New Jersey's MAGA Cinderella faces a new test: Getting reelected when both parties want him gone

[RandySF]

Ed Durr’s ascension to the New Jersey state Senate could have been a movie plot.

Durr, a blue-collar Republican truck driver whose campaign spent just $10,000, rode a wave of populist discontent in 2021 to beat Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney, a 20-year incumbent who exercised sweeping authority as the longest-serving leader in history.

Durr took on New Jersey’s most powerful political machine and won, becoming a cause celebre on the right and a sign of an impending midterm “red wave” that ultimately never came. He was proof that Republicans could still win in blue states even after then-President Donald Trump lost New Jersey to Joe Biden. He soon sold red “Ed the Trucker” hats that bore resemblance to Trump’s famous “Make America Great Again” cap and other memorabilia.

But not long after Durr donned a suit and entered the Statehouse in Trenton, the TV cameras stopped following him. He soon faced the reality of his situation: He’s a backbencher in a minority party — someone with little clout and, on top of that, someone who Democrats want to work against.

Durr now finds himself facing rivals within his own party who believe his election was a fluke, who fault him for politically-damaging social media posts that emerged after his surprise victory and who believe he’s wasted a year by focusing on culture war issues that have already proven to hurt Republicans in the post-Roe era.



https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/12/ed-durr-new-jersey-maga-00086052

[bucolic_frolic]

1. What? Reactionary anti-woke irrelevant dullards are not popular with voters?

The best ideas win, said Joe Biden. Popularity. Democracy. People can figure things out. There's the Democratic advantage.

[Initech]

2. Stop watching Fox and stop voting for stupid people!

[Hortensis]

3. "Since taking office, Durr has been among the top sponsors of 167 pieces of legislation

--the 10th most of the state’s 40 senators. None have been signed into law, ranking him in a tie for dead last among senators who have served since the beginning of the term.

Durr has introduced many bills that ... have near zero chance of passage.

'I didn’t have any expectations. I just knew that I wanted to get in there and be a voice for my constituents,” Durr said. “And I think I have, to be quite honest with you.' ”

Umhm. Because what constituents want and need is cosplay representatives who constantly posture as a powerful leader for their personal voter base while accomplishing nothing for them or anyone else.

Given the trucker shortage, NJ voters can multitask good here by returning this one to his previous occupation.