Durr says he will skip GOP conventions

Former state Sen. Ed Durr, a Republican candidate for governor, is doubling down on his anti-establishment messages by announcing he will not participate in GOP county conventions this year.

Durr is the second GOP candidate to skip the conventions—radio personality Bill Spadea announced he would skip the conventions earlier this week. The bypassing of the conventions shows the diminished power of county parties in an era without the party line—county parties can still award slogans to their preferred candidates but not a preferred spot on the ballot.

“While there are two or three conventions that may be fair, the outcome has already been decided for the rest,” Durr said in a release. “That’s what the political establishment does—they go into a backroom and decide who they are getting behind, who is getting the special interest money and who gets county party resources.”

The former state senator, who shocked the state when he upset Senate President Steve Sweeney in 2021, said he would take his message directly to the voters.

“Fortunately, without a county party line the establishment can be defeated,” Durr said. “I will continue to take my campaign directly to the people attending meets and greets and setting up my own where there are none. I’m in this to win it. I shocked the political establishment once and I will do it again by going directly to the people.”

Durr also said he wouldn’t participate in the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Walk to Washington. The walk features a train ride and reception with New Jersey officials, businessmen, and lobbyists. Tickets for non-members cost $750.

“I made it clear in last night’s debate that this campaign is about the people, regular working-class New Jerseyans,” Durr said. “I was invited on the train to Washington, I declined because I have no interest in riding a train filled with lobbyists and the political establishment for two hours. Besides, I don’t know many working-class folks who have $700 to ride a train.”