Election Day Approaches!
This coming Tuesday, November 7th is Election Day in New Jersey. All 120 seats in our state Legislature are on the ballot, and there are several very competitive races across the state. Unlike many previous years, Republicans are seen as having a strong chance to make gains and perhaps even fight their way to a tie in the state Senate and a one seat majority in the Assembly, though that would require a sweep of every competitive race. At the end of the sixth year of Gov. Murphy's tenure, and the twentieth year of Democratic control of the Legislature, Democratic candidates are mostly playing defense and trying to hold on to their seats this year.
By now you should have received our annual Voter Guide in the mail, with details about which district you live in, how your current representatives have voted on the issues that matter to our industries, and how they and their opponents weighed in our candidate survey. If you haven't received it yet, or prefer to read it online, CLICK HERE to download a pdf copy of the magazine and take a look.
With only legislative, county, and local races on the ballot, turnout is expected to be very low. In a typical presidential election more than 70% of registered voters in the state will cast a ballot. When it's an election for governor it's a little under 50%, but this year it's expected to be just around 25%. While that's not a good sign overall, it does mean that your individual ballot can genuinely make a difference. Polls are open at your regular local polling station on Tuesday from 6am until 8pm. NJ now also has early, in-person voting, which can be a great option if you think you might be busy on Tuesday. There are never lines, and you use the same machine as would on election day. You can visit any of the early voting sites in your county, and can find the list here. Early voting runs through Sunday.
NJGCA's Political Action Committee (PAC) has donated over $26,000 this year to worthy candidates on the ballot, including over $11,000 just in the last two months. Unlike some other groups, we don't just mail a check and hope for the best, we attend every event and speak to every candidate to advocate for our industries and build relationships. Thanks to everyone who responded to our recent mailing with a donation. Unfortunately, this being an election year we have spent more than we have taken in, so if you are able and haven't already we would appreciate a contribution to NJGCA PAC by mailing a check and this form to our office.