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Gabriel Debenedetti | April 3, 2014 | Reuters

The Republican Governors Association, the group led by embattled New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, raised $23.5 million in the first quarter of 2014, it will announce Thursday morning.

The fundraising total represents a major haul for the organization dedicated to supporting Republican candidates in the 36 ongoing governors’ races, but it also demonstrates that Christie, the association’s chair, remains a potent money magnet even after a political scandal has complicated his future.

The haul is more than twice the group’s previous first-quarter record of $9.1 million raised in 2010, when then-Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, also famous for being an effective fundraiser, was in charge.

The group will also announce it has $59.6 million in cash on hand.

“RGA’s strong financial position will give us the resources to push back against the public sector unions and the White House,” Executive Director Phil Cox says in the press release.

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Alexandra Jaffe | March 6, 2014 | The Hill

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) issued a rallying cry on Thursday for conservatives to stand up for their ideals and win elections by touting Republican governors as a model for the nation.

The stakes for his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, which he wasn’t invited to last year, were high for Christie as he addressed a typically hostile crowd. But a strong performance was especially critical at a time when his political future is perhaps the most uncertain it’s ever been, as he grapples with an ongoing investigation into the George Washington Bridge scandal that has rocked his administration.

But he seemed to exceed expectations, receiving an enthusiastic response from the ballroom full of activists, entering and exiting the stage to a standing ovation and whoops from the crowd.

He urged conservatives to “talk about what we’re for, not what we’re against.”

“The reason we have to start talking about what we’re for and not continuing to rail against what we’re against is for one simple reason: Our ideas are better than their ideas,” said Christie, to cheers from the crowd.

The Republican Governors Association chairman offered a positive vision for Republican governance, touting the records of GOP governors in blue states as evidence of the efficacy of Republican policies.

And he highlighted his own efforts in New Jersey, a deep-blue state, to cut the budget, trim the government payroll and reform education, and got big cheers for his remark that New Jersey elected a pro-life governor.

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New Jersey Republican Party Chairman Sam Raia released the following statement upon Governor Christie’s Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Address:

“Today, Governor Christie demonstrated his ongoing commitment to improving the state of New Jersey’s economy, as he delivered his fifth consecutive balanced budget without raising taxes on New Jersey families. This budget spends over $2.2 billion less in discretionary spending than in Fiscal Year 2008 and provides over $1.2 billion in tax relief to our overburdened property taxpayers. With his call to take on the looming entitlement crisis that’s already squeezing our budget, Governor Christie continues to prove that he stands at the forefront of fiscal responsibility.

“Governor Christie’s bipartisan leadership has delivered a budget that creates a smaller, more efficient state government, and capitalizes on investments that are essential to our state’s future. But it recognizes the hard reality that we must go further in taking on the exploding cost of public employee entitlements resulting from years of irresponsibility before he took office. The Legislature must put aside partisanship and join with the Governor to rein in these costs so we can deliver tax relief and continue lowering the cost of government for priorities that truly matter.”

Heather Haddon and Derek Kravitz | February 17, 2014 | Wall Street Journal

Donations to the Republican Governors Association from New Jersey have grown sharply since 2009, a sign of Gov. Chris Christie’s efforts to recruit contributions for an influential group that could nurture a 2016 presidential run.

New Jersey donors gave more than $2.6 million to the RGA last year, the largest total in a decade, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal and the Center for Responsive Politics. The second-highest contributions total from New Jersey— about $2 million—came in 2009, the year Mr. Christie first ran for governor.

Those donations came before a scandal erupted in January over the governor’s staff and allies orchestrating the closure of some George Washington Bridge lanes, causing five days of traffic jams in Fort Lee, N.J. The state Legislature and the U.S. attorney’s office are investigating. Mr. Christie has apologized and fired a top aide, while denying he knew about the lane closures before they happened.

The scandal doesn’t appear to have affected Mr. Christie’s ability to raise money. The RGA raised $6 million in January, a record for that month, the group said. Mr. Christie has raised $15 million for the organization since he was elected chairman.

“Governor Christie is a strong and effective fundraiser for the RGA,” said Phil Cox, the group’s executive director, in a written response to questions. “Donors across the country continue to respond to his leadership.”

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TRENTON, NJ – Today, Sam Raia has withdrawn his resignation as NJGOP Chairman and will continue to build on his successful three-year tenure leading New Jersey’s Republican party. Mayor Raia’s experience working to elect Republicans throughout the state will serve as an essential tool in the 2014 election cycle.

“I have withdrawn my resignation, and I look forward to continuing our work at the state party to elect Republicans throughout New Jersey,” NJGOP Chairman Sam Raia said. “We have filled out our staff with top operatives, all with extensive experience working throughout New Jersey, and our party is poised to actively campaign in every corner of the state in the coming months.”

“I’d like to thank Chairman Raia for continuing at the helm of the NJGOP this election cycle. Chairman Raia has committed himself to electing Republicans throughout the state these last three years, and there is no one better to lead the NJGOP into the next chapter of our continued success,” said RNC National Committeeman Bill Palatucci.

Concluding a historic three-year tenure, Sam Raia today announced his resignation as NJGOP State Chairman.

“We’ve surpassed each of our goals during the three years of my chairmanship – we’ve reelected our Governor by historic margins, raised $8.8 million and laid the groundwork for the future success of our Party,” said Raia. “I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity provided by Governor Christie and members of the State Committee to serve our Party.”

