prepares for the new President to start working immediately by developing strategies for the many departments and
agencies under the President’s control and, most importantly,
recruiting and considering staff to run those agencies. Therefore, Christie will have his fingerprints on every area and every major decision-maker in the Trump Administration.
What that means for the governor’s future is unclear. Speculation has ranged from a cabinet post as Attorney General
or Secretary of Homeland Security. But should he be asked to
leave Trenton in early 2017, would it be worth giving up the
most powerful governor’s office in the nation to run a massive
federal bureaucracy?
Those roles may be very enticing and could fit his experience and his interests. But there are other, far more influential roles to be had that could far more intrigue the governor
should he want to head to Washington, D.C. A job inside the
White House as Trump’s Chief of Staff or Counsel to the President would give Christie a chance at guiding the President’s
day-to-day decision making, and, as the head of the Trump
Transition Team, he is already connected to key officials
throughout the administration that will help implement the
President’s agenda. Or perhaps Christie will want to go into
the private sector by joining a D.C. lobbying/law firm to serve
as a “strategic advisor” connecting clients to the White House
and the President.
In any case, the governor’s immediate future in New Jersey
could be decided before the end of 2016. Should he decide
to leave Trenton, the Lieutenant Governor would take over,
thereby allowing her to be an incumbent leader for nearly
a year as she likely attempts to run in 2017. This would also
give her some time to create her own identity outside of the
governor’s shadow and create an image that is more popular
than where he stands with New Jersey residents at this point
in time.
Perhaps the governor will decide that this is the only job he
truly wants and he will stay put until his term ends in 2018.
What is near- certain is that Trenton Democrats will not make
his lame duck year in office easy.
Gottheimer takes out Garrett
For many years, Democrats have dreamed of upending
Congressman Scott Garrett in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional
District, but their efforts have always been swatted away. Finally, 2016 was the year that the Democrats’ mission succeeded.
From the start of his campaign, Josh Gottheimer, a former
speechwriter for President Bill Clinton, turned the safe GOP
District into a battleground with a combination of enthusiasm, organization, massive fundraising and Scott Garrett’s record. His carrying 51 percent of the vote can also be attributed to a proposed agenda that attempts to reflect the district
– oppose taxes but be less doctrinaire than Garrett on social
issues. The Gottheimer win was the first General Election loss
by an incumbent New Jersey Congressman since John Adler
lost to Jon Runyan in 2010, and Garrett is only the fourth incumbent to lose in more than 20 years.
GOP safe in key county races
Despite the success of the Clinton campaign in winning
New Jersey, the Democrats weren’t able to take advantage of
their perceived presidential year turnout by challenging the
GOP in contested county races.
Republicans held on strong in Monmouth County, where
incumbent Sheriff Shaun Golden and GOP Freeholders Tom
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■ NOVEMBER 2016
Arnone and Serena DiMaso were easily re-elected. Democrats
had recruited several strong opponents and were hoping their
2015 win in District 11 was