News · Press Release

This Headline Says It All: “In NJ Midterms, Republicans Have A Recruitment Problem” [The Gothamist]

Democrats are on offense in NJ-07 while Republicans struggle to field a viable candidate in NJ-09
Things are not going well for New Jersey Republicans. 

New reporting today highlights how the GOP is facing recruitment woes in New Jersey’s 9th congressional district. Meanwhile in the 7th congressional district, Democrats are feeling “emboldened” and on offense against vulnerable Republican Tom Kean Jr. who “is expected to face a close race” after Governor-elect Sherrill carried his district last month.

Read more about how “Republicans have a recruitment problem” in New Jersey from the Gothamist:
  • Democratic candidates in New Jersey are clamoring to run in what both parties see as competitive races in next year’s midterm elections. The same cannot be said for the GOP.
  • Political experts said the lack of candidate recruitment is a key indicator roughly a year out from the midterms that Republicans — who hold the White House, Senate and House — are anticipating a wave election, and not in their favor.
  • “ When you have a party that has lots of really good candidates jumping out of the gate and chomping at the bit, that’s usually an indication that they think the party has good chances,” said Micah Rasmussen, director of Rider University’s Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics. “When you don’t see people coming out of the woodwork, that’s an indication that the candidates believe that the party is not going to have as good a shot.”
  • The results of this past November’s off-year gubernatorial elections have emboldened Democrats. New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill beat Trump-aligned Republican Jack Ciattarelli by double digits.
  • In the 9th District […] Just two Republicans have entered the race. Air Force veteran Billy Prempah, who lost to Pou in 2024, is trying again. As of October, his campaign has raised just $16,000, according to campaign finance records, compared to Pou, who is sitting on a $1 million war chest.
  • The other Republican is Rosie Pino, a Clifton city councilmember who recently left the Democratic Party — but not before her grassroots organization endorsed Pou in the last election.
  • [The] National Republican Congressional Committee […] did not respond to questions about the party’s ability to field candidates for competitive seats in New Jersey.
  • And in the 7th District — comprising all of Hunterdon and Warren Counties, as well as parts of Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Union Counties — Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is expected to face a close race. Trump won the district by just 2 points in 2024. Sherrill carried the district by a point in 2025.

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