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Garfield Mayor Everett E. Garnto Jr. of Bergen County officially left the Democratic Party on Thursday and endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, citing dissatisfaction with Governor Phil Murphy\u2019s leadership. \u201cThe state is broken,\u201d Garnto declared at a rally in Garfield, where hundreds gathered to support the GOP contender. He criticized Murphy for rising taxes, costly utilities, and public safety concerns, saying New Jerseyans \u201cdeserve better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Garnto, who supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, brings a strong background in local law enforcement, having served as president of the Garfield Police Benevolent Association. His switch marks a growing trend of moderate Democrats aligning with Ciattarelli. Other notable Democratic backers include Dover Mayor James P. Dodd and former Assemblyman Jamel Holley, who h ave also expressed discontent with current state leadership.<\/p>\n
Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman, is set to face Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill in the November 2025 gubernatorial race. According to a recent Emerson College poll, the contest is currently tied, with both candidates holding 43% of the vote and 11% of voters still undecided. The close numbers reflect a deeply polarized electorate and a growing appetite for change among some New Jersey voters.<\/p>\n
Former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed Ciattarelli, amplified the Emerson poll on Truth Social, praising the candidate as \u201ctough on crime and cutting taxes.\u201d He criticized Sherrill for supporting progressive causes, attempting to paint her as out of touch with mainstream voters. Meanwhile, Sherrill has defended her record and committed to easing the financial burden on working families.<\/p>\n
Beyond party lines, Ciattarelli has also secured support from organized labor. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, representing over 7,000 members, endorsed him for his openness to natural gas projects and focus on infrastructure. With energy policy, tax reform, and economic transparency at the center of the campaign, the gubernatorial race remains highly competitive in a sharply divided New Jersey.<\/p>\n
Tensions within the Senate Democratic Caucus reached a boiling point as Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) erupted in a passionate tirade against several of his colleagues over their support for legislation he claims aligns too closely with President Donald Trump\u2019s policies.The explosive outburst, which took place on the Senate floor and behind closed doors, has left the Democratic Party deeply divided, raising concerns about the party\u2019s ability to unite in the face of what many see as an increasingly hostile political landscape.Booker\u2019s public comments, which were both forceful and pointed, accused his fellow Democrats of compromising the principles of the party by supporting what he described as a \u201cpoison pill\u201d piece of legislation designed to benefit red states and further entrench Trump\u2019s policies.<\/p>\n
The New Jersey senator did not hold back in his criticism, calling out fellow Democrats for their failure to challenge Trump\u2019s administration more effectively. His remarks quickly set off a wave of debate within the party, with some supporting his call for a stronger Democratic response and others arguing that his approach was too confrontational and divisive.The legislation at the center of Booker\u2019s tirade is one that would allocate significant resources to various states across the country, including both blue and red states, with a focus on addressing issues such as police reform, infrastructure, and economic recovery.However, Booker and other progressive members of the Democratic Party have raised concerns that the bill, in its current form, will disproportionately benefit red states that have been strong supporters of Trump\u2019s administration while leaving blue states\u2014such as Connecticut, Illinois, and New York\u2014at a disadvantage.Booker\u2019s main criticism of the bill lies in its allocation of resources to states that, in his view, have supported harmful Trump policies. He argues that this would not only undermine the principles that Democrats claim to stand for but also embolden an authoritarian president who he believes has already undermined the Constitution in a number of ways. \u201cWhat are the very people here elected to defend the Constitution of the United States saying, \u2018oh well today let\u2019s look the other way and pass some resources\u2019 that won\u2019t go to Connecticut, that won\u2019t go to Illinois, that won\u2019t go to New York, that will go to the states he likes?\u201d Booker said in a fiery speech on the Senate floor. \u201cThat is complicity with an authoritarian leader who is trashing our Constitution. It\u2019s time for Democrats to have a backbone.\u201dBooker went further, warning his colleagues that their continued support for such legislation could have serious political consequences for the party. \u201cThe Democratic Party needs a wake-up call,\u201d Booker said. \u201cIf we don\u2019t stand together, if we don\u2019t stand for the principles that we\u2019ve agreed with, we deserve to lose.\u201dBooker\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor were just the beginning. According to reports from multiple sources, the New Jersey senator was even more heated in private discussions, especially behind closed doors, where he reportedly accused his colleagues, including Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), of enabling Trump\u2019s policies and undermining Democratic priorities.