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>>> THE MIDTERMS ARE OVER.

LONG LIVE THE MIDTERMS.

HIGH.

IT'S REPORTER ROUND TABLE.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

OUR MIDTERM PANEL TODAY DUSTIN RA STRKS S, TIOPE THE EDITOR USA TODAY NETWORK.

MICHAEL SIMONS THE STATE HOUSE BUREAU CHIEF AND FRED SNOWFLAK IS COLUMNIST FOR INSIDER NG.

WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PANEL IN A BIT BUT WE BEGIN WITH ASSESSMENT FROM THE MIDTERM FROM NOT DISINTERESTED REPUBLICAN WHO IS SEEING RED IN A GOOD WAY.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO WELCOME BACK TO REPORTERS ROUND TABLE FORMER ASSEMBLYMAN AND ONCE AND FUTURE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR JACK CHITARELLI.

WHY ARE YOU FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE RESULTS FROM TUESDAY?

>> FEELING VERY GOOD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN THE 7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHERE I LIVE.

TOM CANE JR. WON.

WE WORKED VERY HARD ON THAT CAMPAIGN AND I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TOM SERVING IN WASHINGTON AS OUR CONGRESSPERSON.

>> THE REST OF THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS FAIRED NO SO WELL.

HEADLINE THIS WEEK SAID THIS WAS A DRAMATIC RETURN OF THE STATUS QUO.

ARE WE PRETTY MUCH WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE WERE LAST WEEK?

PRETTY MUCH THE SAME?

>> DAVID, THIS MAP, THINGS WENT PRETTY MUCH THE WAY THIS MAP WAS DESIGNED FOR THEM TO GO.

THIS WAS THE DEMOCRATIC MAP THAT WAS CHOSEN BY JUDGE WALLACE.

WITH EXCEPTION -- DOES IT MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE MORE CHALLENGES TO THE PRESUMED LEADER OF YOUR PARTY, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP?

>> I THINK HERE IN NEW JERSEY THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND STATE ELECTIONS.

LAST YEAR WAS A STATE ELECTION.

AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AS THE GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE FOR REPUBLICANS AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT IN MANY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WE LOST TWO DAYS AGO I WON THOSE DISTRICTS ONE YEAR AGO.

WE HAVE TO TALK, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, CANDIDATES HAVE TO TALK TO NEW JERSEY ISSUES.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE FEDERAL ISSUES THAT TOOK THE WIND OUT OF OUR SAILS AND WHY WE LOST A NUMBER OF RACES ON TUESDAY.

>> IT'S INTERESTING YOU SAY THAT ASSEMBLYMAN BECAUSE MOST OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION ON TUESDAY WAS THE DEMOCRATS HAD A MUDDLED MESSAGE AND REPUBLICANS HAD A STRONG DIRECT MESSAGE.

>> THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RED WAVE.

I WENT AROUND THE STATE MONTH AFTER MONTH ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES I WARNED PEOPLE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A RED WAVE IN NEW JERSEY.

WE'RE OUTNUMBERED BY ONE MILLION AND WE HAVE TO SPEAK TO ISSUES THAT MATTER TO NEW JERSEY.

>> THERE WAS THIS SUGGESTION THAT CANDIDATES IN NEW JERSEY, FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, CAME FROM THE RIGHT WING OF THE PARTY AND MOST OF THOSE CANDIDATES LOST PRETTY HANDLELY.

IS THERE A MESSAGE IN THAT TO REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY?

>> I SAID YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THIS MAP DRAWN BY THE DEMOCRATS, PICKED BY JUDGE WALLACE THAT WAS DESIGNED TO FAVOR THE DEMOCRATS.

IF YOU GO BACK TEN YEARS AGO, THE OLD MAP WAS THE REPUBLICAN MAP AND AT ONE TIME IT WAS 6-6.

6 REPUBLICANS AND 6 DEMOCRATS.

THAT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A COMPETITIVE AND FAIR MAP.

THIS ONE IS ANYTHING BUT.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE IS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MORE REPRESENTED BY DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS.

>> YOU WERE AT A TOWN HALL THE OTHER DAY WHERE YOU SAID THAT YOUR CAMPAIGN WAS TOO WHITE.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER HEARD A REPUBLICAN SAY THAT.

WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT AND WHAT WOULD -- HOW WOULD YOUR CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR INVOLVED DIRECTLY?

