By Aaron McClendon
It’s been an exciting (and exhausting) couple of months in the political world. Here are the top issues NJEA’s Government Relations Division has been monitoring in Washington, D.C. and Trenton.
The shutdown story
Ending at 43 days, the government shutdown of 2025 was the longest in U.S. history. Usually when Congress can’t pass a new federal budget before October, it passes a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) that temporarily funds the government. But trust and relationships between Democrats and Republicans have hit a historic low, making bipartisan negotiation almost impossible. This time, Senate Democrats refused to offer the bipartisan support needed to pass a CR without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies that will expire this year, which Republicans firmly rejected.
On Nov. 11, eight Senate Democrats broke ranks and voted with Republicans to pass a CR to reopen the government in exchange for guarantees that fired federal workers would be rehired and a promise for a vote on health care tax credits. This deal ended the shutdown but also enraged Democrats throughout the country and could set us up for another shutdown fight when funding runs out in January.
Major impacts of the shutdown
SNAP/WIC: The disruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) funding caused significant pain for the country. SNAP alone has a $2 billion economic impact on New Jersey, supporting over 5,000 businesses and providing vital food and nutrition assistance to schools, food banks and almost 850,000 New Jerseyans, including more than 267,000 children.
Department of Education: The Trump administration used the shutdown to continue its campaign to decimate the Department of Education (ED), triggering layoffs targeting staff in the Office of Civil Rights, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. The ED now has fewer than 2,000 employees, compared to about 4,133 employees at the start of 2025. Reduced staffing hurts ED’s ability to ensure that its $68 billion worth of grants are being spent appropriately, and it also jeopardizes our access to policy and legal experts who help our students get the services that they are legally entitled to.
Where was NJEA? Throughout this impasse, NJEA maintained communication with our federal representatives, sharing member concerns about the impacts of the shutdown and calling for bipartisan negotiations to end the crisis. At the same time, NJEA mobilized our members and worked with our external partners to organize food drives benefiting local food banks to support New Jerseyans impacted by the lapse in SNAP funding. At the NJEA Convention alone, members brought over 700 pounds of food.
Redistricting: The electoral arms race
Republicans hold a razor thin majority over Democrats in the House of Representatives (219-213). This means Republicans can only lose a handful of votes if they want to pass any legislation, and that Democrats have a serious chance of retaking the House in 2026.
To maintain control, Republican-dominated state legislatures are rearranging their congressional districts to make it easier for Republicans to win, and Democrat-dominated state legislatures are doing the same in retaliation. Today, 16 states have either changed their maps, started the process or are actively exploring how to do so.
What is New Jersey is doing? According to the New Jersey Constitution, the Legislature can’t initiate the redistricting process. Only the Apportionment Commission can redraw our congressional map, and only when a new national census is completed.
What races are we watching in the midterms?
- CD-7: Includes all of Hunterdon and Warren counties, and parts of Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties – Republican Tom Kean Jr. represents this seat, but Democrats have a solid shot at flipping it.
- CD-11: Includes parts of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties – Mikie Sherrill will vacate this seat in 2026. This may be competitive for the midterms.
- CD-12: Includes parts of Mercer, Somerset, Union and Middlesex counties – This district is typically a safe district for Democrats, but Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman recently announced her intention to retire.
State: What’s NJEA doing in Trenton?
Preparing for the transition: NJEA is proud to have helped deliver Mikie Sherrill’s historic and decisive win in as New Jersey’s next governor. As Governor-elect Sherrill’s inauguration approaches, NJEA is preparing a transition memo advising her team on NJEA’s top policy priorities. We look forward to serving as a partner and resource on the issues impacting our members, our students and our communities.
The fight in lame duck: Lame duck is the period between Election Day and the start of a new Legislature in January, a critical time for NJEA’s advocacy. Time is running out for state legislators and outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy to push through any outstanding priorities before a new Legislature is sworn in and all legislation must be reintroduced.
NJEA’s top priorities for lame duck include eliminating the high school exit exam, passing a legislative package that will bring long-overdue reform to New Jersey’s charter schools and restoring pension justice for all of our educators through Tier 1 for Everyone legislation.
Aaron McClendon is an associate director in the Office of Politics and Policy in the Government Relations Division. He can be reached at amcclendon@njea.org.