New Jerseyans aren’t always civil, but it’s still possible for a liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican to have a rational and pleasant conversation about politics in the state. Dan Bryan is a former senior advisor to Gov. Phil Murphy and is now the owner of his own public affairs firm, and Alex Wilkes is an attorney and former executive director of America Rising PAC who advises Republican candidates in New Jersey and across the nation, including the New Jersey GOP. Dan and Alex are both experienced strategists who are currently in the room where high-level decisions are made. They will get together weekly with New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein.
Now that the 2025 election is over and we’re beginning to think about transitions, inaugurations, swearing-in ceremonies, and special elections, what is it in New Jersey politics that you were thankful for this year?
Alex Wilkes: If you know me, you know I am sentimental to a fault, so starting out this way is truly from the heart and not as schmaltzy as it might read.
With respect to politics, I have to start with the utmost gratitude for our country – especially as we approach our sesquicentennial birthday. I can’t wait to spend the next year continuing to teach our children about the exceptional country in which we were blessed to be born. As we continue to fill their Junior Ranger Passports (great gift idea – https://shop.americasnationalparks.org/products/passport-to-your-national-parks-junior-ranger-edition , by the way) with new historic sites, battlefields, etc., my husband and I love any opportunity – at any age – to talk about our incredible fortune to live in a country where the brave defend the God-given rights of the free.
That includes, of course, our right to free expression, which protects my ability to say that in terms of being a New Jersey Republican? The outcome of this year was terrible, and we have very little for which to be grateful in terms of advancing our leaders and ideas. I genuinely believe that some of those who can least afford it – a family desperate to get into a charter school or a small business that was barely hanging on after COVID – will face tough choices in the years ahead, and for that, I am sad. It especially hurts when you consider that this was in some ways preventable, amounting to years of hard work, fundraising, voter registration gains, etc. that were wiped away overnight.
But I’m grateful for the ability to just say that. I’m grateful for the truth. As a survivor of the pre-Donald Trump, sterilized talking points straight jacket, I’m appreciative of getting older and, with (hopefully) some greater discernment, realizing that there’s actually very little value to adding polish to or downplaying the obvious.
I am eternally grateful to ordinary New Jerseyans who stepped up to run, make calls, walk neighborhoods in the rain, or give money to support our candidates. In a loss so great, it can feel like none of those efforts mattered, but they did. That commitment to grassroots basics will be the foundation of our future success.
I am deeply grateful to Jack, who poured his heart into a fight for the future of a state he so deeply loves. He showed up and brought his all every single day, as did his team.
I’m grateful for little hands and feet that don’t let you wallow. The day after Election Day might feel bleak, but the unyielding pace of school runs, cleaning up toys, and bedtime stories quickly humbles you into remembering what matters the most and that life must go on. I’m grateful to my husband Charlie, who often left his “real person” business to help me with mine.
I’m grateful for the stillness of the coming winter season. Growing up, it felt like nothing was more exciting than the parade of festivities of Independence Day through New Years – and it certainly still is when viewed through your children’s eyes. But when Halloween is the Friday before Election Day, you can easily feel frustrated and exhausted when both trick-or-treaters and candidates all have their hands out for something.
I’ve especially come to love the clean slate of January, the coolness of a month filled with low expectations and the time to consider what no longer serves you. That’s time we’ll need to make more efficient use of the political side (as opposed to a planned basement clean out, for example), and while resets can feel as bitter as the January chill, there’s something refreshing and welcome about them.
Finally, I am grateful to David for the opportunity to share my thoughts here, to Dan for still liking me after reading them, and to all of you who care enough to reach out to let us know you enjoyed something or that you don’t miss a week. It’s truly humbling for this introverted (relative) newcomer to our state.
Wishing all of you a blessed Thanksgiving from my turkeys to yours!
Dan Bryan: I am sincerely thankful to be able to write this column every week alongside both of you. If I didn’t have this as an opportunity to channel some of my energy and enthusiasm for New Jersey politics, my wife, children, and many of my friends would have abandoned me long ago. So on their behalf, thank you, David. And thank you to Alex for putting up with my nonsense on a weekly basis.
I’m grateful that Governor Murphy’s legacy is now intact – as the first Governor in a lifetime not to be repudiated on his way out the door, we can take some time and truly appreciate all he and his administration have accomplished for our state. There will be plenty of time to talk about the Murphy legacy (and I won’t be shy about doing so), but as we approach the end of his decade-long journey, it’s wonderful to see Governor Murphy with the opportunity to walk out of office with his head held high. He has earned it.
I’m grateful that our state has a phenomenal incoming Governor in Mikie Sherrill who, alongside her stellar team, has the ability to take our state to the next level. Being Governor of New Jersey is the honor of a lifetime – our state deserves a Governor with the honor, integrity, and moral compass that Mikie has. I’m going to miss seeing Phil Murphy in the Governor’s office, no doubt, but I am extremely excited to see what the Sherrill administration can do to build for the future.
On a personal note, my two young daughters could not be more thrilled to see a “girl Governor.” They were more excited for Mikie’s campaign than anyone I knew. Representation matters!
Speaking of the Sherrill campaign, I’m grateful that Mikie assembled a killer team that ignored the haters and stuck to their guns, delivering a knock-out blow to Jack Ciattarelli, the NJ GOP, and the politics of hate and division. They were nimble, creative, and they didn’t waver when scores of nervous Democrats questioned their every move. They all deserve enormous credit for their accomplishment, from the Campaign manager right down to the junior field staff.
On that same note, I am thankful for Congressman Josh Gottheimer, who, despite an unsuccessful primary campaign, worked his ass off in the general to help elect Mikie Sherrill. Though he wasn’t alone, Josh led the way – he was everywhere, helping Mikie make inroads in his district (Bergen County in particular) and helping her and her team build stronger connections with the communities he represents. Josh put aside his personal politics and worked to ensure New Jersey didn’t backslide under Jack Ciattarelli, something not everyone can say.
I am grateful to see so much energy and enthusiasm for Democrats ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Though I’m not crazy about Democrats having 40+ congressional candidates across three primaries, it speaks to the opportunity our party sees next November. If we nominate the right candidates, not only will we hold CD11, we’re going to flip CD7. Sending Tom Kean Jr. into retirement (though I’m not sure we’ll be able to tell the difference – he’s been MIA for years) is something I’ll be truly grateful for next Thanksgiving.
Personally, I am thankful to *finally* polish off The Power Broker (a year-long project) just last night. I’ve picked it up and put it down throughout 2025, finally powering through the last 300 or so pages in the days since the election wound down. I know I’m not breaking any new ground here, and at the risk of sounding like Jim Gaffigan wanting to talk about Heat, I’ll say it anyway: this isn’t just a good book, it’s a masterpiece. It is required reading for anyone interested in politics, NYC history, or the inner workings of power. Caro’s last chapter detailing Moses’s final years after losing power is one of the best things I’ve ever read – I already know I’ll go back and reread many times in the future. Now for those LBJ books…
And honestly, I’m grateful to have one of the craziest election cycles of our lifetime behind us. I love this business, but my God, can it take a lot out of you. I hope all of us in New Jersey politics find some time over these next weeks to rest and recharge – we’re going to need it for 2026.
Happy Thanksgiving!
