It Appears That N.J. Senate President Steve Sweeney Has lost His Seat

In a potential election shocker … Powerful New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney appears headed to electoral defeat in District 3, at the hands of a relative unknown Republican, Edward Durr.

This would be one of the greatest upsets in New Jersey electoral history.

Durr spent $ 153 on his campaign.

Sweeney’s two Assembly running mates have lost their seats. Democratic incumbents Adam Taliaferro and John Burzichelli trail Republican challengers Beth Sawyer and Bethanne McCarthy Patrick in the General Assembly race.l in District 3.

As of late last night, it appeared that Sweeney might survive … however, there appears to have been a tabular error. As it turns out, Sweeney wasn’t up by 3,000 votes … he was down by slightly more than 2,000, with very few votes left to count.

I first became aware of this situation from a talented political journalist named Matt Friedman, who wrote the following:

Next, we learned about this:

Sweeney has been very good for South Jersey and for Atlantic County and Atlantic City.

Sweeney has been a great friend to the Atlantic City casino industry. His potential absence will be deeply felt.

Putting political party labels aside, it would be a big loss for South Jersey to lose Sweeney.

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Senate Democrats are scrambling at this hour. Whispers are emerging that if Sweeney loses his seat, Senator Paul Sarlo, D-36 may become the next New Jersey State Senate President.

There was a very bad moment during this campaign season for Sweeney that involved Atlantic County.

In very uncharacteristic fashion for Sweeney, he played dirty politics and politically maneuvered to keep Senator Vince Polistina from being sworn into office and being able to properly serve Atlantic County and New Jersey.

It was so politically dirty, that Sweeney had the phones from the District 2 legislative office and all constituent files removed.

Polistina wanted the keys to the office so that he could go to work for constituents, who need help with a myriad of things, including COVID-19 relief. He was denied.

We can break this news. Polistina was long scheduled to finally be sworn-in tomorrow at 12:00 noon or 12:30 p.m. We have just confirmed that Polistina’s swearing-in for tomorrow has been cancelled … no new date has been provided at this time.

Initially, Polistina was an appointed Senator and Sweeney’s purely political actions were wrong and a low brow move.

Now, Polistina has won the general election over New Jersey Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo. Polistina should be sworn-in without delay. In fact, he was previously sworn-in. Sweeney simply refuses to recognize Polistina as a Senator.

Sweeney has been a friend for many years. Until these current hyper partisan and troubling times, Sweeney never would  have pulled a circus stunt like this in the past.

When Sweeney wasn’t looking, and instead was doing stupid stuff …  it appears that he has lost his seat … which will result in a giant shift of power in Trenton.

Sweeney’s ouster is not good news for South Jersey. The north hasn’t liked having to answer South Jersey.

There is speculation that Governor Murphy may experience inside (Democratic) reprisals for Sweeney’s loss.

Sweeney and Murphy do not get along. It looks like they will no longer have to work together.

What we have now is an ironic ending, with Polistina winning big and Sweeney losing his seat.