Hunterdon Dems pick Drulis to run with Zwicker, Freiman

Hunterdon County Democrats tonight voted to give Mitchelle Drulis, a veteran staffer and activist, the organization line to run for the open State Assembly seat in the 16th district.

Drulis, who served as Rep. Tom Malinowski’s district director and as chief of staff to Assemblyman Joseph Egan (D-New Brunswick), emerged as the consensus choice for the seat after freshman Sadaf Jaffer (D-Montgomery) unexpectedly opted not to seek a second term.

She was unopposed for the Hunterdon organization line, and must still go through conventions in Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset.

“I am honored to receive the Hunterdon County Democratic Committee nomination for Assembly in the 16th District. Thank you to Chairwoman Arlene Perez, Democratic Municipal Chairs, and County Committee members for your support and the trust you have placed in me,” said Drulis. “I am ready to get to work for the families throughout the 16th district and hope to become the first Democrat from Hunterdon County to be elected to the state legislature in over 40 years this fall.

If Drulis wins, she will be the first Hunterdon Democrat in the legislature since Barbara McConnell (D-Flemington) gave up her seat after four years to run for governor in 1981.

Drulis will run on the Hunterdon line with State Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick) and Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-Hillsborough) in the June primary.  They had no opposition for renomination.

“We are proud of what we’ve been able to deliver to invest in critical infrastructure projects, access to quality healthcare, and quality education for Hunterdon County families,” Zwicker and Freiman said in a joint statement. “We look forward to continuing the work when we are re-elected this fall.”

The 16th district, which became more competitive after last year’s legislative redistricting, includes f Princeton, South Brunswick, Rocky Hill, Montgomery, Millstone, Hillsborough, Branchburg, Raritan Township, Readington Township, Flemington, High Bridge, Lebanon Borough, Clinton Town, and Clinton Township.