NICE CAR, DOES IT COME WITH A TURN SIGNAL?

GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR APPS.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, OF COURSE, WAS SLOW DOWN THIS AIN'T THUNDER ROAD.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN NOD.

APPARENTLY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T LIKE ATTITUDE IN SIGNS AND HAS TOLD THE D-O-T TO TAKE IT DOWN A NOTCH AND STOP RUNNING THOSE SIGNS.

THE D-O-T SAYS THEY'VE HEARD FROM THE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND THEY WILL COMPLY.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AS TO WHY, WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

D-O-T WAS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION, WHICH IT CERTAINLY DID.

MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE TAKING PHOTOS OF THE SIGNS AND THAT'S KIND OF NOT SAFE DRIVING.

>> THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE.

MINE IS FROM CLOSE TO HOME.

WE'RE NUMBER ONE.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AIRPORT RANKINGS ARE OUT.

FIFTY AIRPORTS TRACKED.

WOULD IT SHOCK YOU TO KNOW NEWARK IS THE WORST AIRPORT AGAIN.

NUMBER ONE IN FLIGHTS THAT DEPART AND ARRIVE LATE AND A NUMBER ONE IN FLIGHTS CANCELED.

A SEXY NEW TERMINAL A UNVEILED THIS WEEK NOT WITHSTANDING.

IT'S REASSURING TO KNOW NEWARK AIRPORT IS STILL THE BEST AT BEING THE WORST.

>> JFK IS WORSE.

>> THAT'S ROUND TABLE FOR THIS WEEK.

COLLEEN, TENNISON MATT GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU TO SUE FOR JOINING US.

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON TWITTER AT ROUND TABLE NJ AND SEE ROUND TABLE AND CHAT BOX FIRST ALONG WITH FRESH CONTENT EVERY DAY WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

WE ARE OFF NEXT WEEK FOR THE HOLIDAY.

I HOPE YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY YOURS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FROM THE ENTIRE CREW HERE.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTERS ROUND TABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS.

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