>> AT THE ROANE UNIVERSITY I WAS ASKED WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

I WOULD BETTER DEPLOY MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ALLEN A CHAMPION FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ISSUES AND WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT SOUTH JERSEY INCLUDING 20 PLUS YEARS AS A NEWS ANCHOR.

I TALKED ABOUT DOING A BETTER JOB OF CONVINCING OUTSIDE SOURCES OF FUNDING THAT WE COULD WIN THIS CAMPAIGN.

WE GOT VERY LITTLE ASSISTANCE FROM A NUMBER OF ENTITIES THAT TYPICALLY FUND REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS.

AND THE THIRD THING I SAID WAS THE CAMPAIGN TEAM WAS TOO WHITE.

THE EXAMPLE I USED IS AMONGST THE INNER CIRCLE WAS A RABBI WHO WAS VERY HELPFUL IN TELLING ME WHERE JEWISH COMMUNITIES ARE THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY, WHEN TO BE THERE AND WHAT THE ISSUES WERE THAT MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT MY TEAM YOU DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF BLACK OWN BROWN REPRESENTATION AND WE DID WELL IN THE BLACK OR BROWN COMMUNITY BUT WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

WE NEED PEOPLE ON THE TEAM TO HAVE GREATER INCITES ON HOW BEST TO REACH THE COMMUNITIES.

>> IN YOUR MIND IS THERE SOMETHING THAT JUMPS OUT OF YOU IN YOUR MESSAGING OR STRATEGY OR SPENDING WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT HAD YOU HAD MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR ON THE TEAM?

>> SPENDING CERTAINLY, DAVID.

WE WEROUT SPENT 5-1 ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.

YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO REACH EVERY COMMUNITY IN NEW JERSEY.

WE KNOW THIS IS THE MOST DIVERSE STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

YOU NEED PEOPLE ON THE TEAM THAT CAN HELP YOU REACH EVERY ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> WE WILL BE EXPERIENCING LEGISLATIVE RACES COMING VERY SOON.

REPUBLICANS MADE SOME GAINS LAST TIME OUT.

WHY DO YOU THINK, WHAT IS IT THAT HAPPENED TUESDAY THAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE ELECTION IS GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> NEXT YEAR IS A NEW JERSEY ELECTION.

ALL 120 SEATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE ARE ON THE BALLOT.

THAT'S MY FOCUS OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS AND I'M CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD ON MOMENTUM OF LAST YEAR PICKING UP 7 OVER-8 SEATS AND BEAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

LET'S NOT FORGET DAVID NEXT YEARS ELECTION WITH 120 SEATS IS UNDER A NEW MAP.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE VOTING WITH LEGISLATE CHIF HAPPEN.

I'M GOING TO GO AS FAR TO SAY THIS ONE FAVORS REPUBLICANS IF WE GO ABOUT BUSINESS THE RIGHT WAY WITH WITH OUR CANDIDATES.

THAT MEANS SPEAKING TO THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO NEW JERSEY.

>> WHAT'S TOP TWO ISSUES THAT COMING, THAT SAY NEXT YEARS LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN.

WHAT ARE THE TWO ISSUES YOU THINK YOUR PARTY NEEDS TO POUND MOST GOING IN TO NEXT YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE RACES?

>> PROPERTY TAXES AND MAKING NEW JERSEY A BETTER PLACE TO DO BUSINESS, PARTICULARLY, ON MAIN STREET.

NO ONE SHOULD WANT TO BE A LEGISLATOR OR A GOVERNOR OF A STATE THAT HAS THE WORST PROPERTY TAXES IN THE NATION AND IS KNOWN AS HAVING THE WORST BUSINESS CLIMATE IN THE NATION.

CERTAINLY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BLOATED AND INEFFICIENT STATE GOVERNMENT CORRUPTED BY SPECIAL INTERESTS.

WE NEED O SUPPORT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN HARDER FOR LOCAL PDs.

LAST I THINK WE NEED TO GET BACK TO BASIC WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

WE'VE SEEN THE SCORES ACROSS THE NATION.

NEW JERSEY IS DOWN IN READING AND MATH SCORES AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

>> YOU MENTION TOM CANE AT THE TOP OF OUR CONVERSATION.

A LOT WAS MADE OF HIS KIND OF BOYCOTT OF NEW JERSEY PRESS.

DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK TO NEW JERSEY PRESS.

