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Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., speaks to fellow Democrats at the West Side Community Center in Asbury Park to discuss the Democratic Party's agenda.(Photo: Doug Hood, staff photographer)Buy Photo

ASBURY PARK - What was billed as a congressional town hall seemed at times like a group therapy session for heartbroken Democrats and progressives still trying to grasp how enough Americans could have possibly voted for Donald Trump to elect him president.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. D-N.J., came before a friendly gathering at the West Side Community Center on Dewitt Avenue this Saturday to boost morale and offer hope for the future to an audience who had mostly been invited to be there by the congressmans political operation.

Pallone said he believed in abolishing the Electoral College,among other things, but called on those present to think local and focus on the future. He counseled a standing-room only crowdto focus their energies on New Jerseys gubernatorial and legislative races this year, particularly in the states 11th legislative district which overlaps a portion of his 6th congressional district.

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Pallone explained that Republican politics today was being driven by theology, revision and ideology.

Thats not us, were practical. I mean, for the most part, Pallone quipped to laughter. We for the most part dont think ideologically. When I talk about the Affordable Care Act, I dont talk about it in ideological terms, I talk about it technically.

When I talk about immigration, I dont talk about it as Muslim vs. Christian, or Jewish or whatever. I say, weve got 11 million people here who are undocumented. We cant throw them out, thats not a practical solution. A practical solution is to have a pathway to citizenship, Pallone said as the crowd erupted in applause.

Pallone said their political opposition had successfully found a way for the tail to wag the dog, meaning the ideological right had diverted the attention of enough voters away from the substantive issues at stake today. Going forward, he said Democrats and progressives needed to rebuildand strengthenthe Democratic Party, starting in one's own neighborhoods.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., gives a pep talk and takes questions from Democrats and other progressives at the West Side Community Center in Asbury Park about disappointment in the election of President Donald Trump and how to resist moving forward. His advice: think state and local elections first.(Photo: Doug Hood, staff photographer)

Hillary Clinton lost Monmouth County by 30,000 votes, Pallone said. But she won in the 11th (legislative) district by 7,500 votes. The Republican freeholder candidates won Monmouth County by a third, but they lost in the 11th district by 3,000. So this is a Democratic district.

The 11th District is comprised of Allenhurst,Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune City, Neptune, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch.

Incumbent state Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Red Bank, who represents the 11th District,is expected be challenged for her seat in the Legislature by former Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal, who also addressed the rally on Saturday.

Gopal will run for Beck's state Senate seat on the Democratic ticket with incumbent Assembly members Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling, who unseated the Republican incumbents in 2015.

Pallone said it was essential that New Jersey elect a Democratic governor to succeed Chris Christie in November, beforea man in the room shouted: "Lock him up!" in reference to Christie on the issue of politically motivated lane closures atthe George Washington Bridge by members of the governor'ssenior staff in 2013.

During the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last July, it was Christie who presided overchants of "lock her up!" from delegates in reference to an FBI investigation offormer Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's email use.

Erik Larsen: 732-682-9359 or elarsen@gannettnj.com

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Rep. Pallone fires up disillusioned Democrats - Asbury Park Press