The Democratic machine has failed N.J. It’s time for something new | Opinion

While the results of the 2024 Presidential Election are clear, it will take time to perform the detailed analysis necessary to determine how Donald Trump pulled off this unprecedented victory.

Was it simply voters registering their deep disapproval for the inflation, high interest rates, and increased cost of living that have unfortunately characterized the Biden presidency? Were there tactical errors made in inserting Vice President Kamala Harris as our party's candidate without a primary process? Are there other issues below the surface that drove voters across the country away from Democrats?

We'll get the data needed to answer all of these questions and more in the coming weeks and months. But right now, here in the Garden State, one thing is absolutely certain judging from Trump's unexpectedly strong showing here: The New Jersey Democratic Party Machine has failed us, and it's time to build a new way forward.

Granted, Democrats underperformed in other states on Election Day, but few underperformed to the level that New Jersey did. With 94% of the votes tallied, VP Harris is leading in New Jersey by five percentage points . That's a massive decline from the margins that our party's candidates typically get, with President Biden winning by nearly 15 points in 2020.

According to data compiled by the New York Times, Trump improved his showing by 13 points in Bergen County, 14 points in Middlesex County and 11 points in Essex County, while actually winning in the traditional Democratic stronghold of Passaic County. Meanwhile, here in Hudson County, Trump picked up significant support in heavily Hispanic North Hudson communities, even though Jersey City rejected Trump by a wide margin.

For over a year, our campaign for Governor has focused on reforming the Democratic Party in New Jersey, and I have never been more certain of how important that work is than right now. Rather than focusing on growing the party and expanding its reach, county party bosses and their political machines have instead poured their energy into monetizing their positions and making money for themselves and a few other insiders, showing the kind of lazy, ineffective leadership that allows results like this to happen. We need to put a stop to it.

New Jersey voters are justifiably disgusted when they see Democratic state legislators continually pushing through self-serving bills that benefit only the political elite class, not regular residents. Voters aren't stupid — when machine politicians gut open public records laws or make our elections less transparent, they see it and it creates apathy and a lack of trust.

Look no further than the sham ballot design hearings this week, when it's clear that the legislation is already drafted and the intent is to do whatever they can to once again manipulate our primary ballots and create advantages for the bosses' chosen candidates.

All of this points to a moment of reckoning that began this year with Andy Kim's historic campaign for U.S. Senate, and the landmark legal cases against the corrupt party line system, and that must continue into next year and beyond.

Democrats and voters of all parties want authentic, ethical candidates who are willing to tell you what they stand for, and then govern according to their values. We can't let New Jersey continue to slide further and further to the right because our party is led by political elites who care more about their next lobbying client than implementing policies that will help the middle class.

This is the moment that New Jersey breaks free from the shackles of inept, corrupt machine politics and moves forward into a new era of responsive, effective government. I'm running for Governor to make that happen, and with your help we'll get it done.

Steven Fulop is a Democratic candidate for New Jersey Governor and the Mayor of Jersey City, N.J.