State of New Jersey secondary Archives: on Principles & Values
Cory Booker:
First African-American senator from New Jersey
Democrat Cory Booker was sworn into the Senate on Thursday, becoming the first African-American senator from New Jersey and the first African-American elected to the Senate since Illinois sent Barack Obama to Congress in 2004. New Jersey is now the first
state to be represented by a black senator and a Latino senator--Sen. Robert Menendez is Cuban-American--at the same time. Slightly more than 42 percent of New Jersey's population is black and Latino."That's kind of incredible,"
Booker said. "New Jersey is a special kind of place." Booker said that to New Jersey's credit, race was never an issue in his campaign.
Booker will serve out the remainder of the late Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg's term, which ends in January 2015.
Booker will serve on three Senate committees: Commerce, Science and Transportation; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and Environment and Public Works. Two of his assignments--commerce and environment--also were committee assignments for Lautenberg.
Source: TheDailyJournal.com coverage of 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Oct 31, 2013
Hirsh Singh:
I take absolute pride in being morally consistent
When we vote today, what qualities should we look for in a candidate? I believe that consistent moral integrity always takes precedence. No integrity means no trust. A candidate without integrity can never be trusted to uphold their word, let alone the
interests of the voters. I invite you to please examine my history, my stances, my past and present statements under a microscope. You will see that I take absolute pride in being morally consistent, that I always put integrity first.
Source: 2020 New Jersey Senate campaign website HirshSingh.com
Jun 11, 2020
Hirsh Singh:
Claims Antifa is "radical, paramilitary arm" of Democrats
"Over the weekend, hundreds of thousands of Americans descended on our nation's capital to call attention to troubling reports of apparent electoral discrepancies and demonstrable voter fraud. Their assembly was entirely peaceful until darkness
fell and the radical, paramilitary arm of the Democrat Party, known as Antifa, moved in to attack families, senior citizens, and other vulnerable Americans," Singh said.
Source: 2021 New Jersey Governor campaign website HirshSingh.com
Nov 17, 2020
Jack Ciattarelli:
Don't make New Jersey the California of the East Coast
On values: "Phil Murphy doesn't get it. Maybe it's because he's not from New Jersey. Maybe it's because he doesn't understand New Jersey,"
Ciattarelli said. "But the bottom line is this: He's not New Jersey." He attacked Murphy's progressive policies would eventually bankrupt the state. "I don't want to be the California of the East Coast," Ciattarelli said.
Source: Bridgewater Courier News on 2021 New Jersey governor race
Jan 22, 2020
Jeff Bell:
Judeo-Christian values established our government framework
Question topic: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution.Bell: Strongly Disagree.
Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted
our system of limited government.
Bell: Strongly Agree.
Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Bell: I am a devoted Catholic and attend Mass daily.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Jeff Bell:
1982: ran for Senate; speechwriter for Ronald Reagan
"Time to go buy 1 million Twitter followers," New Jersey Senate candidate Jeff Bell tweeted Wednesday morning. He's not wrong. After winning Tuesday night's four-way Republican primary, Bell, a former speechwriter for
Ronald Reagan, will now face Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, the former Newark mayor whose rise to national prominence was in part fueled by his high-volume tweeting. Booker has a whopping 1.47 million followers.
Bell has 237.
His lower number isn't surprising--Bell, who is 70 years old, has been out of the game for decades. His last Senate campaign was in 1982, when he lost the Republican primary to former
Rep. Millicent Fenwick. Prior to that, he ousted then-Sen. Clifford Case in New Jersey's GOP primary but lost the general election to Bill Bradley.
Source: The Wall Street Journal on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Jun 4, 2014
Jeff Bell:
Wife wept upon hearing he would run for Senate
In January, he announced his plans to run, surprising his family--even his wife, who wept at the news. A month later, Bell, who had lived in the Washington area for more than three decades, packed up his bags and moved to Leonia.Bell acknowledges
that he faces an uphill battle against Booker, in part due to Booker's hefty financial advantage. Booker has $2.9 million in the bank, compared with Bell's $3,976. Still, Bell said, "This was a cause campaign," he said. "So far, at least it's alive."
