Macurdy has enormous $94,000 fundraising haul for Assembly bid against Muñoz and Matsikoudis

Andrew Macurdy has raised a whopping $94,095 since entering the race for the Democratic nomination for State Assembly in November and has $88,094 cash-on-hand as he prepares to take on Republican Assemblywomen Nancy Muñoz (R-Summit) and Michele Matsikoudis (R-New Providence) in the politically competitive 21st legislative district.

Maccurdy is a former state and federal prosecutor from Summit making his first run for public office.

“I am motivated by each contribution made to the campaign.  Every family and friend lending their support makes me want to work even harder to achieve better representation for our district,” Macurdy said. “We are in a solid position to begin 2025.  I look forward to building on the momentum, and to knocking on doors and meeting residents in living rooms this year.”

Macurdy is a 38-year-old Harvard Law graduate who clerked for two federal judges, served as an Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney, and as counsel to two Democratic attorneys general before joining a private law firm nearly two years ago.

He comes from a military family: his grandfather was a World War II fighter pilot who was shot down and survived for months behind enemy lines before being rescued.  His father is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and military pilot.

A political newcomer, Macurdy was an early donor to Rep. Andy Kim’s bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, and hosted canvas launches from his home for Kim and congressional candidate Sue Altman during the primary and general elections.

Muñoz and Matsikoudis have not yet announced their fourth-quarter fundraising haul.

Democrats haven’t won the Union County-based 21st district since 1989, but it’s becoming increasingly bluer.  Kamala Harris carried the district by over twelve percentage points last fall; Biden won it by over seventeen points in 2020, and Clinton took it by almost eight points in 2016.

In 2021, Gov. Phil Murphy and his Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, nearly tied in the 21st: Ciattarelli took the district by 290 votes, 49.8% to 48.5%.

This will be the first time in Muñoz’s sixteen-year political career that she may not be on the ballot with Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), her running mate in six Assembly races.  Bramnick, who moved to the Senate in 2021, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor this year.

Muñoz won by 1,554 votes in 2017, 2,054 in 2019, 4,350 in 2021, and 2,503 in 2023. In the ’21 governor’s race, Republican Jack Ciattarelli edged out Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in the 21st district by an incredibly narrow 49.8% to 49.5% margin.

Muñoz has built up a moderate legislative record of her own since arriving in the Assembly in 2009 under sad circumstances; her husband, Assemblyman Eric Muñoz (R-Summit), had unexpectedly died at 61.