Gopal vs Beck in 2017?
From PolitickerNJ:
Vin Gopal
Long hailed as one of the most talented up and comers in New Jersey politics, the Monmouth County Democratic Chairman from Long Branch appears poised to run against state Senator Jen Beck (D-11) in 2017. Beck will be a very tough out, but Gopal is a unique politician now emboldened by the loses last night of Beck’s running mates Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande.
That would be a fun race to cover!
But now that the Democrats have made inroads into the Monmouth County legislative delegation, Gopal could have competition for the nomination.
Two potential competitors could be Assembly Members-elect Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey. Gopal is already speaking for Houghtaling and Downey as if he is political boss who controls legislators. Also from PolitickerNJ:
“I think we are in a very good spot in Monmouth County,” Gopal said. “We are in Central Jersey. We are not in North Jersey, we are not in South Jersey. We are going to agree with southern legislatures on specific issues, there are going to be issues where we agree with the northern legislatures. Our goal is to work with everybody and hope that we have a united party and elect a democratic governor in two years.”
According to Gopal, Downey and Houghtaling will “stay with the county” when making important voting decisions and when deciding which candidate to eventually support in the 2017 gubernatorial run.
“The county, together, at the time will decide,” said Gopal of the 2017 gubernatorial race. “We have a great relationship with all of the major potential candidates running. They have all been supportive and they have all been helpful. [Former Ambassador] Phil Murphy lives in Monmouth County, Steve Sweeney has been very supportive, Fulop has been very supportive. I don’t think anything is going to change.”
Gopal is trying to maintain independence in the New Jersey Democratic North vs South power divide while positioning himself as a pivotal player in the race for the 2017 race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. When they get to Trenton, the Monmouth County freshmen legislators will find themselves courted by competing power brokers with a lot more clout than Gopal.
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider could decide that seven terms is enough leading and rebuilding the city. Schneider would not be a likely challenger to Beck, who he works well with, but he may relish the opportunity to thwart Gopal from moving up. A Schneider vs Gopal primary would be a classic.
More from my site
Gopal: “I was not a good student”
Beck Announces Her Selected Assembly Candidates In LD 11
Democrats spent $1.5 million to defeat Angelini and Casagrande
In LD 11, Angelini and Casagrande trailing Houghtaling and Downey
Beck Is Enthusiastic About Gopal’s Challenge
Gopal Blames Beck For Air Pollution, Says He Will Fix It
Murphy would rather talk about Confederate flags than taxes
Amoroso Fights Back Against Dirty Filthy Democrats
Monmouth Dems Meet Tonight To Nominate Their County and Legislative Candidates
Republican Assembly Members Should Vote Against Gas Tax Hike
Why not? She is vulnerable. She flip-flopped on gay marriage just to appease her new constituents in her newly re-configured district.
She sides with this unethical governor on everything–even to the point of changing her votes on making sure the Port Authority is transparent and reformed after the Bridgegate revelations.
I guess she loves corruption; after all, her ex-husband was dumped there and so was her office assistant.
More unqualified cronies dumped at the Christie employment mill.
“…the political ruination by Christie of a Republican Party he might have built instead of merely burnishing his own individual brand name…” The GOP is in a state of retreat in NJ. There has been no party building in years. We complain of legislative districts gerrymandered to favor Democrats, but we do nothing, and I mean NOTHING to make inroads into their areas. But the Dems are building their party to make inroads into our strong areas. Just ask Mary Pat and Caroline. Or Critelli in Holmdel, who only barely won. If you want to see where this leads, look at some of the New England states, where (like the south once was) their Republican legislators number in single digits.
A horse walked into my bar and asked “Beck or Gopal?” I said “who can tell them apart?”. The horse left NJ.
Beck is a disgraceanddoes not represent the people of her district. She has taken very large donations from lawyers, Big Pharma, Big Hospital Corps, and a host of other special interest groups.
She spends more trime working out and standing at the bar than worrying about what the people need.
A self proclaimed champion of womans issues, she ignores the issues of men.
She has demonstrated,like Casgrande, she does not deserve the office.
If this race does come to pass, much more about her lack of concern for the people will come out. I promise.
Now you can sit back and watch her pose for the press.
the Democrat Puharic, a lightweight. But the adults stepped in (Norcross, Fulop, NJEA, etc.) and took over. The result? Democratic victory in 11. Now imagine next year, a presidential election. “Presidential only” voters in Monouth County usually break for the Democrats. Combine that with big Dem turnouts in Long Branch, Neptune Twp., Asbury Park, Red Bank and Freehold Boro. Season that with a liberal sprinkling of Pallone. Throw in a healthy dose of Hornik’s Marlboro and you get two Democratic freeholders elected.
til we are as blue in the face as this county is becoming, but I fear the arrogance and inexperience of current leaders with really tough elections, does not bode well for the MCRC, next year. While not updating the website, doing last minute e- blasts to the rank and file, paying for workers, not much of a vote by mail effort, and little money in the bank, we can only ask that there be some real soul- searching, and plans and contingency plans, be crafted, soon, along with some real looks back at actual past election years’ results, or the above- stated scenario could easily occur, in ’16. Wait until some of the popular young Dem turks get the “wanderlust” for the next level- Hornik, Doherty, other successful mayors, etc: our folks, in their incumbency and/ or self- agendized ambitions, could be taken down, with all the sleeper voters who will be dragged out of every Dem nook and cranny they can find.. VBM, GOTV, coordinated town walks/ mailings and calls,in 4/4 and 3/4 Rep districts ( Where WAS the needed full Freehold Twp participation on Tuesday, for example? More effort there just might possibly have saved the ladies,) and other worky, lengthy,tried-and-true turnout tactics, ought to get planned, very soon- not just a month or two before. Pres. years have become hell for us- look at the numbers-so, unless we are to be mowed down like a Hudson or Bergen, it really starts now.
