The Senate President could lose by winning, and he could lose by losing. If Democrats pick up a few Senate seats in South Jersey, Codey’s re-election as Senate President could potentially be in jeopardy. If Ellen Karcher loses, Codey has seen his #1 investment go down the tubes, and if Joseph Ariyan wins – or worse, if he loses just narrowly – the Senate President may have a real problem with Norcross of the North. And to imagine Whelan being with anyone but George Norcross is unlikely.

Post-Election: LOSER!
Dick Codey lost Ellen Karcher, his friend and ally, while George Norcross’ South Jersey Democrats picked up two Senate seats.  And he championed the rejected Stem Cell referendum.  He’ll get re-elected Senate President (an at-will term) with Kingmaker Norcross; support, but he’ll have less power in his own caucus. 

The Republican Congressman is heavily invested in two South Jersey Senate races – District 1, where is close friend Nick Asselta is battling for a second term, and District 2, where he played a key role in helping Sonny McCullough secure the GOP nod in February against Frank Blee. If either of the senators lose, LoBiondo could find himself in trouble next year.

Post-Election: LOSER!
Note to Frank LoBiondo: Never let Jeff Van Drew out of your sight.  Losses by LoBo’s guys, Nick Asselta and Sonny McCullough, are bad for LoBiondo’s future in a district that seems to be turning blue.  Has Maryannie Harper lost her mojo?

Will Republicans hold the Republican State Chairman accountable for the results of the ’07 elections? Wilson needs to show a silver lining in Senate and Assembly races, defend majority control in Atlantic and Monmouth, or win a hotly contested countywide race in Burlington, where his business partnership with Bob Stears has become a campaign issue.

Post-Election: WINNER!
We would have held Tom Wilson accountable if the GOP had lost.  It was a good night for the GOP.  Nick Asselta and Sonny McCullough weren’t Wilson’s fault: Asselta lost because he didn’t take Jeff Van Drew seriously for the last three years, and Wilson preferred Frank Blee for Senate.  The real GOP victory was in defending seats in Atlantic, Burlington, Monmouth and Somerset counties, and mayoral wins in Hamilton, Toms River and Brick. 

The Burlington County GOP boss, who wrestled control of his Republican machine from his handpicked successor, Mike Warner, earlier this year, is battling to hold District 8, normally GOP-solid, and for countywide offices. If he loses these key races, it could mean the Burlington Republican empire is about to fall.

Post-Election: WINNER!
Despite all the hype, all the money, and all the infighting, Glenn Paulsen’s Republicans turned out to be just fine.  Ironically, Phil Haines won with 61% and Diane Allen got just 56%.

The Assembly Speaker could lose Assembly seats on Tuesday, with Democratic seats in Districts 1, 2, 8 (sort of), 12 and 14 up for grabs. Of course, Roberts could pick up Republican seats in Districts 2, 8, 11, 12, 14 and 39. The loss of a seat or two won’t really hurt the Speaker, but some pickups – especially in South Jersey – would help him a great deal.

Post-Election: EVEN!
Assembly Democrats lost two seats – one of them was Franny Bodine, who wasn’t really a Democrat.  Joe Roberts essentially replaced Michael Panter – a thorn to leadership – with Wayne DeAngelo, who will be the favorite legislator in District 14.  Roberts has no opposition for power in his caucus.

The 12-term Republican Congressman faces a potentially tough challenge for re-election next year against Senate Judiciary Chairman John Adler. If Republicans lose legislative seats in the 8th district and the Toms River mayoral race, it won’t make life any easier for Saxton.

Post-Election: WINNER!
Republicans won Burlington and Ocean.  Jim Saxton can sleep tonight, but maybe not again for another year. 

Expectations are always low for the aging Republican leader, who won’t be Speaker next year but probably won’t have a challenge for Minority Leader either. All in all, he could have gone to Portugal too.

Post-Election: WINNER!
Alex DeCroce picked up two Assembly seats.  So at least Rick Wright keeps his job – but an extra two seats doesn’t mean that much more.

The conservative activist is spending a ton of money trying to take out a few Democrats in New Jersey, especially Linda Greenstein. If he beats the Assembly Judiciary Chairman, he can claim some of the credit (along with Bill Baroni’s coattails), and if he doesn’t, he’ll have to explain why he came to New Jersey in the first place.

Post-Election: LOSER!
Linda Greenstein won easily. Brian Brown got her a 20% hike in her campaign budget with $100,000 in rescue money – and a ton of good press. Greenstein spent it on her joint campaign with Wayne DeAngelo – so effectively, Brown helped Greenstein get DeAngelo the extra 500 votes he needed to win. And Nelson Albano won too.

Ferriero, the Bergen County Democratic Chairman, has bet heavily on the Republican 39th district; if he takes out Gerry Cardinale, he’s a hero – although he doesn’t lose all that much if he doesn’t. Ortiz is losing his political virginity on Election ’07 and both parties are watching to see if he knows how to do it. What about Bernadette McPherson (in the Rutherford mayoral race) win for Ortiz -- does that matter? And Loretta Weinberg's curiously-timed personal attack on Ferriero has put both of her running mates on the firing line. Though they are sure to be reelected how long they hold their seats under withering scrutiny is another matter and a Ferriero emboldened by success in 39 is sure to turn up the heat.

Post-Election: LOSERS!
Joe Ferriero got beat by Gerald Cardinale, and Bernadette McPherson lost.  Rob Ortiz had some gains at the local level, but nothing extraordinary – and maybe he missed an opportunity in the anti-EnCap 36th district.

The Executive Director of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission is heavily invested in the Clean Elections pilot program, where the future of public financing of legislative races – and others – is at stake.

Post-Election: WINNER!
It looks like Clean Elections may have worked, which is good news for Fred Herrmann.