Christie, of course, governs a state that, polls indicate, supports establishing same-sex marriage and protecting a woman’s reproductive rights. So how does he walk the fine line, governing effectively in a state whose constituents have progressive social values, without disqualifying himself from the 2016 Republican primaries in which conservative Tea Party activists are the gatekeepers to the nomination?

In 2003, New Jersey was one of the first states to pass “domestic partnerships,” but the state’s Supreme Court struck them down. In 2006, the New Jersey Legislature voted to permit “civil unions.” In 2009, Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine committed to sign a marriage equality bill if the Democratic Legislature sent one to his desk. They weren’t able to make it happen in the few remaining months of Corzine’s term.

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The Star-Ledger reports:

The Senate approved the bill (A3371), 28-9; the Assembly passed it Monday. It now heads to the governor's desk for consideration.

Gov. Chris Christie has publicly stated his opposition to conversion therapy, so supporters are hopeful he will sign it into law. Opponents say the bill violates the rights of parents to make decisions for their children.

If Christie signs the bill into law, New Jersey will become the second state to ban the practice, after California.

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Lambda Legal is planning to file a motion, in a case currently before the New Jersey Superior Court, that argues that current New Jersey law is at odds with the state Supreme Court's 2006 holding that gay couples are required to get the same benefits as straight couples.

From The Washington Post:

In response to the 2006 ruling, the legislature passed a bill establishing civil unions in the state. Since civil unions were adopted in the state, marriage advocates have argued that they are not equal to marriage. The DOMA ruling bolsters that claim. While couples in civil unions may get some federal benefits after the ruling — it’s a legal gray area — they will not get the automatic benefits enjoyed by spouses in states where gay marriage is legal.

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“It’s just another example of judicial supremacy rather than having the government run by the people we actually vote for,” he said on NJ 101.5 FM, the Star-Ledger reports. “I thought it was a bad decision.”

He continued: “I thought that Justice (Anthony) Kennedy’s opinion in many respects was incredibly insulting to those people, 340-some members of Congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, and Bill Clinton. They basically said the only reason to pass that bill was to demean people.”

Christie, who last year vetoed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey, said Wednesday that he would do so again if a similar bill reached his desk.

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"Now that DOMA has been declared invalid by the U.S. Supreme Court, New Jersey should no longer discriminate by upholding civil unions and instead, grant full marriage which is now confirmed by our federal government," Gusciora told the Express-Times.

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“In Newark, we got guns off the street, attracted new businesses, created new jobs, and improved our public schools," he says in the ad, adding: "Washington ducks our problems. I won’t. Join me. The work starts now."

Watch:

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The celebrity cook, whose butter-laden recipes have come in for much critique over the years (not least when she admitted to Type II diabetes right before promoting a pharmaceutical product), is particularly open to criticism now that she's been fired from the Food Network for her racist comments.

But a New York Times photo of Deen's supporters, private citizens who disagreed with her firing and were visiting her Georgia restaurant, prompted plenty of commentary online about how those supporters looked. One example, from the New York Times's media critic, is below:

[embedtweet id="348815020676755457"]

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If the bill is signed into law, New Jersey will be the second state to ban the practice, after California.

But, Reuters reports:

Governor Chris Christie in March said he opposed the practice of conversion therapy, but on Monday his office declined to comment on whether he would sign or veto the bill.

If enacted, the measure would ban therapists or social workers from performing therapy that aims to change the sexual orientation of patients under age 18.

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From the Star-Ledger:

In a one-page notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said Somerset Democratic Chairwoman Peg Schaffer’s request for the state’s highest court to take up her challenge is denied.

That leaves the Oct. 16 special Senate election on the calendar.

Schaffer, who has said she is not representing her county party, contended Gov. Chris Christie did not have the authority to set the date before November’s general election. She argued voters would become confused and the situation would create disenfranchisement for many residents.

Christie had reportedly called the election for October to avoid appearing on the ballot alongside the very popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who likely would have also caused a surge in Democratic turnout.

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“It’s an awful shock. James Gandolfini was a fine actor, a Rutgers alum and a true Jersey guy," Christie wrote. "I was a huge fan of his and the character he played so authentically, Tony Soprano. I have gotten to know Jimmy and many of the other actors in the Sopranos cast and I can say that each of them are an individual New Jersey treasure. Mary Pat and I express our deepest sympathies to Mr. Gandolfini’s wife and children, and our prayers are with them at this terrible time.”

Gandolfini died on Wednesday at age 51, reportedly of cardiac arrest while on vacation with his family in Italy.

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Politicker NJ reports:

The court cited NJSA 19:27-6, which provides that if a vacancy occurs in the the US Senate the election shall take place at the general election next succeeding unless the vacancy occurs within 70 days next preceding the primary election prior to the general election.

"Without question, the Governor was authorized to call a special election in this circumstance, where the vacancy occurred one day prior to the primary," the court's decision reads.

The challenge was brought by attorney Peg Schaffer, who also chairs a local county Democratic Committee. She and her law firm had argued that a special election would be too costly, and would suppress the vote.