Source: The Wall Street Journal on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Jun 4, 2014
Jeff Bell:
Defeated incumbent Senator in GOP primary in 1978
Jeff Bell, who won the primary for the Republican Senate nomination earlier this week, has been there before. He won a Senate primary in his first political campaign. That was in 1978.But on Tuesday, Bell defeated three other
Republican challengers, winning 29.5% of the vote. All Bell, 70, has to do now is defeat Democratic incumbent and social media favorite Cory Booker.
Bell welcomes debates with Booker, saying, "I debated
Bill Bradley 21 times in 1978, and I think I would be a good debater. I do have that reputation from the past."
Bell won that 1978 Republican Senate primary by defeating a 4-term incumbent, Clifford Case.
Bell won the race by 1.5 percentage points, and called the victory "the major shocker to date of this political year." Almost nobody in politics gave Bell a chance to win, including his fellow Republican conservatives.
Source: NewJerseyNewsroom.com on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
May 5, 2014
Murray Sabrin:
Judeo-Christian values established our government framework
Question topic: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution.Sabrin: Strongly Disagree.
Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our
system of limited government.
Sabrin: Strongly Agree.
Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Sabrin: I believe there is a Supreme Being; our "Creator" as outlined in the Declaration of Independence who endowed us with unalienable Rights. I did not grow up in a religious household, yet we celebrated the Jewish holidays as part of our cultural
heritage. I deeply believe in several basic principles such as the Golden Rule & the nonaggression principle, which states that no one can initiate force against an innocent human being, and that force is only justifiable to defend your life & property.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
Phil Murphy:
Reject Pres. Trump's dark belief of an America in decline
We will resist every attempt to define who is, and who is not, a real American, to delegitimize our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, or to divide us based on how we worship.
And we must reject President Trump's dark belief of an America in decline and in carnage.Let there be no doubt: ours is an imperfect, but great, nation.
Our exceptionalism derives from our values, articulated as forcefully in our Constitution as in the words written by Emma Lazarus at the base of the Statue of Liberty.
The current and unrelenting assault on our values will not stand, and we will combat it with every available means. We did not ask for this fight, but it is one that we must--and we will -- take on.
Source: 2018 New Jersey Inauguration/State of the State speech
Jan 16, 2018
Phil Murphy:
Quality of life more important than tax breaks
The bottom line is that being competitive isn't a race to give out the biggest tax breaks. It's about leading the way on education, infrastructure, and diversity and inclusion. Companies want to stay and grow and locate in a state that allows them to
flourish and for their workers to prosper in all parts of their lives. That is a vision of true success that can be shared by every family. That is how you build a stronger and fairer New Jersey.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature
Jan 15, 2019
Phil Murphy:
Others focus on next election; we focus on next generation
Putting self-interest before the common good, the next-day headline before the long-term work--those were deliberate choices. The easy way out would have been for us to continue pursuing shortcuts that could paper over our problems and make
us feel good in the short-term. But, I refuse to let our problems become bigger. Where others have focused only on the next election, we're focused on the next generation.
Source: 2020 New Jersey State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Phil Murphy:
New Jerseyans need to know government has their backs
This commitment to transparency and honesty must be a standard we set across the whole of government. Just as we can't go back to economic policies that put the wealthy and the well-connected first, we can't lean on the broken politics that puts
special interests first.I was proud to propose the first comprehensive set of ethics reforms in a decade, with bipartisan support, and I remain committed to them. New Jerseyans need to know -- not just believe -- that their government has their backs.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2021
Phil Murphy:
For all of us, the politicking ends and the governing begins
You are sick and tired of the hyper-partisanship, the bickering, the inaction, the division, and the endless finger-pointing we see in Washington. So am I. And we don't want that political stagnation to creep into our work here in Trenton. Not in
our very backyard. Not when there is still too much uncertainty in our lives and our communities, and too many challenges ahead. From today forward, for all of us, the politicking ends and the governing begins. That's true patriotism.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to New Jersey legislature
Jan 11, 2022
Rik Mehta:
Campaign $300,000+ in debt, entire campaign staff quit
Mehta has just a few thousand dollars in their campaign coffers, but owe a staggering $329,558 to consultants, contractors, campaign workers and himself.
