My New Jersey Fair Redistricting Map

by: Alibguy

Sat Dec 17, 2011 at 10:52:18 AM EST

Cross posted on my blog http://racesandredistricting.b... which has more redistricting maps and election analysis.

New Jersey is one of the few states with a bipartisan redistricting commission. This means that even if one party holds the redistricting trifecta (Governorship and both houses of the legislature,) both parties will have a voice when New Jersey's state legislature and congressional lines are redrawn. At a first glance, a bipartisan commission suggests that the commission will draw a fair map that creates competitive districts that give opportunities for Democrats and Republicans to win. Also, a bipartisan commission would suggest a map with districts that combine communities of interest. The 2002 map that the commission drew though failed to create competitive districts that combined enough communities of interest. There were 13 congressional seats during the 2000s in New Jersey. During the 2000s, only one seat changed hands. In 2008, John Adler (D) gained the 3rd congressional seat for the Democrats and in 2010, Jon Runyan (R) returned the seat to the Republicans. This seat does not combine communities of interest though. The 3rd district combines Cherry Hill, a suburb close to Philadelphia with Toms River, a community on the central Jersey Shore. In my map's new 3rd district, it represents urban areas along the Delaware River instead of crossing the state to connect two different suburban areas connected only by a few roads crossing the rural Pine Barrens. Also, this map creates more competitive districts by making the 7th district more competitive by having Obama win it with 54% but the Republicans winning the district's average. Also, Republicans perform well in local races in New Jersey so they will have a strong shot at a 54% Obama district. Overall, the map should be 8-3-1 Democrats compared to the current 7-6 Democratic delegation. Anyway, here is a link to the current maps: http://nationalatlas.gov/print...

A Quick Update on my Council campaign

by: Stephen Yellin

Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 07:55:54 PM EDT

This is going to be a quick diary because I have another event to run to in less than an hour. However, I will be back tomorrow morning to answer any questions or comments you may have.

First, I am proud to announce that I have been endorsed by Democracy for America. As one of 11 New Jersey candidates chosen, and just 1 of 2 not running for the State Legislature, I am honored and humbled to have received the endorsement of an awesome, forthright progressive organization. I have a picture of myself and Howard Dean from 2004 on my refrigerator; it is my hope that, when I am elected to the Berkeley Heights Township Council on November 8th, I can emulate his tell-it-like-it-is demeanor and open dialogue with his constituents.

More in the extended text area...

Poll: New Jersey voters favor gay marriage

by: Hopeful

Fri Jul 29, 2011 at 05:11:04 PM EDT

Voters in the state narrowly think gay marriage should be legal, by a 47/42 margin. That includes a 46/35 spread with independent voters. When you broaden the issue to civil unions 81% of voters support some form of legal recognition for gay couples to only 17% opposed. 41% say full same sex marriage rights would be their preference with another 40% supporting civil unions. Even among Republicans in the state 77% support either gay marriage or civil unions.

Most don't vote on this issue anyway, so our legislators may be reassured that "Democrats lead on the generic legislative ballot 52-39."

An update on our campaign

by: Keith Kazmark

Wed Jul 06, 2011 at 11:59:00 AM EDT

Obviously, we are disappointed that a Democratic Councilman whom we supported for over ten years in his runs for the Board of Education and Borough Council would turn his back on our party.   Now we are hearing rumors that the Scott Rumana faction of the GOP in town has unanimously endorsed his candidacy.  In less than a week he has gone from being a Democrat, to an Independent, to Republican-backed.  It shows his true character that he would get into bed with the ethically challenged Rumana who is currently under investigation for abusing his office.

Our plan for victory on Election Day is unchanged whether there is two, three, or twenty candidates in this race.  I am going to knock on every door twice and make my case as the best candidate to lead our Borough for the next three years.  In Woodland Park we know what it takes to run a grassroots operation. Over the last fifteen years we turned this town from a Republican stronghold to the highest performing suburb for the Democratic Party in Passaic County.    

Once we took the majority in local government, we started the process of getting our community back on track.  Mayor Pat Lepore stabilized our budget, protected open space, and revitalized our recreation programs.  I want to build on the foundation already in place and continue to move Woodland Park forward with new shared services agreements and new economic policies to bring investment, create efficiencies, and expand our local tax base.  

I hope the Blue Jersey community can pitch in with my campaign - spreading the word about my Facebook and Twitter pages to grow our numbers.  Or even joining us this weekend for a Comedy Night to support my campaign.  

This current situation isn't ideal, but I know we will be able to overcome this roadblock and keep this seat in Democratic hands come Election Day.    

If Democrats don't stand for workers, what DO we stand for?

by: Stephen Yellin

Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 11:17:03 PM EDT

"I do let loose my opinion, hold it no longer"

This is probably the least politic diary I have written on Blue Jersey in the last 5 1/2 years. As a young Democratic activist, I've thought, wouldn't it be politically inane to speak out against the leaders of my own Party? As a candidate for local office in a conservative part of New Jersey, I thought, wouldn't it make more sense to stay silent rather than alienate potential constituents?

Yet I cannot stay silent. I am a Democrat because I believe in the rights of workers - blue collar and white collar, male and female, of all races and creeds - to seek a just and better world for themselves and their families. It is that fundamental freedom - the right to organize - that I see under attack in New Jersey tonight.

