A series of political upheavals has significantly impacted New Jersey’s Democratic establishment over the past year, as emerging leaders seek to transform the state's political landscape. This shift has been years in the making.
Since October, two prominent Democrats have faced legal challenges: South Jersey political boss George Norcross and Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) were both indicted by prosecutors. Additionally, first lady Tammy Murphy (D) failed to secure her party's nomination for the Senate race, and a federal judge invalidated a ballot design known as “the line,” which had reinforced the power of the state’s political machine.
The momentum for change is partly driven by younger Democrats aiming to challenge the party’s entrenched leadership. Representative Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who emerged as an unexpected victor in his party’s Senate primary earlier this year, exemplifies this new wave of leadership. This cohort is now poised to exert influence beyond 2024.
“In New Jersey, there was a machine that was really powerful and if you went up against it, you lost. Through Norcross losing power, the county line lawsuit and Menendez’s indictment … all these events have created this window, and people are stepping into it,” said Rutgers political science professor Julia Sass Rubin.
The indictment of Norcross—a figure who wielded significant influence without holding elected office—highlights the ongoing transformation within New Jersey's political arena. Rubin noted that Norcross was once "treated like a demigod" and considered "invincible," underscoring the magnitude of these recent developments.
