Election season is ratcheting up here in the great Garden State and a longtime nonpartisan organization is promoting business interests as it gauges the race.

The New Jersey Organization for a Better State (NEW JOBS) business political action committee’s trustees promote a probusiness climate in the state. That includes by endorsing and supporting candidates who actively support economic growth, the creation of private-sector jobs and the lowering of business costs.

NEW JOBS touts itself as the state’s largest and most influential business PAC.

In August, NEW JOBS PAC tapped Tony Bawidamann, a seasoned expert in government and regulatory affairs and advocacy, who currently serves as vice president of government affairs at Comcast NBCU, to lead the group as chair.

His appointment comes during a key stretch, including 2025’s gubernatorial and Assembly elections in New Jersey colliding with term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy’s final year in office, as well as the second Trump administration.

“Creating a supportive business climate will result in a better economy and growing businesses while attracting others to relocate here,” said Bawidamann in an August press release. “I look forward to leading the NEW JOBS PAC and working to elect candidates that will help build a robust economy in the state.”

“Tony brings a great wealth of legislative, campaign, and public affairs experience to the NEW JOBS PAC,” said NEW JOBS PAC Executive Director Ray Cantor. “His determination and enthusiasm will be of great benefit to New Jersey’s business community which has come to expect nothing less than our staunch advocacy in Trenton.”

An opportunity

NJBIZ recently spoke to Bawidamann to discuss the organization, his leadership tenure so far and the robust election season ahead.

He said that he views this moment as an opportunity to regroup and really evaluate the direction of the state – and its business community.

“It’s an interesting PAC: It’s the state’s oldest and largest business PAC,” Bawidamann told NJBIZ. “It’s an opportunity for us to raise awareness for business issues in the state.”

We are a nonpartisan PAC; we promote business-friendly candidates; we endorse and support candidates that actively support economic growth, job creation and lowering business costs.
– Tony Bawidamann, chair, NEW JOBS PAC

Looking at New Jersey’s elections this November, Bawidamann noted how the races will serve as a bellwether (along with Virginia) ahead of next year’s mid-term elections.

“It will lay the groundwork for our political arguments, business arguments, moving forward – of what works, what didn’t work,” he explained. “One of the things that we promote is a strong, vibrant economy – that’s moving.

“Where people can afford to live here; people can afford to buy goods and services; and businesses will expand. Because as the economy grows – and more and more people are living here – you’re going to need more restaurants. You’re going to need more housing to be built. More consumers are going to be here.

“We would love to see the economy flourish – and do well,” he stressed.

One message

“You’ve been a member of this PAC – but were appointed to lead it this past summer. Over these last few months, what’s the perspective you’ve taken in leading the organization?” NJBIZ asked.

“One of the first things that we did was to talk to more companies about joining the PAC,” said Bawidamann. “Being in unison together with one message. We are a nonpartisan PAC; we promote business-friendly candidates; we endorse and support candidates that actively support economic growth, job creation and lowering business costs.”

He said it’s an exciting time as the organization works to attract more Jersey companies to the PAC.

“This is going to be historic,” said Bawidamann. “We’re never going to go through an election like this. This is different. The climate’s different – no [county] line’s different. So, it’s an exciting time to chair the PAC.”

“As this 2025 race plays out, what are the main economic issues you are focused on and want to see the candidates focused on?” NJBIZ asked.

“The issues that we’ll be focusing on are candidates that are pro-business,” said Bawidamann.

He noted that while most candidates do, some candidates do not want the endorsement of the business community. “And the folks that do, we’ll look at them. We’ll interview them – and we’ll talk to them. And we’ll see – are they business-friendly? Are they focusing on issues such as deregulation, entrepreneurship, investment in the state? Those are market-driven solutions. Those are things that we are looking at for candidates – to come in and talk about and be pro-business.”

Charging ahead

Bawidamann said that the group will conduct its interviews over these coming months as the field and candidates crystallize. The JOBS PAC plans to endorse candidates before both the primary and general elections.

“As you approach this year ahead, with all of the consequential things that we’ve mentioned happening at once, what’s the overall mission and goal of the PAC? And how excited are you to lead it during this chapter?” NJBIZ asked as the conversation closed.

“I’m extremely excited to lead this PAC – the state’s largest and oldest business PAC. Great associations that are members of the PAC – businesses small and large. Building relationships, listening to their concerns – across what they’re doing – is great,” Bawidamann emphasized.

“This election will dictate the next 10 years, 15 years of what happens,” said Bawidamann. He pointed to the abolishment of the county line on ballots that gave preferential placement to the preferred candidates of local political bosses. If new candidates can emerge in the Assembly race because of that, he said it will lead to more and new legislative candidates running in future cycles. “Let’s call it an experiment. If this experiment is successful for people who run off the line this year, you’re going to see it more and more.”

As the conversation wrapped, Bawidamann stressed again that the No. 1 priority for the group is promoting a business-friendly environment.

“That helps consumers. It helps businesses. And it’s an ecosystem that creates jobs – and as it creates jobs, people spend more in the economy. And that’s what we’re looking for.”