IS THERE SOME FENCE MENDING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BETWEEN THE PRESS AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OR WAS THAT VERY CANDIDATE SPECIFIC?

>> LISTEN, I DO BELIEVE THE PRESS IS THE FOURTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

I THINK EARNED MEDIA IS A VERY ADVANTAGEOUS TACTIC DURING ANY CAMPAIGN.

BUT EVERY CANDIDATE AND A CAMPAIGN IS DIFFERENT.

TOM CANE WAS SUCCESSFUL.

UNFORTUNATELY PAUL WAS NOT.

I THINK THAT HAS MORE TO DO WITH FUNDING.

TOM WAS SUCCESSFUL IN RAISING THE KIND OF MONEY THAT MADE THE CAMPAIGN ALL THE MORE VIABLE.

AGAIN, THAT GETS BACK TO THE MAP.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS MAP IT DID WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO.

OUR CANDIDATES WERE CHALLENGED WITH REGARD TO FUNDRAISING AND A EARNING VOTES.

>> CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IN 2025.

YOUR CHANCES BETTER NOW THAN THEY WERE TUESDAY?

>> TOO FAR AWAY TO HANDICAP THINGS.

ALL I KNOW IS THAT I'M FOCUSED NEXT YEARS LEGISLATIVE RACES AND I DO PLAN TO RUN AGAIN AND WE'LL GET OUT THERE AND DO WHAT WE DO BEST.

SHAKING HANDS EVERY SINGLE DAY ACROSS THE STATE AND TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO NEW JERSEY.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU DAVID.

>>> PANEL DUSTIN, MICHAEL, FRED, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

DUSTIN RETURNS.

YOU'RE THE ATLANTIC REGION POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT EDITOR FOR USA TODAY NETWORK.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG SHOT PROMOTION.

WHAT DOES THE ATLANTIC REGION POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT EDITOR DO AND HOW IS IT GOING?

>> IT'S GOING OKAY NOW THAT WE GOT THROUGH THE ELECTION.

BASICALLY, IT'S SIX STATES FROM VIRGINIA UP TO NEW YORK.

THAT INCLUDES NEW JERSEY AND THE KOERCH ACROSS ALL THOSE STATES.

I'M SITTING HERE TODAY AS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT WE EMERGED SOMEWHAT UNSCATHED THROUGH WILD SET OF ELECTIONS.

PARTICULARLY IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT'S BEEN A FUN RIDE SO FAR BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FOCUSING HEAVILY ON NEW JERSEY POLITICS AS WE MOVE PASSED THE ELECTIONS.

>> START US OFF FROM WHERE YOU SIT.

NO RED WAVE TUESDAY, RIGHT?

OR IS THAT TO BE DETERMINED?

>> NATIONALLY IT LOOKS TO BE DETERMINED.

REPUBLICANS STILL HAVE THE ADVANTAGE IN TAKING BACK THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE IS IN QUESTION.

AS JACK SAID WHO I JUST WANT TO KNOW WRITES A COLUMN FOR OUR PUBLICATIONS, THE RED WAVE WAS NEVER REALLY EXPECTED TO MATERIALIZE IN NEW JERSEY BASED ON, AS HE SAID, THE MAP.

WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM WAS THAT THEY WOULD TAKE BACK THE 7th DISTRICT.

IT DID LOOK TOWARDS THE CLOSING DAYS TOWARD THE ELECTION THAT THE THIRD DISTRICT WAS MORE VULNERABLE BUT ALL THE DEMOCRATS, THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS AND ROB MENENDEZ JR. WON DECISIVE VICTORIES.

>> FRED, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHAT ARE YOUR TAKE AWAYS FROM TUESDAY NIGHT?

>> I THINK WHAT JACK SAID.

I GOT TO POINT OUT THAT I THINK REPUBLICANS WERE VERY, VERY EXCITED GOING IN TO TUESDAY.

I KNOW I HEARD WHAT JACK SAID BUT I HEARD JACK SPEAK AT A REPUBLICAN BREAKFAST LAST SUNDAY JUST A FEW DAYS AGO IN MORRIS COUNTY.

AGAIN, PEOPLE EMBELLISH THINGS WHEN THEY TALK TO A SUPPORTIVE AUDIENCE.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HE EXPECTED QUOTE UNQUOTE SURPRISES IN CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

HE TALKED ABOUT MARK HALEY AND FRANK.