To make matters worse, Mehta's entire Senate campaign team just quit on him.
Source: Shore News Network on 2020 New Jersey Senate race
Aug 17, 2020
Rik Mehta:
We need God, we need prayer, reopen houses of worship
Mehta has called for Governor Murphy to reopen places of worship and allow for the people of New Jersey to join together for a statewide Day of Prayer, Peace and Nonviolence. "With so much tragedy in our midst, we need God, we need prayer; it is
imperative that religious leaders in our communities be allowed to resume faith-based services in-person so the people of our state can worship and invoke the power of prayer," said Rik Mehta.
Source: InsiderNJ.com blog on 2020 New Jersey Senate race
Jun 3, 2020
Robert Menendez:
Admonished by Senate Ethics Committee for accepting gifts
Celgene Corp. executive Bob Hugin, who has already put $15.5 million of his own money into the race, spent $6.3 million on ads through June 30, many of them attacking Menendez on ethics. Menendez was indicted in April 2015 on federal corruption
charges. After his first trial ended in a mistrial, a judge acquitted him of several charges and prosecutors declined to retry him on the rest.
The Senate Ethics Committee then "severely admonished" him in April for accepting gifts from a friend and
campaign donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen, while intervening with federal agencies on his behalf.
A pollster says, "New Jersey voters are troubled by the ethics cloud hanging over Menendez."
"The more New Jerseyans hear about disgraced Senator
Bob Menendez's corruption, the less they believe he should remain in the United States Senate," said a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Source: NJ Advance Media on 2018 New Jersey Senate race
Aug 22, 2018
Robert Menendez:
Severely admonished by Senate for political favors
Q: Corruption: Scandals being discussed for both candidates.Robert Hugin (R): Hugin's company spent $2.8 million lobbying to block cheaper generic alternatives.
Robert Menendez (D): Menendez was charged for allegedly doing political favors for a
friend while accepting six-figure campaign contributions & undisclosed gifts like luxury hotel stays. Prosecutor dropped charges after jury hung 10-2 for acquittal & judge said the case didn't hold up. Senate committee then "severely admonished" him.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Jersey Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Stuart Meissner:
Time to end the impeachment crusade
Meissner said, "It's time for Congress to end the impeachment crusade against this President and get to work for the American people. Instead of working with the President to obtain critical infrastructure funding for our state, lower prescription drug
prices, and relieve the middle-class tax burden, Democrats are intent on antagonizing the White House. They are undermining a duly-elected President & overruling the will of the American people, who should have the opportunity to vote in November 2020."
Source: New Jersey Globe on impeaching Trump
Oct 31, 2019
Stuart Meissner:
Lifelong Democrat turned Trump supporter
Meissner had been a lifelong Democrat until 2015. He explained that as a Jew growing up in Brooklyn during the 1960s and 1970s, it was simply the default position. As the 2016 presidential elections approached, he gravitated towards
Donald Trump, volunteering for his campaign in September 2015. He liked the president's independence, and felt it was refreshing to hear someone tell Wall Street he doesn't need their money.
Source: Jewish Link NJ e-zine on 2020 New Jersey Senate race
Jan 22, 2020
Doug Steinhardt:
Put America and New Jersey first
In a news release announcing his candidacy, Steinhardt said he is running on a "strong conservative platform of priorities" comprising a "check on liberal spending, giving parents a voice,
supporting police and cracking down on crime, pro-Second Amendment, protecting the sanctity of life, and putting America and New Jersey first."