\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of us in this caucus that want to F***ING fight! And what\u2019s bothering me right now is we don\u2019t see enough fight in this caucus,\u201d Booker is reported to have said, reflecting his frustration with what he perceives as a lack of courage within the party.He specifically took aim at Klobuchar and Cortez Masto, accusing them of complicity in allowing Trump to enact policies that harm blue states like New Jersey.Booker\u2019s passionate outburst suggests that the senator is deeply troubled by what he perceives as a lack of resolve within the Democratic Party to stand up against the Trump administration.His comments also reveal the intense pressure that many Democrats feel as they face a challenging political landscape, particularly as the party looks ahead to the 2028 election cycle.Booker\u2019s words seem to reflect his fear that Democrats are failing to effectively combat Trump\u2019s influence and are allowing themselves to be politically outmaneuvered.The friction within the Senate Democratic Caucus is part of a broader ideological rift that has been growing within the party in recent years. On one side, you have progressive lawmakers like Booker, who are eager to push back against Trump\u2019s agenda and assert a more forceful vision of Democratic values.These lawmakers see themselves as fighting for the soul of the party, arguing that Democrats need to stand firm on principles like social justice, economic equality, and constitutional integrity.On the other side of the divide are more centrist members of the party, including Klobuchar and Cortez Masto, who have been more willing to work with Republicans and make compromises in order to secure legislative wins.While some of these centrists may agree with Booker\u2019s general vision, they believe that pragmatic compromises are necessary to keep the legislative process moving and avoid further polarization.For them, reaching across the aisle to secure bipartisan support is seen as a way to enact meaningful change, even if it means supporting policies that are more closely aligned with Republican priorities.This division has only become more pronounced as Democrats face increasing pressure to reclaim control of the Senate, particularly in light of a challenging electoral map in 2028.According to the Cook Political Report, two key toss-up Senate races in Michigan and Georgia are currently held by Democrats, and the party faces an uphill battle to flip the seat in North Carolina after the retirement of Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC).The party also faces retirements from Democratic incumbents in Minnesota and New Hampshire, further complicating their path to maintaining control of the Senate.The current infighting within the Senate Democratic Caucus highlights the larger issue facing the party: how to balance the demands of its progressive wing with the need for practical, effective governance that can appeal to a broad range of voters.While Booker\u2019s impassioned call for Democrats to fight may resonate with some, it risks alienating more moderate members of the party who fear that embracing the most aggressive elements of progressivism could cost the party critical seats in swing states.The 2028 Senate elections are shaping up to be a major challenge for the Democratic Party. With several key seats up for grabs and a number of potential retirements from high-profile lawmakers, the party is in a difficult position.The ideological divide within the Senate Caucus will only make it harder for Democrats to present a unified front to voters, especially in states where Republicans have a strong hold.In addition to the upcoming election cycle, Booker\u2019s comments also reflect a broader frustration among many Democrats about the direction of the party and its inability to fully capitalize on the political opportunities created by Trump\u2019s divisive presidency.The sense of urgency within the party is palpable, with progressives like Booker warning that Democrats are running out of time to stand firm and make meaningful changes.Booker\u2019s frustration with his colleagues, especially those seen as too willing to compromise with Republicans, suggests that the party is at a crossroads.Democrats must decide whether they will continue to embrace a more centrist approach or whether they will take a more aggressive stance in opposing Trump and the Republican agenda.The eruption from Senator Cory Booker has underscored the growing tensions within the Senate Democratic Caucus and the party at large. His call for Democrats to \u201chave a backbone\u201d and fight against the Trump administration\u2019s policies reflects the deep frustration felt by many in the progressive wing of the party.But his comments also highlight the difficulties Democrats face as they try to balance the demands of their diverse coalition and maintain a unified front heading into the 2028 election cycle.As the party looks ahead to the next election and beyond, the question remains: will Democrats be able to reconcile their differences and present a united front to voters, or will the internal divisions ultimately undermine their ability to win elections and enact meaningful change?For now, Booker\u2019s outburst serves as a wake-up call for the party, reminding Democrats of the stakes and the need for a strong, unified approach in the fight against an increasingly powerful Republican opposition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Garfield Mayor Everett E. Garnto Jr. of Bergen County officially left the Democratic Party on Thursday and endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, citing dissatisfaction with Governor Phil Murphy\u2019s leadership. \u201cThe state…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10095,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t