HE MENTIONED THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A FEW SURPRISES.

IN A WAY, I GUESS EVEN REPUBLICANS THINK IT'S -- A RED WAVE BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT GOING IN TO TUESDAY.

>> MICHAEL, WAS TOM CANE'S VICTORY ENOUGH FOR REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY?

WILL THEY TAKE THAT AND USE THAT AS MOMENTUM GOING IN TO NEXT YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE RACES?

>> THEY'LL HAVE TO TRY.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WOUND UP WITH HERE.

IT WAS WHAT WAS PREDICTED.

A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO, HAS BEEN SAID WITH THE MAP BUT NEXT YEARS LEGISLATIVE RACES ARE ON A DIFFERENT MAP.

SOUTH JERSEY HAS CHANGES THERE THAT MAKE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

THE BATTLEFIELD, SO TO SPEAK WILL BE DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF GEOGRAPHICALLY WHERE IN THE STATE THE FOCUS WILL BE.

I DON'T THINK THE MAP FAVORS A REPUBLICAN TAKE OVER.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

BUT THERE ARE DEFINITELY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO KEEP CLAWING BACK.

>> WHAT ABOUT TAKE AWAYS FOR THE PARTIES COMING FROM TUESDAY, EITHER NATIONALLY OR IN NEW JERSEY.

DUSTIN WHY SHOULD THE DEMOCRATS BE HAPPY ABOUT TUESDAY AND WHY SHOULD THE REPUBLICANS BE HAPPY ABOUT TUESDAY?

>> NATIONALLY THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE HAPPY BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE UNLIKELY POSITION OF MAYBE HOLDING ONTO HOUSE.

IT SEEMS FAR OFF PROSPECTS BUT THE FACT THAT THAT RED WAVE NEVER CAME IS IN SOME WAYS A VICTORY FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

IT SEEMS TO POINT TO ABORTION BEING A MAJOR ISSUE ACROSS THE STATES FOR PEOPLE.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE MORE EXIT POLLING AND DATA ON THAT.

BUT THE REPUBLICANS THEY HAVE REASON TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT A MAY BE BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO BE AT THIS POINT, TO BE IN DISARRAY.

THERE'S THESE TWO COMPETING FACTIONS BETWEEN THE TRUMP MORE EXTREMIST ELECTION DENYING SIDE WITH THE PARTY VERSUS THE MORE TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE WING WHICH INCLUDES PEOPLE LIKE TOM CANE AND JACK CHITARELLI.

MAYBE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARTY TO USE THIS ADVANTAGE AS A CHANCE TO RECON FIGURE THINGS AND FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO.

ARE THEY GOING STICK WITH TRUMP OR ARE THEY GOING TO ABANDON A HIM AND TRY TO GET BACK TO WHAT IS TRADITIONAL BEEN MORE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SORT OF REAGAN CONSERVATIVE TYPE OF PARTY.

>> FRED WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THAT.

TRUMP WING OF THE PARTY VERSUS THE MODERATE WING OF THE PARTY.

WE HEAR MORE ABOUT IT IN NEW JERSEY.

WHAT DID THIS TUESDAY'S RESULTS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THAT QUESTION?

>> I THINK I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

I THINK THE SPLIT IS THERE AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT DONALD TRUMP, AT LEAST IN NEW JERSEY DONE A REPUBLICAN -- GOING BACK FOUR YEARS THE REASON DEMOCRATS FLIPPED SOME SEATS FOUR YEARS AGO.

JACK WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW IT USED TO BE SIX, SIX AND NOW IT'S NINE, THREE.

DEMOCRATS FLIPPED THOSE SEATS BECAUSE A LOT OF REPUBLICAN MODERATES ARE SO FULL OF TOM CANE SENIOR REPUBLICANS DID NOT GO ALONG WITH DONALD TRUMP'S POLITICS OR STYLE.

I SAW THAT IN THE SUBURBS LIKE IN MORRIS COUNTY WHICH IS WHY TOM WON THE FIRST TIME AND SHILER WON.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS STILL THERE.

WHEN I GO TO A REPUBLICAN GATHERING I TEND TO GO TO A LOT OF THEM.

I TALK TO PEOPLE AND THERE SEEMS ALMOST 50/50 AT TIMES.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO GET BY TRUMP AND SOME EMBRACE HIM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU BRING THE TWO SIDES TOGETHER AND FOR REPUBLICANS IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE MINORITY.