Source: Lehigh Valley News on 2021 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
Oct 1, 2022
Andy Kim:
Inject some integrity and civility back into our politics
I grew up in New Jersey, and I'm incredibly humbled to represent my community in Congress. I am stepping up to represent our state in the United States Senate. I believe more than ever that we need good, hardworking people focused
on delivering tangible solutions, working where the rubber hits the road, and injecting some integrity and civility back into our politics. Let's work together to find real solutions.
Source: 2024 New Jersey Senate campaign website AndyKim.com
Sep 26, 2023
Tammy Murphy:
Churches played an important role during the pandemic
Murphy also paid tribute to the congregations saying that "we are all one family," and that all gathered share a concern for the security of New Jersey families.
Churches have played an important role during the pandemic, turning faith into action, Murphy said. "We have relied on you for guidance,"
Source: Tap Into Bayonne on 2024 New Jersey Senate race
Sep 12, 2021
Curtis Bashaw:
America is the greatest exception to tyranny in history
America is the greatest exception to tyranny in the history of humankind. Our great freedoms of speech, assembly, worship, conscious, enterprise, and self protection come with a price. That price is that you may have to live next to somebody
you may disagree with. you do not want to be told what to do, then we should not tell our neighbor what to do. I believe the same rule should apply to our government. Our government should not be able to tell us what to do in our lives!
Source: 2024 New Jersey Senate race site: CurtisBashawForSenate.com
Jun 24, 2024
Curtis Bashaw:
I'm a Libertarian freedom guy in many, many ways
I'm a Libertarian freedom guy in many, many ways. I like less government, I think, equals more freedom. I believe that the values of leaving decision-making authority to the people is important, especially in our small businesses.
I come up as a small businessman and see these one-size-fits-all regulations put on businesses by people that are academics or outside politics.
Source: WNYC "Brian Lehrer Show" on 2024 New Jersey Senate race
May 30, 2024
George Helmy:
Was unaffiliated; became Democrat to support candidate
Mr. Helmy registered as a Democrat in March, six days before the candidate he was supporting in the Democratic Senate primary, Tammy Murphy, New Jersey's first lady, dropped out of the race. Before then, he was registered as
an independent--or "unaffiliated"--voter. "I've worked my entire career to advance Democratic priorities," Mr. Helmy said in an email, "and that's what I'll continue to do during my short tenure as a U.S. Senator."
Source: NY Times on 2024 New Jersey Senate race
Aug 23, 2024
George Helmy:
I consider public service a privilege
I consider public service a privilege. You get to roll up your sleeves and make a difference. And if you approach it in a thoughtful way, where you don't start off as a partisan, you start off as an American--you come into every conversation
saying, "How can I make a little bit of progress here?"--the winners and the losers are not the people in the room. The winners and the losers are the people who you work on behalf of.
Source: Politico.com on 2024 New Jersey Senate race
Aug 30, 2024
George Helmy:
First member of the Coptic Christian Church in the Senate
When he takes office, Helmy will be joined on the Senate floor by Booker, his former boss and the state's soon-to-be senior senator. He will be one of about fifteen former staffers serving in the U.S. Senate. Helmy will become the first member of the
Coptic Christian Church and the sixth Arab American to serve in the U.S. Senate. He will be the fifth-youngest member of the Senate.
Source: New Jersey Globe on 2024 New Jersey Senate race
Aug 14, 2024
George Helmy:
I have never--nor will I ever--seek elected office
I have never--nor will I ever--seek elected office. As a matter of fact, as the Governor alluded to, the idea of being called "Senator" bothers me deeply--and I recognize I'll now be spending the rest of my life telling people, "Please, go back to
calling me what you did before."But our residents deserve a functioning Senate office upon which they can call for help. And yes, New Jersey deserves its full voice and representation on the floor of the United States Senate.
