Brennan releases second ad in crowded 32nd district primary

Katie Brennan, a Democratic Assembly candidate in the crowded 32nd district primary, released her second ad on Wednesday morning. 

The 30-second spot highlights her advocacy work for survivors of sexual assault, including her support for state and federal legislation. The ad will air on television and digital, according to the release.

“Katie’s story shows who she really is. She’s someone who has the courage to stand up for herself and the compassion to fight for others, and she knows how to win,” campaign manager Tori Stowell said in a release. “When the system failed her, she took on some very powerful people to fix it for everyone. She’s not afraid to fight for what’s right, whether it’s protecting survivors, standing up to Trump, or making housing more affordable.”

Brennan accused a former official in Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration of sexually assaulting her during Murphy’s first campaign, for which she volunteered. Brennan settled a lawsuit against the state in 2020—she donated her share of the $1 million settlement to a charity for sexual assault survivors.

Like her first ad, the commercial is shot in a single continuous take.

Brennan’s first ad, released late last month, highlighted her focus on improving housing affordability and experience as a housing expert.

The 32nd district, which includes parts of Jersey City and Hoboken, will be home to a crowded Democratic primary this June.

Brennan is running on a slate with Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

Incumbent Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-Jersey City) is running on Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop’s ticket alongside Jersey City Councilman Yousef Saleh.

The Hudson Democratic Organization is backing Jennie Pu, the director of the Hoboken Public Library and a PTA president in Jersey City, and Crystal Fonseca, a manager at the Jersey City Department of Public Safety and a former Newark school board member.

Incumbent John Allen, once chief of staff for Bhalla, is not running for re-election.

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Transcript:

“I’m Katie Brennan, and after surviving a sexual assault in the workplace, I turned pain into power, winning a lawsuit against the state and donating the settlement to local charity. Then I took on the government, where I championed over a dozen state and federal laws that protect women. Now I’m running for state assembly to stand up to Donald Trump, stop sexual assault and harassment in the workplace, and turn my experience into our results.”