New York City’s money men have called North Jersey “home” for nearly a century. The high priests of American capitalism — stockbrokers, analysts, and banking titans — have long ended their days on Wall Street by crossing the Hudson River’s tunnels and bridges, retreating to the tree-lined suburbs of Essex, Passaic, and Morris counties.
That migration never really slowed. If anything, demand for New Jersey’s suburban version of the American Dream surged during the COVID-19 lockdowns. What has changed, however, is how these communities vote. Once competitive, they are suddenly blue strongholds. The 11th Congressional District — drawing from all three of the aforementioned counties — just elected an actual, real-life “Democratic socialist” to represent it in Congress.
A socialist victory within commuting distance of Lower Manhattan would have seemed beyond absurd not long ago — like a barbecue chain hiring a vegan spokesperson. Yet here we are.
MAMDANI SAYS HE BELIEVES IN SOCIALISM ‘EVEN MORE’ THAN BEFORE ELECTION
Activist Analilia Mejia is on track to win by more than 20 points over Republican Mayor Joe Hathaway in the race to succeed Mikie Sherrill. Her past statements — suggesting Jesus was “likely a Democratic Socialist” and arguing that everything from police to toilets are products of socialism — were not disqualifying. If anything? They resonated.
It would be a mistake to conclude that socialism is gaining ground because the public suddenly wants more government control. Ironically, socialism is on the march because many Americans feel they’ve increasingly lost control over their lives. This is especially true for younger citizens for whom homeownership feels unattainable and student debt insurmountable. Voters’ collective patience is rapidly wearing thin despite the present administration having achieved considerable progress.
When rent is astronomical, medical bills are piling up, and a college degree isn’t translating to economic stability, the promise of “free” is increasingly alluring. Republicans, for their part, have generally not risen to the challenge. Too often, GOP candidates default to abstract defenses of free markets or to familiar, tired talking points about taxes and regulation. Those arguments may be intellectually sound, but they can feel disconnected from lived reality. A white paper cannot help someone make next month’s mortgage payment.
When one side speaks directly to that pain, even with flawed or fake solutions, and the other offers little in the way of near-term relief, the outcome is pretty much decided before the campaign ads even begin airing.
Socialism’s strength is not that it works. Socialism’s power is found in its zero-sum, black-and-white moral system. It identifies a villain (an unfair system) and provides a simple remedy (free stuff). Simplicity is powerful for voters who feel stuck in place or as if they’re drowning, and adding a moral necessity is extremely motivating. It doesn’t matter if the math doesn’t math. Newly minted Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) won last year, promising to “freeze” electric bills. She hasn’t frozen anything because that’s impossible, but it was a specific, appealing sound bite to which the Republican campaign offered no immediately actionable alternative.
So, what is the alternative for NJ-11 and the rest of the United States?
First, Republicans need to distinguish between a genuinely free market and a corrupt, “rigged” one. Crony capitalism — where outcomes correlate to political access — is eroding the public’s faith in genuine capitalism. Voters need to know Republicans not only understand the difference but are willing to fight those who are putting their thumbs on the scale.
Second, please stop invoking “affordability” and shift to something aspirational: the freedom to thrive. Most Americans aren’t just trying to get by, and their forebears certainly did not sail across an ocean to tread water in the New World. They want progress — homeownership, stability, opportunity for their children, and a sense that effort leads somewhere.
EVEN SOCIALIST NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CAN’T SATISFY THE TEACHERS UNION
Third, we need our own moral argument. Economic systems aren’t just about making money; a system that rewards initiative, ownership, and innovation is capable of cultivating both greater prosperity and a better world. The key is saying it all in a way that hits home for those who feel left behind.
North Jersey’s disturbing political realignment didn’t happen in a vacuum. Socialism thrives without competition. NJ-11 operates as both a cautionary tale and a call to arms for opponents of leftist economics to reengage in a battle we not only must win, but one we can win if we challenge collectivism head-on.
Matt Rooney is an attorney, host of The Matt Rooney Show on 1210 WPHT (Sundays 7-10 p.m.), and founder of Save Jersey.