If you’re looking for an illustration of how dominant national political trends are these days, even in local elections, look no further than New Jersey’s 3rd Senate District. Republican Edward Durr, a truck driver who claims to have spent only $153 on the primary portion of his campaign, is on the verge of defeating Democratic Senate President Stephen Sweeney, one of the most powerful politicians in the state. How was this possible? Trump won Sweeney’s district by 2 points in 2020, and while Sweeney hasn’t had too much trouble garnering crossover votes here in the past, the current anti-Democratic political environment was likely too much for him to counter.
