Months after New Jersey Republicans suffered major Assembly losses, a decision by GOP leadership to demote one of their own continues to fuel internal party tension.
Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris), a former state Republican Party chairman, says he was sidelined after urging his caucus to confront what he described as a troubling pattern of electoral defeats and a lack of accountability within party leadership.
GOP leaders characterized the move as part of a routine post-election reorganization. Webber, who took office in 2008, disputes that explanation, saying his demotion followed his push for a broader discussion about the party’s direction after November’s elections, in which five Republican incumbents lost their seats.
“In the span of two years, the Republican leadership in the Assembly caucus lost 11 of its members, almost a third of the caucus,” Webber said in an interview. The result, he said, “reduced us to a minority that we haven’t been in since Watergate.” Republicans hold 23 of 80 Assembly seats, which Webber called “a very small minority.”
Webber said he believed the caucus should pause after the election to reassess strategy, messaging and leadership. “I don’t think we should be doing the exact same thing we did for the last two years for the next two years,” he said. “That discussion wasn’t even had. It was shut down.”
‘Don’t need a title’
According to Webber, Assembly Republican leaders moved quickly to hold a leadership vote without debate. He called the process undemocratic, a stance he says led to his removal from leadership and committee roles.
Despite the setback, Webber said he remains committed to influencing the party’s direction.
“I don’t need a title to be a leader,” he said. “There are people with leadership positions in our caucus, and then there are leaders in our caucus.”
Webber argued that Republicans still have a viable message in New Jersey, particularly on affordability, education and what he described as government overreach. He said many residents struggle with high property taxes, rising utility bills and limited educational options.
“The state works pretty well right now for people who can afford $50,000, $60,000 or $70,000 a year in property taxes,” he said. That’s a small population, he pointed out. “I still think that the vast majority in New Jersey and New Jerseyans, they wince when they have to pay property taxes that are as high as their mortgages.”
Webber said he hopes the party can move forward in a more open and accountable way.
“I think we’ll figure it out,” he said.
