Oh, tee hee

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Republican truck driver looks to be on track to defeat New Jersey Senate President.

Durr, a truck driver for the furniture store Raymour & Flanigan, held a roughly 2,000-vote advantage Wednesday morning over Senate President Steve Sweeney, an officer in the Ironworkers union who’s led the upper house for 12 years and is the second most powerful official in New Jersey government.

Durr, a 58-year-old father of three and grandfather of six who grew up in South Jersey and lives in Logan Township, estimates he spent less than $10,000 on the race. By contrast, in 2017, when the New Jersey Education Association, state’s largest teachers union, was feuding with Sweeney, it spent about $5.4 million to take him out, yet he still won by 18 points.

This was a far different electorate, with Republican districts and those with large blue collar populations turning out in droves for Republicans.

It wasn’t just Sweeney. Durr’s Assembly running mates, Bethanne McCarthy Patrick and Beth Sawyer, appeared on track to defeat incumbents John Burzichelli and Adam Taliaferro (both D-Gloucester).

Durr said Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s coronavirus executive orders, vaccine and school mask, unemployment benefits snafus and a general distrust of the South Jersey Democratic machine that has dominated the region for years all contributed to his strong performance.

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Durr, who considers himself a “constitutional conservative,” said he also sensed a backlash to South Jersey Democrat’s power. 

“Just the constant nepotism, corruption, ‘if you take care of me, I’ll take care of you deals,‘” Durr said. “You don’t have evidence, you can’t get anyone arrested or prove anything, but there’s always ‘when there’s smoke there’s fire’ kind of statements.” 

Durr’s holds some deeply conservative positions. He‘s advocated for cutting income, corporate and other state taxes in order for “businesses to grow,” and for reducing property taxes. He has also said that “abortion is wrong and should be stopped,” pushing for legislation that would outlaw the procedure if a fetal heartbeat is detected. 

Durr said he is an ardent supporter of the Second Amendment, declaring in a recent YouTube interview that difficulties getting a concealed carry permit motivated him to seek office.

“What motivated me more than anything,” to get into politics was not being able to get a concealed carry gun permit,” Durr said in the interview. “I still don’t consider myself a politician.”

Works for me.