Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-Morristown) was doing what she does best last Friday afternoon, showing up strong for District 25, when the administration’s 21-county “Save Time and Money” tour came to Morris County and the COMET advanced manufacturing facility in Landing.
Dunn noted the successes of COMET — and its importance to the bigger-than-you-realize manufacturing sector in the state. And she detailed why it’s so important for the administration to support the nearby Picatinny Arsenal, the bigger-than-you-realize facility that employs more than 6,000 people over 6,000 acres.
Dunn, however, used her time on the panel to speak up for more than just business in Morris County. She addressed the threats and challenges to our democracy — most of which have been caused by the actions of elected officials at all levels.
Her advocacy, she reasoned, doesn’t mean much without trust and transparency in the process. It’s why she was so eager — as a Republican — to serve on a panel headed by two leading Democrats: Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell and Chief Operating Officer Kellie Doucette.
“At the end of the day, it’s about, how did we deliver to the people — and did we do it in a way that restored the trust to that individual in the government that was there to serve them?” she told a crowd of more than 100.
Her words come at a time when elected leaders themselves are hurting the image of democracy everywhere by rushing to redraw districts purely for political gain. (To be clear, that always has been the desire — it’s just more brazen than ever.)
Afterward, she told BINJE her message was intentional.
“My number one objective is to restore faith in our government,” she said. “This is bigger than any of us.
“We must restore transparency and trust in the process. That’s why I made sure to make it one of the first things I said today.”
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As a Republican in the Legislature — by far the minority party — Dunn knows she faces an uphill battle when it comes to legislation. She knows working with Democrats is the only path to success.
“It’s a good idea when suddenly your bill re-emerges with other names,” she said, hinting at the mandatory Democratic support. “I’ll accept that as long as the work gets done.”
In her case, that’s not as difficult as it may be for others.
Dunn is quietly and genuinely respected by Democrats. In fact, when she was in a tough four-way race last fall to maintain her seat in Trenton, many Democrats were pulling for her (privately, of course), acknowledging the smarts and character she brings to the office.
Dunn, who came to politics working for longtime Republican Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, said she wouldn’t do it any other way.
“We’re all New Jerseyans,” she said.
Dunn has a long connection with Caldwell and Doucette. And she already has created a strong working relationship with her fellow Assemblywoman in District 25, despite the fact Marisa Sweeney is a Democrat.
“She and I have actually joined forces on a lot of legislation that serves the district, like sinkhole remediation and school funding,” she said.
And Dunn said her constituents have told her they are thrilled that District 25 is one of only a handful in the state that has two women representing it in the Assembly.
Of course, the shelf life on that camaraderie is limited.
“It’s an awkward thing, knowing that we will be challenging each other in another year,” she said.
Yes, another Assembly election comes in the fall of 2027. And there’s no reason to believe that District 25 will not have another close election. In 2025, all four candidates were within 1.1% — a little more than 2,000 votes — of each other.
At least it will be a closely contested election, something that is becoming increasingly rare at the federal level.
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New campaign finance rules have done more damage than anyone expected. And the rush to redistricting could make primary elections far more important than general elections — giving more power to parties (at the expense of voters) in the process.
It’s unclear if New Jersey will rush to redraw its federal Congressional maps, even though Democrats currently control far more seats than what would be proportional to their support in the state. (Dunn said she favors citizen redistricting committees.)
Of course, redrawing maps wouldn’t necessarily be an act of political greed but political survival, as state leaders may feel they need to do so to counter the actions of others.
Should it be this way? Of course not.
This is not what a generation was taught on Saturday mornings by Schoolhouse Rock!
But it is reality — one that Dunn fully understands.
As much as she gets along with the other party, as much as she understands doing so is important in restoring faith in our political system as a nation that created the concept of representative democracy approaches its 250th birthday, she knows the reality she faces every election day in what is now a rare 50-50 district.
“I understand it’s bigger than us,” she said. “It’s really about the party.”
That makes bipartisan work more challenging than ever.
Dunn said she is determined to stick to her principles during the next election cycle.
“The way I’ve conducted myself in elections — and I’ve been through several of them now — is sticking to your values,” she said. “People want to hear what you want to do. They don’t want to hear what the other side didn’t do, what they’re doing wrong.”
Of course, all is fair in politics, where friendships are fleeting.
“The Democrats are going to want to take me out,” she said.