THEY CAN'T REALLY AFFORD TO BE FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES IF YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE GOING AHEAD.

>> MICHAEL, THE GOP IN DISARRAY.

IS THIS REALLY FOCUSING ATTENTION ON THE DIVIDE IN THAT PARTY?

>> YEAH.

THEY'VE GOT A LOT TO SORT THROUGH AND IT SEEMS THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE ANOTHER CAMPAIGN NEXT WEEK.

THERE WAS A CERTAIN OPPORTUNITY IN 2022 TO SIDESTEP SOME OF THAT CONVERSATION.

IF HE'S RUNNING AND WHO KNOWS IF HE'LL WIN THE NOMINATION.

THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO AVOID THAT IN 2024.

THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENT ELECTORATE AND POSSIBLE THE POLARIZING FIGURE IN NEW JERSEY BACK ON THE SCENE.

THE CONGRESSMAN AND CONGRESSWOMAN ARE ALWAYS VULNERABLE IN THE FIRST REELECTION BID.

IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 7th DISTRICT IN 2024 AND TOM CANE RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

A LOT OF MONEY SPENT IN NEW JERSEY THIS YEAR GOT PENT ON THINGS LIKE THE MIKEY RACE WINNING WITH 58% OF THE VOTE.

A LOT OF MONEY WHEN TO KIM'S RACE HE END UP WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN BILL PASKREL.

THE ALLOCATION OF MONEY FROM DEMOCRATIC SIDE IN 2024 COULD BE POURED IN TO WHO IS RUNNING IN THE 7th DISTRICT.

>> DUSTIN WE WERE TALKING WITH REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST CHRIS RUSSELL THE OTHER NIGHT ON ELECTION NIGHT.

HE SAID A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

WE, OF COURSE, SAW DESANTIS IN FLORIDA WIN A BIG VICTORY.

IS HE THE MAIN CHALLENGER AND WILL THEREBY A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN TWO YEARS?

>> I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS.

IT DOES SEEM TO BE TRUMP VERSUS DESANTIS ESPECIALLY AFTER THE OTHER NIGHT.

TRUMP PUT OUT A LENGTHY STATEMENT GOING AFTER RON DESANTIS THAT SEEMED TO BE THE FIRING GUN FOR WHAT'S GOING TO BE A LONG AND EXHAUSTING PRE-PRIMARY BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

I JUST DON'T KNOW.

WE KNOW THAT FORMER GOVERNOR CHRISTIE HAS MUSED ABOUT POTENTIALLY RUNNING AGAIN BUT I DON'T SEE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM OR ANY OTHER REPUBLICAN TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ANY OXYGEN AWAY FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TRUMP VERSUS DESANTIS PRIMARY.

>> YOU KNOW, WE COULD SPEND A WHOLE HALF HOUR TALKING ABOUT ELECTION PROCESS ISSUES THAT CAME UP BUT THE BIGGEST ELECTION CURFUFFLE WAS IN MERCER COUNTY WHERE THE MACHINES JUST DIDN'T WORK.

FRED WHAT WAS THE IMPACT IN MERCER COUNTY ON THE RACE IN TRENTON, FOR INSTANCE?

>> I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ALL THE BALLOTS WILL BE EVENTUALLY COUNTED.

THERE WERE SCREW UPS.

THIS ANNOYS PEOPLE BUT I GUESS AS LONG AS EVERYTHING GETS FIXED AND EVERYONE IS ABLE TO VOTE MAYBE IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

BUT MAYBE IT'S NOT A PROBLEM OFFICIALLY.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ELECTION DENIERS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

MAYBE NOT AS MANY IN NEW JERSEY AS THERE ARE ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

WHENEVER YOU HAVE, I GUESS, THESE PROBLEMS SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THERE'S A SIGN OF A NEFARIOUS CONSPIRACY AND THAT'S THE REALITY.

>> DUSTIN, WHAT TAKE AWAYS ARE THERE FROM PENNSYLVANIA?

IS THIS THE END, THE BEGINNING AND THE END FOR OZ OR IS HE GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN NEW JERSEY IN TWO YEARS?

>> YEAH.

WE'LL FIND OUT IF YOU SEE ANY MOVING TRUCKS OUTSIDE HIS HOME.

