Why I Support Steve Fulop for New Jersey Governor

Six Democrats are competing for the party’s nomination for New Jersey governor, leading up to the November election. However, vote-by-mail ballots for the June 10 Primary are now being sent out. So this is a good time to outline my reasons for supporting Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop as our next governor.

I can discuss (and have discussed) the reasons why I am not supporting any of the other five candidates. But I won’t do that in this post. Rather, I will stick to the positive reasons why Mayor Fulop is the best candidate.

Political power and the ability to get things done depend on a governor’s understanding and experience in the unique quagmire of New Jersey politics. But there are two sides to “getting things done.” Over the years, New Jersey has been riddled with party bosses who have controlled who gets on the ballot, the design of the ballot to favor their candidates, and the patronage to their significant contributors - all at the expense of ordinary people.

Steve Fulop has been an outsider with respect to party bosses ever since he challenged Robert Menendez for the Democratic nomination for Congress in 2014. His campaign is unconventional in that it is mostly run by his grassroots volunteers and a lean campaign staff.

When considering who to support in the Primary, I sent a question on a topic that I am concerned about to his website, expecting a pro forma email response from a staffer. Instead, the next morning, my phone rang, and it was Mayor Fulop himself calling to explain his position on that topic. We probably spent about 30 minutes on the phone on that and other issues. Later, I learned that my experience was not unique and that some of my friends have also had similar interactions with him.

I was also impressed by a major career decision that he made in 2001. He was on a fast track working for Goldman Sachs, where the potential for a very lucrative career was his for the taking. But when the 9/11 attacks occurred, he quit that job and joined the Marine Corps and served in Iraq.

When he returned, he entered a career in public service - first as a Jersey City councilman and later as a three-term mayor. He understands the intricacies of the interface between local government and the state bureaucracy. This will serve him well as governor.

I see many similarities between Steve Fulop and Senator Andy Kim. Both are exceptionally smart, humble (or at least as humble as a politician can be), and are not bullshitters. Both have shown that they can get the job done even while other powerful entities work against them. And like Andy Kim, Steve Fulop is a mensch.

What Could Have Been

Of course, it's worse than we thought it would be. The Trump administration's number of unconstitutional, illegal, and mean-spirited actions has exceeded most people’s expectations.

Decent people, American patriots, will spend the next four years acting as a bulwark against the actions perpetrated by The Felon and his cowardly GOP enablers. And we’ll spend the next decade or two undoing the damage we could not prevent over The Felon’s term. Unfortunately, this means that America will make little or no forward progress toward the dream of a diverse and inclusive nation. Right now, America is moving backward, which will continue as long as our system of checks and balances remains neutered.

I’m a realist. If Kamala Harris had won, the Republican majority in Congress would still be fighting for unaccountable corporations and an extreme right-wing agenda. They would make President Harris’ job extremely difficult, and their hold on the corporate media would still spew their evil propaganda - especially against a woman of color. But even in the worst scenario of a Harris presidency, America would not be sliding into a fascist oligarchy. So what should we do?

First, the demonstrations at legislators’ offices should continue unabated. If the mainstream media continues their policy of “both-sidesism”, at least the protesters will bring the massive turnouts against the fascist regime to the forefront. Second, it is critical to flip the House (where budget resolutions are introduced) and the Senate (where high-level appointments are confirmed). But Democratic control is not enough. We need to elect courageous legislators and eschew DINOs like Manchin. We need to elect good Democrats at the state level where election laws are enforced and where equality legislation can partially counteract the draconian Musk agenda. This does not mean everyone should knock on doors and carry protest signs. But it DOES mean getting your apolitical friends and neighbors more involved - getting them to write or make calls to legislators, donate to good Democrats, and attend town halls.

We’re all in this together, and as my favorite Senator often tells us, “Apathy is the opposite of Democracy.” Even if you’ve never been involved before, now is the time. If not for you, then for your children and grandchildren.