Opinion | With Republicans like Becchi, who needs Democrats?
Another perspective on the NJGOP chair's race that has everyone up in arms.
Ah, yes - another outside opinion on the NJGOP chairs race that no one asked for, but I fear is sorely needed. Apologies in advance, but I definitely trust you’ll be enlightened here.
Truth be told, I’ve enjoyed covering and watching the race and I greet the arrival of a new chair with excitement and optimism, as I think three of them bring exceptional talent in their own ways.
One of the candidates, unfortunately, does not - and that is Rosemary Becchi.
Throughout multiple videos across social media, Becchi calls herself a conservative leader, highlighting her defense of republican values and support of republican candidates, most notably through her organization, Jersey1st. No one knows what Jersey1st actually does and what tangible results their work yields other than technocratic policy-babble limited to their website and poorly-marketed (and attended) webinars. Framing it as some policy tool kit or strategic partner seems to be either a stretching of the truth, or they just plain suck at what they do.
Here’s what the alleged conservative republican leader did do: awarded District 30’s far-left Democratic Assemblyman Avi Schnall in December of 2024 for his leadership on education.
Becchi put the false shepherd Assemblyman and rabbi on a pedestal that would make Aaron and his golden calf blush. Schnall was vaguely hailed by Becchi and Jersey1st at a Holiday party for his “efforts to make New Jersey a better place to live, learn, work, and retire.”
Yes, the same Avi Schnall who later received Garden State Equality’s 2025 endorsement, voted for the Gov. Murphy’s budgets in ‘24, and ‘25 and opposed laws banning marriage before the age of 18, was honored by Becchi herself and Jersey1st for being a leader in education. That is precisely what Becchi did - honor the guy with creepy views on kids and who takes education points from Garden State Equality.
But for conservative Republican Ned Thomson in District 30 this year? Becchi did nothing. No funds raised. No social media syndicated. No phone call or email asking how she or Jersey1st can help.
Nevertheless, she has the unmitigated gall to say that she has credentials proving her fundraising and leadership prowess when she’s out here giving awards to one of the most radical (and, frankly, useless) democrats in the Assembly, knowing that he was a targeted seat by republicans the following year.
How do I know this, folks? I ran Ned’s race, which makes Becchi’s embrace of Avi and absence from the 2025 election overall even more frustrating now that she thinks she can lead our Republican party.
A former Assemblyman and Conference Leader, Ned was a principled conservative and a New Jersey success story, backed by every faction of our party, including chair candidate Christine Hanlon. After a 23,000-vote loss in the low-turnout 2023 cycle, we narrowed the margin to just 7,175 votes in 2025, despite record turnout in Schnall’s Lakewood in a gubernatorial year, defying the expectations of virtually everyone.
How? Republicans and conservatives of all stripes from across the state - some even from across the country - stepped in and stepped up to send one of the most qualified leaders back to the Assembly.
You know who did not step up to help take back Ned’s seat? Rosemary Becchi.
Seriously, with republicans like Becchi, who needs Democrats?
Look, I get it - there is a deep anxiety in our party right now. Jack lost. More Assembly seats were lost. We’re without a leader, and all factions of our identity-less party are, once again, as deeply divided as they were in the primary. Again, I look to the chair’s race with optimism and hope that the right candidate can unify our party and embrace the many talents folks in our party have to offer and build it into a stronghold of principled, conservative leadership over the next four years and beyond.
It’s not just a good idea or Pollyanna platitudes - it’s necessary for our party’s survival.
Nevertheless, facts matter and there has been far too much nonsense making it’s way across social media to only add to this anxiety and bring down good people who - God bless them, are more fearless than yours truly - want to rebuild our party which is deeply wounded.
Indeed, three of them - Hanlon, Lonegan, and WakeUpNJ’s Mike Currie - took time away from the holidays to meet the grassroots of our party this past Monday. The forum was organized and emceed by republican activist Mike Crispi, who gave the three candidates an opportunity to share their vision before a who’s-who’s of grassroots activists from across the state. While they may not have a vote on the Chair, these three thought well enough of our grassroots to meet with them and answer their questions.
Notably absent from this forum, with a lone empty chair awkwardly stationed at centerstage, was - you guessed it- Rosemary Becchi.
Joining her in absentia were those spreading bullshit posts on social media - grasping for straws as if there’s a clearance sale on them. (Once a new chair is elected they’ll most certainly flock to them as if they and their social media fanfare are some indispensable tool and beg for relevancy and some kind of recognition). The shitposters had an opportunity to come back from behind their screens and engage with folks, and even pose questions to the candidates - perhaps even ask the candidates about the crap they post about them.
But, like Rosemary did at the forum and for Ned Thomson, they elected to not show up and speak up, and that ultimately empowers Democrats. We definitely don’t need any more of that, and we certainly don’t need them leading our party.
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Mike De Robbio is the Founder and Publisher of CJN. Views expressed by him are his alone and do not represent CJN and its contributors. He can be followed here on Substack on X at (@_derobbio).
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