IN PENNSYLVANIA I THINK THE RESULTS THERE SHOW THAT ALTHOUGH IT DID GO FOR TRUMP IN 2016 IT'S TRULY A PURPLE STATE AND IT IS NOT AS CONSERVATIVE AS MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO THINK.

YOU HAD FOR THE FIRST TIME A DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE SUCCEEDING A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AFTER TWO TERMS.

THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE FOR MANY DECADES IN PENNSYLVANIA.

THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE DOUG MASTRIANO WAS BUSSING PEOPLE DOWN TO JANUARY 6 RALLIES BEFORE THEY TURNED IN TO RIOTS.

HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST VOCAL ELECTION DENIERS OUT THERE.

A BIG TRUMP ALLY.

HE LOST BY 14 POINTS.

THEN YOU HAD OZ AND JOHN FETTERMAN CONTEST AND FETTERMAN LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A TOSS UP.

FETTERMAN LOOKED LIKE HE WAS DONE AFTER THE POOR DEBATE PERFORMANCE AFTER ISSUES HE HAS FROM RECOVERING FROM A STROKE.

HE WOUND UP WINNING, TO MY SURPRISE, THAT RACE WAS CALLED TUESDAY NIGHT.

WE THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO DRAG OUT ALL WEEK.

AGAIN, IT GOES TO SHOW THAT DEMOCRATS CAN PERFORM REALLY WELL IN PENNSYLVANIA AND, AS I SAID BEFORE, ABORTION FACTORED HEAVILY IN TO THIS AND MAY HAVE OUTWEIGHED THE OTHER TOP CONCERN ON VOTERS MINDS WHICH WAS THE ECONOMY AND INFLATION.

>> IT'S TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN NEW JERSEY SEGMENT.

HEADLINES AND NOTES THAT ARE KWINT SENSUALLY JERSEY.

DUSTIN YOU GOT ONE?

>> I THINK THIS QUALIFIES THAT AT THE END OF OCTOBER NEWS BROKE THAT SENATOR MENENDEZ WAS UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AND THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THIS WEEK HIS SON JUST WALKS IN TO A HOUSE SEAT.

A RESOUNDING VICTORY IN HUDSON COUNTY AND I GUESS THAT GOES TO SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE A DEAL BREAKER IN OTHER STATES FOR CANDIDATES.

THIS HAD NO IMPACT WHATSOEVER.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EVEN KNOWS WHO ROB'S REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER WAS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE SUCH A TIGHT GRIP ON HUDSON COUNTY.

EVEN SOMETHING LIKE A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF FAMILY MEMBER DOESN'T REGISTER.

>> FRED YOU GOT ONE?

>> YEAH.

I DO HAVE ONE.

BOB HUGAN, A REPUBLICAN PARTY USED A CAMPAIGN ON AIR BUT BASICALLY HE USED AN OBSCENITY TO MAKE REFERENCE TO MIKEY SHELLO.

EVALUATED HER AS A KOJ WOMAN.

I THINK PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW POLITICS KNOW WHAT HE SAID.

HE WAS NOT COMPLIMENTARY.

THIS IS STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN AND HE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CLASSY.

AGAIN THAT SEEMS LIKE A NEW JERSEY MOMENT TO ME.

>> MINE IS ALSO FROM ELECTION NIGHT.

TALE OF TWO BOB HUGAN FACES.

NEW JERSEY GOP CHAIRMAN.

YOU MAY REMEMBER HIM AS THE GUY WHO SPENT $40 MILLION ON UNSUCCESSFUL SENATE RUN IN 2018.

HE TOLD REPORTERS I DON'T LIKE WHEN PEOPLE CALL PEOPLE NAMES.

WE SHOULD BE ABOVE THAT.

THE SAME GUY WHO A FEW MINUTES EARLIER REFERRED TO MIKEY AS A P-O-S.

I'LL LEAVE YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHAT P-O-S STANDS FOR.

ALL IS WELL BECAUSE ONLY IN NEW JERSEY CAN AN INSULT LIKE THAT TURN IN TO A COMPLIMENT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE SOURCE.

THAT'S ROUND TABLE TODAY.

DUSTIN, FRED, MICHAEL GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

THANKS TO JACK.

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

I'M DAVID CRUISE.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARIBUS HEALTH.

MJ INSURANCE GROUP SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS.

ROANE UNIVERSITY.

EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES.

TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

REPORTING TO EXECUTIVES AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO NEW JERSEY PLAY BOOK.

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