TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny Jr. today chastised legislative Republican leaders for seeking to “tamper with the election process for political purposes” and for injecting negativity into the U.S. Senate campaign.
“Just like they did in 2001, the Republicans want to tamper with the election process for strictly partisan purposes,” said Senator Kenny, D-Hudson.
The Senate Majority Leader noted that both Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce and Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance voted for a GOP bill in April of 2001 to push back the GOP gubernatorial primary from June 5 to June 26 so former Rep. Bob Franks could replace former Acting Gov. Donald DiFrancesco in what proved to be a futile bid to defeat the ultimate GOP candidate and loser in November, Bret Schundler.
The 2001 Republican stunt also added millions of dollars in expenses to the electoral process, Senator Kenny noted.
Noting pending legislation sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey to make New Jersey one of the first states in the nation to hold a presidential primary, Senator Kenny said Democrats make electoral changes for the good of the State.
“Senate President Codey’s bill will enhance New Jersey’s role in the election of the next President by attracting national candidates to pitch their campaigns around our best interests,” Senator Kenny said. “This maneuver by the Republicans is a cheap political stunt designed to focus negativity in the New Jersey campaign for the U.S. Senate.”