Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-Mendham) and Assemblyman Christian Barranco (R-Jefferson) announced a slate of endorsements as the pair kick off what could be a competitive re-election campaign in the state’s 25th legislative district.
The endorsees include Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco (their fellow 25th district legislator), Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon, and Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi. They were joined by the GOP chairs of Morris and Passaic counties, Laura Marie Ali and Peter Murphy, and thirteen mayors of municipalities within the 25th.
Dunn, a former lobbyist for Sesame Street and district director for Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, was appointed to the Assembly in 2019 after Bucco ascended to the Senate. Barranco, a member of the influential International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, first won election to the Assembly in 2021.
“After seven years of unified Democratic control in Trenton, the results from last week show that voters are frustrated and ready for change in New Jersey,” Dunn said in a release. “Affordability remains the top concern among voters – whether it’s food prices, taxes, housing, or energy costs. Every step of the way Trenton Democrats have made it worse for families and seniors.”
President-elect Donald Trump narrowly won the 25th legislative district this year — 50.7%-49.3% not including third parties, as of Tuesday. In 2023, Barranco beat the closest Democratic challenger, Jonathan Torres, by about 1,500 votes.