Still reeling from the triumph of Democrat Josh Gottheimer over right-wing darling Scott Garrett in the November election, Sussex County Republicans recently received a second blow upon learning that their Democratic counterparts are mounting a challenge for all three of District 24’s seats in the State House, as well as for county freeholder.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, Daniel Perez of Frankford announced his bid for a seat on the Board of Freeholders, which last had Democratic representation in 1999.

A full slate of Democrats will challenge entrenched GOP politicians in state- and countywide elections this year.

Assemblywoman Gail Phoebus announced on Tuesday, March 28th, that she will no longer seek the Republican nomination for the New Jersey state senate.

The Republicans in power are insisting that their epic failure to destroy the Affordable Care Act (which they’d been promising to do the instant they got in charge) and replace it with the tax-cuts-for-the-rich bill Donald Trump apparently thought was “really terrific” on Democrats. They just wouldn’t support it (well, they got that part right.)

U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) whose district includes the Sussex County municipalities of Byram, Hopatcong, Ogdensburg, Sparta and Stanhope, said Friday he would vote “no” on the administration’s “replacement” for the Affordable Care Act. Frelinghuysen is the new chairman of the power House Appropriations Committee.