New Jerseyan Fatima Heyward has been elected president of the Young Democrats of America, narrowly defeating Kati Durkin by 25 votes, 1,240 to 1,215, at their national convention in Philadelphia today.
Heyward, a 31-year-old Marlton resident and Rider University alumnus, has served as the president of the New Jersey Young Democrats since 2019. She works for Teach America and previously worked with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, the group’s political arm. Three years ago, Gov. Phil Murphy named Heyward to the New Jersey Amistad Commission, the youngest member of the panel.
Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, and Lt. Governor Tahesha Way had endorsed Hayward in advance of today’s election.
She succeeds Quentin Wathum-Ocama.
Durkin, a lobbyist for the Washington Federation of State Employees who has worked on campaigns in Idaho and Wisconsin, had served as western vice president of the organization.
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