Defeated by a pro-Trump | End of the Sweeney era in the New Jersey Senate

(Trenton) For the first time in more than a decade, the New Jersey State Senate begins a new session this week without its Speaker Steve Sweeney, the one who passed major laws in the legislature, such as the phased in from minimum wage to $ 15 / hr and legalization of recreational marijuana.

Mr Sweeney, a Democrat, lost the last election in November to little-known Republican and Donald Trump supporter Ed Durr upsetting the government and ending a Senate president’s longest term in that northern state -is of the United States.

Democratic Senator Nicholas Scutari is expected to take over as the new Senate Speaker on Wednesday, a change that takes the legislature into uncertain territory as the administration of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy begins a second term.

Mr Sweeney’s departure concludes a decade of major legislative initiatives spanning Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s two terms and Mr Murphy’s first term. The rest of Mr. Sweeney’s career, particularly towards higher positions, is undecided, as he says he is “not going anywhere”.

Affordability Thinking

In November, Mr. Sweeney presented Mr. Durr’s victory as the result of a “red wave”. Now, he believes his loss is also partly due to his difficulty focusing on affordability. New Jersey has some of the highest property and business taxes in the country. Citizens want politicians to take a pragmatic approach to improving their lives, he said.

“My election is proof of people’s anger,” he said. They are just frustrated and angry. ”

This leads him to consider a potential candidacy for governor in 2025. “There is interest there,” he added.

By then, and in addition to the campaign, he also wants to create a bipartisan and academic think tank that will focus on how to make the state more affordable, although the details are still being worked out.

Mr Sweeney’s tenures transformed New Jersey: a minimum wage of $ 15 / hr indexed to inflation, paid sick leave, a $ 2 billion transportation trust fund, higher taxes for the rich, hundreds of millions of dollars more in school assistance, an overhaul of the retirement system and countless other measures.

His loyalty underlined

Sweeney’s allies and friends, including some Republicans, have emphasized that he stands out in politics because he does not go back on his promises. “If he told you he was going to be with you, then it was something you will never have to reconsider,” said Democratic Senator and new majority leader Teresa Ruiz. It is extremely important in this space to stick to his word. ”

He also had his critics, especially left-wing groups who say he maintained an unfair party system that benefited insiders and well-connected people. Sue Altman, head of New Jersey Working Families, celebrated Mr. Sweeney’s ouster, calling it a “glorious day.”

Mr Sweeney’s close relationship with George Norcross, the insurance broker and Democratic lobbyist from Southern New Jersey who is also a childhood friend, is at the center of this long-standing frustration.

Mr. Sweeney brushes aside the criticism. “My father taught me that the most important quality is loyalty. I will never deny my friends, ”he said.

Mr Norcross said in an email that Mr Sweeney deserves to be in a “living pantheon”. “No elected official in the history of southern New Jersey has done more for the good of their community and the entire region than Steve Sweeney,” said the businessman.

Loretta Weinberg, who served alongside Mr Sweeney as Majority Leader, also countered progressive criticism, saying the liberal policies Mr Murphy campaigned on last year would never have gone through. in the governor’s office without Mr. Sweeney’s participation.

Mr. Sweeney was elected in 2002 in the 3^e district, which includes the counties of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem, and became president of the Senate in 2010. Although he will not be back when the new session begins on Wednesday, he remains commissioner of the group responsible for drawing new legislative districts .