The County Republicans now have the “B team in charge. A group of inexperienced leaders that has never really had to wage a tough campaign. The D’s do an end run and spend some money in the last week and take down 2 incumbents. Imagine what they are thinking now knowing what we have here. Jen Beck is in big trouble. I’ll bet she does not even run again and just walks away while on top. You watch. Shawn Golden is in over his head and HE is squarely to blame for these losses since he was totally unprepared and ran a pitiful campaign. More on this because most won’t speak up to call him and his band of “B team players” out but some of us will. Stay tuned. Fred Neiman must be laughing his ass off.
You two have zero idea how the County and Assembly campaigns are sepearated and thus, your comments are meaningless. Take your crybaby stuff else.
How dare you both. But then, this is what happens with cry baby supporters of Bennet like G.P. and J.G. of Red Bank who just won’t give up on the attacks on Shaun Golden.
Now, on to the important stuff. Golden won his races, the County races. He is not responsible for the legislative races, their own campaign staff handles those things. That’s why they maintain separate signage and campaign accounts.
If you want to complain about turnout, why are you going after the Municipal Chairs in towns like Colts Neck or Tinton Falls; or that miserable effort in Neptune which didn’t even have candidates on the Republican Ballot. THOSE CHAIRS are the ones responsible for turnout in each of their towns.
The Democrats through their union shills wheeled in a half of a million buckaroos in the last weeks, dare I say outspending the Republicans maybe like 10 to 1?
I wonder also if either of you bothered to volunteer to help. I doubt you did because if you did, you would have seen a huge effort on behalf of the county as far back as the summer with walking and phone calling efforts. You would have seen an even bigger effort the weekend before the election.
So, spare us your G.P. induced dribble and pap. You have no idea how big the campaign was because you and G.P where no where to be seen.
The Monday Morning quarterbacks are just that, people who only show up to comment after the hard work is done.
coordinate the get out the vote efforts in the municipalities? There needs to be much more local effort, organized and monitored by county HQ, with more nudging of the chairs to produce Republican voters out at the polls. If the chairs won’t give the time, they ought to be replaced. It’s understood that there is zero respect for tried and true GOTV and campaign planning methods, but, if everyone is totally satisfied with this year’s results, so be it. And it’s hysterical a couple of people so irritate some of the grumbly rulers they sound like spoiled, whiny, petulant children with zero self- esteem. Way to include, inspire,unify and lead people. Pathetic.
How pathetic you are (we can warn & walter)
You keep making excuses for Goldens failure.
The truth is he has ZERO experience and stepped into shoes too big for him to fill. He tried the Oxley therum, become party chair control the party and your precious Sheriff seat will never be threatned by anyone else in the party. Golden is basically paid by the county taxpayers to be party chair. Hes failing as Sheriff. look at the overtime being paid to the dispatchers of his 911 system, OUT OF CONTROL. Howell was smart, they didnt fall for his BS about cost savings. This guy had no real law enforcement experience, and no political experience. Hes in way over his head. Open your eyes or you will all go down with him. He may be a nice guy, but not a leader at all. He better hope that there is not a Independant challenger for Sheriff next election. That will definately take votes away from the republicans and based on the low turnout and close races it will give the Dems those few extra votes to win! That is reality!
Attn: Faux MMM – Please Wake Up
Your comment is nothing more than a bunch of self serving pap from a “nattering nabob,” or is it “nattering boob?”
To show how misguided you are, you talk about Golden’s next election campaign as a Chair and a candidate in the context of it being a low turnout race. You are mistaken as the Sheriff is up this year and it is a presidential year, among the highest of turnout years. Monmouth County usually does pretty well for Republicans in a Presidential year.
No political experience you say? Check the record. He has won all of the races he has both run in and run as Chair. If winning is “in over his head,” then I prefer that definition.
Not a leader? Proud to have been led by him.
Only Popkinites would talk like you have done and you all are just crybaby upset that Shaun Golden won by over 7 points against Bennett, whereas Bennett only won by a scarily 3 vote margin over Hanlon.
So, again; just when did you help out this year? You were missing in action just like your feckless leader, GP.
Your inability to spell and use proper grammar illustrates your juvenile behavior. You are nothing but an irritating little gnat on the back of the Republican Elephant.
Stop trying to create problems that are not there because all you do is make yourselves look childish.
Gopal is a unique politician alright he is dirty!! Slanders people for his own good and then says opps sorry!!!
I will be out knocking doors for Beck!!!