Christie reportedly decided to call a special election to avoid appearing on the same ballot as Cory Booker, an early frontrunner in the Democratic primary, and to avoid a surge in Democratic turnout for the general election.

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Sample quote from Fallon's band: "Chris Christie's about to give New Jersey a huge election, and he's putting it in the hands of the people."

Watch:

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In a potential general election match-up, Booker also leads Republican Steve Lonegan by a margin of 54 - 27 percent.

From the poll:

New Jersey voters have a 57 - 14 percent favorable opinion of Booker, while 25 percent don't know enough about him to form an opinion. The "don't know enough" measures for the other contenders are:

• Pallone - 68 percent;
• Holt - 67 percent;
• Lonegan - 62 percent.

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The staff member says Booker plans to announce his entry into the race Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the plans ahead of the official announcement.

Booker had been expected to run. He announced last year that he was considering seeking the office in 2014, and he has been raising money for a run.

Lautenberg died Monday at 89.

A special primary is scheduled for August with a general election in October.

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The two first met in the late 1980s at the law firm of Dughi, Hewit & Palatucci (Bill Palatucci being a big GOP fundraiser and Christie booster), where Christie had started a few years earlier. When Christie was nominated to be U.S. attorney for New Jersey in 2001, a newspaper cartoon showed him sitting across a table from President Bush, who was holding a copy of the future-governor's résumé that showed no experience as a criminal prosecutor. Chiesa framed the drawing and gave it to his friend, saying, "You and I both know how wrong this is. We'll laugh about this cartoon."

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Chiesa, who worked with Christie in the U.S. attorney's office before becoming the top lawyer for the state government, will take office effective Monday. Chiesa won't seek the office in an October election to fill the seat, Christie said.

Chiesa, a Republican, has worked for Christie almost his entire career. He was Christie's chief counsel until he was nominated in December 2011 to be attorney general.

"I've only had these chances because of the governor," Chiesa said Thursday. "I don't kid myself."

Chiesa has known the governor for more than 20 years. Their relationship began when Christie interviewed Chiesa as a law clerk for the firm Dughi & Hewit. Chiesa would spend nine years in the U.S. attorney's office before leaving for a short stint as a partner at the law firm of Wolff & Samson. He then worked on Christie's transition team.

As attorney general, he has overseen gun buyback programs all over the state, but has not had a particularly high profile.

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At a news conference where he laid out the process he intends to follow for filling the seat, Christie didn't answer the big question of whom he'll appoint to the seat in the meantime.

The move could bring criticism for putting more elections on the calendar, which can be expensive. The state Office of Legislative Services says each election costs the state about $12 million.

In this case, there would be two — an Aug. 13 primary and the special election on Oct. 16.

"The people must choose," Christie said.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a Democrat, announced months ago that he was planning to seek the seat.

Lautenberg, who turned 89 in January and was the oldest member of the Senate, at first bristled at Booker's candidacy. But the lawmaker, who was first elected to the Senate in 1982, announced in February that he would not seek re-election next year and would retire when his term expired at the beginning of 2015.

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Sweeney added that if Christie doesn't call it for this November, “We’ll take it to court.”

The Star-Ledger explains the dilemma:

Democrats believe state law requires the governor to hold the special election in November, but Republicans believe they can wait until next November, an argument supported by the research arm of the Legislature.

Christie is reportedly wary of the prospect of appearing on the same ballot as Cory Booker, who was planning to run when Lautenberg retired in 2014 anyway. Booker, who is very popular in the state, could potentially energize the Democratic base and cut into Christie's lead in his own race for reelection, set for November.

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Hugging Barack Obama was maybe the best political decision New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has ever made, and he's made some very canny ones. I'm not saying his embrace of the president following Hurricane Sandy was entirely cynical, but it was very boisterous, and it continued through last week, when Obama visited the Jersey Shore and once again made nice with Christie before the national TV news cameras.

Here's what's odd about this Republican governor who currently seems much more popular with Democrats than national Republicans: He's quite conservative. Especially for the Northeast. That was, in fact, his original appeal, back when conservatives were thrilled about him: He's the most conservative possible successful statewide officeholder for a blue state like New Jersey.

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The New Jersey political world – and that most certainly includes Chris Christie and his inner circle – was well aware of Frank Lautenberg’s failing health long before he succumbed to viral pneumonia Monday morning at age 89. The senator’s rapid decline had fueled months of quiet and uncomfortably morbid conversations between and among members of both parties, who sought to balance basic good taste with the very practical questions that Lautenberg’s passing would raise.

Lautenberg announced in February that he wouldn’t seek another term in 2014. He had hoped to do this on his own terms, but Cory Booker’s poorly timed decision to throw his own name into the ’14 mix back in December created the impression that Lautenberg was surrendering in the face of a fight. After that February announcement, Lautenberg’s condition seemed to worsen and his prolonged absence from the Senate led members of both parties to conclude that he might resign or die before the end of next year.

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