The Democratic National Committee announced a $1.5 million investment in New Jersey in the lead-up to November’s gubernatorial election, one of the party’s largest investments into the Garden State during an off-year election cycle.
The release states that the money, which will go into the New Jersey Coordinated Campaign, will help hire regional directors, organizers, and staff; fund voter contact efforts; test messaging methods; and expand outreach to Black, Latino, and Asian American voters who shifted to the GOP in the 2024 election. The sum comes from a July fundraiser at Gov. Phil Murphy’s Middletown home, an event that featured former President Barack Obama and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for governor.
Om Savargaonkar was named coordinated campaign director. He managed the 2023 campaign of state Sen. Andrew Zwicker, Roy Freiman, and Mitchelle Drulis in the 16th legislative district, then went on to work for the Biden/Harris presidential campaigns, before working as the statewide organizing director during Sherrill’s primary campaign.
Sherrill is looking to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. She will face former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli in November’s general election. After Murphy’s close-call re-election victory against Ciattarelli in 2021 and a hefty swing to the right between the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, Democrats are increasing their investment in the state to ensure it stays blue.
DNC Chairman Ken Martin said the spending is the next step in the DNC’s plans to invest in messaging against the GOP nationwide.
“Six months into his second term, Donald Trump has given New Jersey families higher costs, fewer job opportunities, and has gone after their health care and food assistance — but this November, we’re going to give Republicans a lesson in consequences,” Martin said. “Republicans, like Jack Ciattarelli, are all too happy to betray the families they represent to further the agenda of Trump and his billionaire friends. New Jerseyans deserve Democratic leaders who will fight back against Trump’s chaos and cruelty while delivering better days for their families.”
State Democratic Chairman LeRoy Jones Jr. thanked the DNC for its investment.
“With all eyes on New Jersey as Mikie Sherrill takes on Trump-lackey Jack Ciattarelli, we are thankful for the DNC investment in our state ahead of the November election,” Jones said. “New Jersey deserves a governor like Mikie who will fight to lower costs, protect our health care, and stand up to Donald Trump. Today’s investment from the DNC will support the personnel and campaign tactics that will help send Ciattarelli packing and elect big majorities in the state house this fall.”