TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Trump MAGA agenda lost hugely across New Jersey as anti-Trump establishment candidates defeated those aligned with the Trump America First Agenda. In fact, it was a great loss./ Nobody lost bigger than Trump-aligned candidates in New Jersey.
Although Trump himself, in hindsight, wisely avoided showdowns of his agenda in New Jersey’s 3rd. 6th and 4th congressional districts, his call to unseat 40-year incumbent Republican Chris Smith went down in flames.
Trump politically avoids New Jersey like it has a bad case of COVID-19 when it comes to politics outside of his golden child, former Democrat turned Republican Jeff Van Drew. Van Drew pummeled his opponents, getting 82% of the vote.
Last year, Trump called for a primary against Smith after the congressman, who was in office in a career spanning five decades, voted in favor of the Biden infrastructure bill.
Then, Trump played the Biden card and went silent for nearly eight months in New Jersey’s political races.
In CD-4, Ian Smith, the rebellious Phil Murphy lockdown rebel, lost his election bid after he and his running mate both were arrested for driving while intoxicated in separate incidents this spring. The Atilis Gym owner lost to Bob Healey 53-28 percent.
In CD-4, Mike Crispi, who waited for an endorsement by Trump that never came after answering the former President’s call to primary Chris Smith, lost to the four-decade incumbent 58-37%. Crispi had the backing of Trump allies Roger Stone, Rudy Guiliani, and General Michael Flynn but fell short on election day.
In Monmouth County, America First candidate Rik Mehta lost to Monmouth County Freeholder Sue Kiley in the 6th district.
Smith, who no longer lived in the district, bought a new home in Manchester Township in order to be eligible for the election.
Healey will take on Andy Kim, whom he is expected to lose in November. Smith will take on Democrat challenger Matt Jenkins and is expected to win that race easily.