the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The 2024 election cycle brought unexpected shifts in the political landscape of New York and New Jersey, with Republicans making significant inroads in two states traditionally seen as Democratic strongholds.
Vice President Kamala Harris carried both states, but by dramatically slimmer margins than President Biden did in 2020. Harris won New Jersey by just 5 points (compared to Biden’s 15-point margin) and New York by the same narrow margin (down from Biden’s 23 points).
A Changing Electoral Map
In New York City and its surrounding counties, former President Donald Trump flipped precincts in Queens and Manhattan that had been solidly Democratic for decades. Across both states, Harris retained majority support from Asian American, Hispanic, and Black voters, but at significantly lower levels than Biden achieved in 2020.
David Laska, spokesperson for the New York GOP, celebrated the results:
“We saw historic numbers for Republicans in New York, and that’s really something we can build upon.”
These gains have bolstered Republican hopes for upcoming races, including New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial election and New York’s mayoral contest.
Opportunities for Republicans
Jeanette Hoffman, a GOP strategist in New Jersey, pointed to the potential for Republicans to capitalize on voter frustration:
“They’re not focused on economic issues and social issues and energy mandates, but the trend matters because Republicans have their best shot after two terms of Governor Murphy and a Democrat making everything more expensive.”
Several high-profile Republicans have already declared their candidacies for New Jersey governor, including media personality Mike Spadea and 2021 GOP nominee Jack Ciattarelli.
Democrats Reflect on the Losses
Despite flipping three congressional seats in New York and retaining all their seats in New Jersey, Democrats are reassessing their strategies. Many point to a failure to address top voter concerns like the economy and immigration.
State Senator Jessica Ramos (D-N.Y.), who is running for New York City mayor, criticized Harris’s campaign for focusing too much on centrist voters:
“She spent too much time courting voters in the middle and not activating her base. She took New York for granted.”
Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) echoed these concerns, particularly on immigration:
“We’ve seen an overwhelming wave of migration impacting cities like New York. There was political malpractice in waiting two years to issue an executive order regulating migration at the border.”
Lawrence Levy, of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, warned Democrats to take these shifts seriously:
“If they don’t consider why voters of color are leaving the Democratic Party, they risk losing statewide races, legislative control, and even the mayoral race.”
A Path Forward for Democrats
In New Jersey, Democrats are already preparing for the 2025 gubernatorial race, focusing on more direct messaging about economic challenges and affordability. Leroy Jones, chair of the New Jersey Democratic Party, emphasized the need to connect with voters on quality-of-life issues:
“During the governor’s race, candidates will speak to affordability and making New Jersey a place people can retire and live in comfortably.”
Declared Democratic candidates include Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer, with Rep. Mikie Sherrill also expected to join the race.
Looking Ahead
As Republicans celebrate their gains and Democrats regroup, the political landscape in New York and New Jersey is shifting in ways that could impact the balance of power in both states. The lessons from 2024 will undoubtedly shape campaign strategies and voter outreach efforts in the years to come.
For voters, one thing is clear: neither party can afford to take their support for granted.
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except Ridgewood lol
And Glen Rock with its HISTORIC borough council.
How’d your support of Tammy Murphy work out?