2021 Predictions
2021 will be a wild year in New Jersey politics, especially in Monmouth and Ocean Counties this spring. Here are some the probable and improbable things that we think will happen.
Joe Biden will be inaugurated President of the United States.
The US Census Bureau will release reapportionment numbers to the States in January, triggering the redistricting of New Jersey’s legislative districts and delaying Democrat and Republican nominating conventions until after the new district lines are drawn.
Old Bridge and Matawan will be redistricted back into the 13th Legislative District and Marlboro and Holmdel will be redistricted into the 11th. This sets up a potential primary between Senators Declan O’Scanlon and Sam Thompson, if Thompson does not retire, in the 13th and sets up Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso to run against Senator Vin Gopal in November. Assemblymen Rob Clifton and Gerry Scharfenberger could find themselves in the difficult position of running in the primary with O’Scanlon in Monmouth County and with Thompson in Middlesex County.
Governor Phil Murphy will renew his emergency powers every month until the New Jersey Legislature posts a bill that would limit his power.
The New Jersey Legislature will post a bill limiting the Governor’s emergency powers after the primaries in June. The bill will be pulled from the agenda after Governor Murphy declares the COVID-19 State of Emergency is over and does not renew his powers for July. The bill will be passed during the lame duck session in December. Murphy will sign it into law.
Congressman Chris Smith will become the longest serving member of the House of Representatives in New Jersey’s history.
Tom Arnone will be the first Director of the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners. Arnone will not challenge Senator Vin Gopal in the 11th Legislative District.
Sue Kiley will get elected to whichever office she runs for
Patrick Impreveduto, now a resident of Ocean Township, will seek a GOP nomination for Assembly in LD 11. Impreveduto’s term as a Monmouth County Freeholder comes to an end on December 31, 2020.
Governor Phil Murphy will increase allowable indoor dining to 50% capacity in April.
Art Gallagher will make a career change and retire from political blogging and consulting
Robert Honecker will be appointed Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor
Jonathan Hornik will be appointed to the NJ Board of Public Utilities
Bob Hugin will become Chairman of the NJGOP in June.
Congressman Frank Pallone will secure $200 million in federal funding for the redevelopment of Ft. Hancock at Sandy Hook
The Republican primaries in Monmouth and Ocean Counties will have two full slates of candidates for Governor, Senate, Assembly, Surrogate, and County Commissioner. Incumbent legislators in districts 12 and 30, which include portions of both counties, will have difficult choices to make, depending upon how the new district lines are drawn.
Rosemarie Peters will not seek reelection as Monmouth County Surrogate
Tom Kean Jr will not seek reelection to the State Senate and will launch his 2022 campaign for Congress in a rematch with Congressman Tom Malinowski.
Stephanie Schmid will sell her house in Little Silver and take a job in Foggy Bottom.
Matt Rooney will become a FoxNews contributor.
Vito Perillo will not seek reelection as Mayor of Tinton Falls
Former Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore will not be pardoned by President Trump. In February, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals will uphold Gilmore’s convictions for failing to submit his employees’ taxes to the IRS and for lying on a loan application to Oceanfirst Bank. Gilmore will appeal to the US Supreme Court in order to stay out of prison until after the Republican primary on June 8. Gilmore will drop his appeal on June 7 and request to start serving his 366 day prison sentence at Fort Dix, just 28 miles from his Toms River home, so he can be released in time to make a triumphant return in the Ocean GOP Chairman’s election on Flag Day, June 14, 2022.
President Trump will not make an endorsement in the NJ GOP gubernatorial primary.
Following in the footsteps of her mentor, the late Captain Joseph Azzolina, former Senator Jennifer Beck will return to the Assembly as a representative of the 11th Legislative District.
Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon will be the Republican candidate for Lt. Governor.
John Lane, having recovered from COVID-19 and 75 lbs. lighter, will be reappointed Borough Attorney in Union Beach.
The gubernatorial debates sponsored by The New Jersey Globe and moderated by David Wildstein will have more viewers than debates sponsored by ABC-TV in New York and Philadelphia.
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Redistricting? I thought we voted to postpone that for two years?
interesting thoughts, agree with some of them, you left out: unless he gets named an ambassador again, with 900,000 more Dems than R’s in NJ, Murphy wins again, if he runs.. and, don’t blame you if you take time to smell the roses! Been a wild ride..( You and Michael Savage, who’s going off radio and to podcast- only..)
I don’t think that you believe every one of those predictions.
@MonmouthGirl…redistricting is only postponed if the US Census Bureau does not provide the reapportionment numbers by February 15. Their press office told me the numbers are coming in January
Lets hope that guy who goes by the name of Art Gallagher stays in the political blogging business ! It would be a big loss to a lot of us if he retires. Happy New Year Art
Art….always enjoy reading your predictions….Happy New Year!!
Golden wants Thompson, Dancer and Clifton out!
Word from Middlesex County is that the Monmouth GOP is looking to replace Thompson Dancer and Clifton
They win. Period. In this state, that’s big..
Shaun can do it, he is the biggest GOP party boss in the state. Trust his instincts.
Kicking out 3 legislators that get close to 60% of the vote every time they run. They vote against tax and budget increases and vote to protect our freedoms especially our 2nd amendment.
I hope it is just a rumor. Makes no sense to eat our own.