Source: Insider NJ on 2024 New Jersey Senate race
Aug 16, 2024
Phil Murphy:
In New Jersey, our values are who we are
Here is my promise to the people of New Jersey:I will never back away from partnering with the Trump Administration where our priorities align.
But just as importantly, I will never back down from defending our New Jersey values--if and when they
are tested. After all, to borrow a phrase from a former Trenton-area bartender--the great Jon Stewart--"if you don't stick to your values when they're being tested, they're not values: they're hobbies." In New Jersey, our values are who we are.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to New Jersey legislature
Jan 14, 2025
Edward Durr:
He is a Christian, blue-collar, and patriotic American
A commercial truck driver for the last 30 years, he has most recently hauled for the Raymour & Flanigan furniture chain. He is a Christian, blue-collar, hard-working, trusting, loyal, and patriotic
American and New Jerseyan. Amongst other things, he believes in fiscal responsibility, governmental transparency and lower taxes.
Source: 2025 New Jersey Gubernatorial campaign website 3D4NJ.com
Mar 4, 2025
Jon Bramnick:
Wouldn't take Trump's endorsement even if offered
One of the most eloquent and sustained anti-Donald Trump voices in either party, Bramnick arguably faces a more difficult path to the governorship on the heels of Trump's victory over Kamala Harris. Committed to staying on course, Bramnick sees
35% of the Republican electorate worshipping Trump, even as Bramnick - who wouldn't take Trump's endorsement even if offered - maintains an under the radar presence and looks for opportunities to coalesce Reagan, Bush, Eisenhower Republicans.
Source: InsiderNJ.com on 2025 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
Nov 9, 2024
Josh Gottheimer:
I will always stand up to bigotry in all forms
[On Antisemitism]: "I want to assure you: I've got your back in Washington," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), the only Jewish member of the New Jersey
Congressional delegation. "I will always stand up to bigotry in all forms and fight hard to protect our core Jersey value of freedom: freedom from fear, freedom from hate, and freedom to worship, live, and learn however you so choose."
Source: 2025 New Jersey Governor race press release, "Antisemitism"
May 24, 2024
Ras Baraka:
Commitment to building a brighter and more inclusive future
As he pursues the governorship, Baraka's vision for the state is anchored in the core values of equity, opportunity, and community. By prioritizing economic growth, educational advancement, housing accessibility, and inclusive policies, he seeks to
empower every resident to thrive and contribute to the state's prosperity. Baraka's unwavering belief in New Jersey's capacity for greatness drives his commitment to building a brighter and more inclusive future for all of New Jersey.
Source: 2025 New Jersey Governor campaign website RasForGovernor.com
Feb 24, 2025
Steve Fulop:
Would oppose legislating definition of antisemitism
Fulop said that he opposes pending legislation in New Jersey that would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and cast doubt on the definition itself. "I've done lots of reading about this to come to the
conclusion why I think that specific definition is counter-productive," Fulop said on social media. "I say this in the context of someone who is Jewish, as someone who has a Jewish education, as someone who is a descendent of Holocaust survivors."
Source: Jewish Insider on 2025 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
Feb 15, 2025
Cory Booker:
When has Trump crossed the line over love of this country?
John F. Kennedy famously said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Donald Trump is now saying, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for Donald Trump to make amends.
He is trying to hurt people, to make them cower to him and offer him tribute in order to not violate the Constitution and hurt them economically.And every American right now should be sitting back--I don't care if you're a Republican,
Democrat or independent, and should ask yourself, when is it enough? When has he crossed my line when it comes to my love of this country? Is it bad enough that he's putting on the biggest tax on Americans that I've ever seen through these tariffs,
which are taxes on Americans? Is that enough? Is it enough when he's threatening the health care of tens of millions of Americans, disabled children or elders? Is that enough? Is that crossing my line? Or will it pay for his tax cuts?
Source: ABC This Week 2025 interview for 2026 New Jersey Senate race
Apr 6, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 06, 2026