NJ used to be a red state. Part of the problem is that NJ over the last couple of decades has become a cheaper (not cheap, but cheaper) alternative for Manhattanites who move here and bring their politics with them. That and we do have a very serious immigration problem. The immigration problem will never get better here, but as things get more expensive and the state becomes less attractive to New Yorkers we will see things change somewhat. Note that I did say somewhat. But there is conservatism here. I mentioned before that we have people here who live conservative lives but have been groomed not to vote that way. We need to reach those people.
That's true for a lot of states. Before the spawn of the hippies took over the country.
Strange as it may seem, the 12 seats in New Jersey’s House delegation in Washington are split 6-6 between Democrats and Republicans. Sure, many of the Republicans would be considered Marxists in some deep red states ... but Scott Garrett (unbelievably) is one of a select handful of House members who consistently receives a perfect 100 rating from the American Conservative Union.
If you take a poll of a random group of suburban voters you'd probably be shocked at how intellectually mediocre and emotionally stunted many of them are. This cuts across all age and income groups. Suburbia is not the kind of place where you'll find many principled conservatives. In fact, between taxpayer-funded schools and highway systems, these suburbs have been built largely on a foundation of nanny-state government.
It is a teaching lesson in that, when you move, like the junky stuff you put to the curve, put your politics also at the curve as well.