George Norcross III, the former Democratic kingpin of New Jersey, said Monday he would step away from politics, acknowledging what most people in state government had only dared to whisper: that his influence and reach they had faded significantly after a string of recent defeats.
“It’s time for others to lead the party,” Norcross said New Jersey politician.
For decades, Mr. Norcross, an insurance executive, was considered New Jersey’s most feared and powerful unelected politician. He wielded power from Camden, just outside of Philadelphia, with alliances that often blurred the lines between the Democratic and Republican parties. For years he was both a close friend of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a member of former President Donald J. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago golf club.
But in 2021, Stephen Sweeney, the state Senate Democratic leader and childhood friend of Mr. Norcross, lost a re-election fight to a largely unknown Republican, Edward Durr Jr., who ran on a shoestring, big budget. correct platform. Several other legislative allies in South Jersey were also ousted as Republican voter turnout surged amid pandemic fatigue and culture war battles over vaccines, face masks and school sex education standards.
Soon after, Mr. Norcross, 67, was forced to resigns his seat on the Democratic National Committee after reporting he proved he had it registered to vote in Floridawhere he now spends much of his time.
Mr. Norcross, who through a spokesman declined further comment, told Politico that he had been “involuntarily pushed to a different location” and had been “sitting in the back seat” ever since.
He said he would continue to focus on his extensive business interests in New Jersey.
“It’s easy to get away from New Jersey politics when New Jersey politics has already gotten away from you,” said Sue Altman, leader of the Working Families Alliance of New Jersey, a frequent adversary.
A super PAC linked to Mr. Norcross reported no fundraising in the first quarter of the year ahead of the November races for the state legislature.
It is also expected that the reduced political role of Mr. Norcross and the reduced fundraising alter the terrain for the 2025 race for New Jersey governor among the already wide field of Democrats who have expressed interest in running.