“Chairman Raia’s leadership at the State Committee was instrumental in my reelection, and every success we’ve had as a Party over the last three years,” said Governor Chris Christie. “Sam has set our Party on course for even more success in the future.”

Both Governor Christie and Raia announced their support of Bill Stepien to become the next NJGOP State Chairman.

“I’ve asked Bill Stepien to be our new State Party Chairman because no one better understands how to grow our Party, communicate our message and, most importantly, win elections,” said Governor Christie. “Bill Stepien is the best Republican operative in the country, and New Jersey Republicans will be fortunate to have him leading our Party.”

“I’ve worked closely with Bill over the years as he’s managed the Governor’s campaigns, so I know he has exactly what it takes to serve as Chair and continue the progress we’ve made,” said Raia. “Bill is a leader in our Party, and his chairmanship will be an asset to Republicans at every level, up and down the state.”

Stepien served as Campaign Manager for each of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s statewide victories and worked as the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff from 2010 to 2012. In the 2008 presidential cycle, Stepien served as National Field Director for Rudy Giuliani’s primary election and Senator John McCain’s general election campaigns. In 2005 and 2006, Stepien was the Republican National Committee’s National 72-Hour Director and served as President George W. Bush’s New Hampshire State Political Director in 2004.

In addition to serving as NJGOP State Chair from 2010-2013, Raia is the Mayor of Saddle River and a business owner with over 30 years of experience in the real estate and construction industries. Raia serves on the board of both Hackensack University Medical Center and the New Jersey Commerce and Industry Association and served on Governor Christie’s Transportation Transition Team.

Raia’s resignation is effective immediately, with NJGOP Vice Chair Lynda Pagliughi assuming the role of Acting Chair.

January 6, 2014 | Associated Press

Gov. Chris Christie says he’s ‘all in’ on Rep. Frank LoBiondo’s re-election bid.

The Republican governor enthusiastically endorsed the south Jersey GOP congressman during a joint event Monday at the Statehouse in Trenton.

LoBiondo represents the 2nd Congressional District, which includes the state’s southernmost counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem. Christie credited the 67-year-old with taking a lead role in helping New Jersey secure tens of millions of dollars in federal aid after Superstorm Sandy.

LoBiondo was the first lawmaker to endorse Christie in his 2009 gubernatorial bid.

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Trenton, N.J. — NJGOP Chairman Samuel S. Raia today announced that Amanda DePalma and Peter Sheridan will be joining the New Jersey Republican State Committee as members of the Committee’s senior staff.

Effective January 1, DePalma will be rejoining the Committee as its Executive Director, a role in which she served in 2011 and 2012 before moving on to become Governor Christie’s Deputy Campaign Manager in 2013. Sheridan will serve as the Deputy Executive Director of the Committee. John C. Raue, who has served as Executive Director throughout 2013 and Political Director from 2010-2012, will be joining Governor Christie’s Administration in an official capacity. “I am sorry to lose John Raue but I know that his skills and dedication will serve him and all of us well in his new duties. Amanda and John have been critical in the growth and development of the NJGOP organization in the last three years bringing it to an organization that all Republicans in NJ can look at with pride,” said Chairman Samuel S. Raia.

“DePalma and Sheridan’s work on Governor Christie’s campaigns has proven them to be two of the most talented political operatives our state has seen, and the Republican State Committee is fortunate to have added them to our team,” said National Committeeman Bill Palatucci.

“It is a testament to the Governor’s leadership that we continue to attract the best of the best, and Amanda and Pete’s work at NJGOP will allow our Party to continue the historic progress seen in our last two gubernatorial campaigns,” said Chairman Raia.

Prior to her previous stint as Executive Director at NJGOP, DePalma served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Governor Christie in 2010 and Political Director for his campaign in 2009. DePalma managed Congressman Scott Garrett’s campaign in 2008, was New Jersey State Director for Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign and has senior-level experience on two other statewide campaigns.

Sheridan served as Coalitions Director for Governor Christie’s re-election campaign, overseeing outreach efforts that resulted in historic gains among Hispanic, African-American and female voters. Prior to 2013, Sheridan was Governor Christie’s Director of Regional Intergovernmental Affairs and was a Regional Field Director for New Jersey Victory in 2009. Sheridan managed a targeted congressional campaign in Connecticut in 2008 and has worked for both the Republican National Committee and the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania. Sheridan also served in the Bush Administration as a Special Assistant in the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Ed Beeson | December 19, 2013 | Star-Ledger

New Jersey last month saw its jobless rate fall at the fastest pace on record, the state Labor Department and Workforce Development said this morning, as employers added nearly 17,000 jobs to their payrolls, according to preliminary data.

The state’s unemployment rate sank to 7.8 percent for November, from 8.4 percent in October.

The vast majority of the hires were in the private sector, with companies adding 14,100 workers, the state said. Public sector hires amounted 2,800 new workers.

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Melissa Hayes | December 18, 2013 | The Record

Governor Christie spent part of Wednesday afternoon passing out plates of burgers to the homeless and working poor at Eva’s Kitchen, saying he hopes to encourage others to volunteer and donate to the organization.

The visit to the Paterson soup kitchen was part of his administration’s third annual “Season of Service,” a series of volunteer efforts featuring members of Christie’s cabinet.

“I’m happy to be back and we’ll be back here again,” Christie, wearing a blue apron and gloves, told reporters. “I was originally hoping to bring the kids today but I messed up the school vacation schedule. They’re not done till Friday, but we’ll bring them back because it’s important for them to do stuff like this as well.”

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