2011 Primary Poll Results

by: Hopeful

Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 08:06:38 PM EDT

8:25: Primary day is a day to celebrate partisanship, so let's look at Monmouth's latest poll: Democrats are at 44% favorable and 44% unfavorable. Republicans are at 35% favorable and 54% unfavorable. "11% of the public holds favorable views of both major parties." Yes, when you walk down enough streets, every ninth person you see actually likes both parties! 35% of the public says they are Democrats and only 21% say they are Republicans.

9:54 Gloucester County turnout just 5.75%, but of course independents wouldn't vote. Republican turnout was 14.2% and Democrats just 8.37%. Not so impressive, but probably meaningless. Salem County (PDF) results here: turnout was 14.4% for Republicans and over 15% for Democrats

LD25: Republican incumbents win.

LD27: Democratic incumbents win

LD20: Lesniak and other Democratic incumbents win.

(See a trend yet?)

LD1 Republican county chair's candidates beat the convicted felon.

LD2: Longshot Gary Stein, who sometimes posts here, loses his challenge to the Democratic party's candidates..

LD14: Another challenger loses to the Republican party candidates.

A look at New Jersey's 2011 Legislative elections (part I)

by: Stephen Yellin

Fri Jun 03, 2011 at 07:44:06 AM EDT

In this diary, I will cover the first group of competitive races in the upcoming legislative elections, and analyze the rest later this week. It is also posted at DailyKos.com (under "Mr. Liberal" as well). As we know, the Senate stands at 24 Democrats and 16 Republicans, and the Assembly 47 Democrats to 33 Republicans. In short, the GOP needs 4 Senate and 8 Assembly seats to take control.

You can read my analysis of the first group below.  

My campaign kickoff - you're all invited!

by: Stephen Yellin

Tue May 31, 2011 at 11:57:01 AM EDT

It's been two months since I announced here I was running for office once again in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey - the town I've lived in all my life and the town I want to give back to as a Councilman! "Yellin for Council Version 2.0" has been rather successful so far, and I'm building on that momentum going into the June 7th primary.

With that in mind, I'm having my campaign kickoff this Saturday (June 4th) in Berkeley Heights - and every "Blue Jersey" blogger is invited to attend! It is at Noon at 345 Plainfield Avenue, at the pavilion of Columbia Park (the parking lot is behind the Middle School at that address). The kickoff is free and open to the public.

An update on my campaign is below.  

In Union County, "Democrats for Change" = Democrats for Christie

by: Stephen Yellin

Sat May 28, 2011 at 07:42:13 AM EDT

By Stephen Yellin - I am proud to be on the ballot for the June 7th primary on Column A. I am also a candidate for Township Council in Berkeley Heights.

This isn't a 'me-first' rally - this is a 'community-first' rally...a worker's rights rally!
           - Joe Cryan, March 3 2011 (standing with union workers in Trenton)

He's going to do a wonderful, fabulous job as our next Governor.
         - Tony Monteiro, November 4 2009 (at Chris Christie's victory party)

On June 7th, Democrats in the 20th Legislative District (Elizabeth, Hillside, Roselle and Union) have a clear choice to make. They have a choice between the regular Democratic ticket, whose Democratic Party credentials aren't in question, and a renegade group called "Democrats for Change".

Just who are these "Democrats for Change", and what do they stand for? Examining the facts paints a troubling picture of this group, and its candidates for the State Legislature in the 20th District. This ticket has managed to combine the 2 worst problems confronting New Jersey today: a corrupt, unaccountable political machine and the enabling of Chris Christie's destructive, divisive policies across our state.

How I cast my vote today (a fun story)

by: Stephen Yellin

Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 01:33:20 PM EDT

Since I'm going to be taking a final exam later today at my graduate school, I was unable to make it back to Berkeley Heights to vote in today's School Board election. Accordingly, I sent it my Vote-by-Mail request form to the Union County Clerk's office, asking for a ballot to be sent to my house.

Unfortunately the mail was slow in arriving at the Clerk's office, and although I submitted my request in advance I did not receive a ballot in the mail. That's where my story gets interesting...

Stephen Yellin for Council, Version 2.0

by: Stephen Yellin

Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 08:45:54 AM EDT

Hi all,

Last year, when I decided to run for Township Council, I neglected to inform my friends here at Blue Jersey about my decision. Poor Rosi had to break the news herself after the press wrote about my entry.

Not this time.

I put up my press release on the Internet last night, and Blue Jersey is the first to hear from me directly. I'm running again for Berkeley Heights Township Council, and I've learned from last time what it takes to win.

http://thealternativepress.com...

Officials React to State of the Union Speech

by: Hopeful

Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 10:21:14 PM EST

You can react to the speech, or the reactions, or the reactions to the reactions as you please in the comments.

In snap public opinion polls, the speech gets 84% and 92% approval.

State of the Union Live Blog

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:02:50 PM EST

June 2011

by: Matthew Jordan

Thu Jan 07, 2010 at 10:41:42 PM EST

Senator Van Drew is honestly the only person on this list who deserves a pass, his district is just overwhelmingly Republican.  

I've never been more disgusted and embarrassed than I was today to be a Democrat.  

Can we make this the official primary candidate suggestion list?