Veteran Democratic strategist David Parano is the new executive director of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, taking over the day-to-day leadership of the state party as Democrats prepare for the 2026 midterm elections and begin laying the groundwork for the legislative races next year and future statewide contests.
Parano succeeds Saily Avelenda and assumes the post with the backing of Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Democratic State Chairman LeRoy Jones, Jr.
A data and grassroots field expert, Parano has worked on hundreds of campaigns at the local, county, state, and federal levels over the last few decades, building relationships with elected officials, labor leaders, grassroots activists, and campaign professionals statewide
“Bringing his decades of ground game experience to the Executive Director role, Dave Parano, along with Chairman Jones, is poised to build on the successes of the 2025 gubernatorial campaign, growing coalitions across our state and talking to voters everywhere so that we can keep doing the critical work that drives down costs and make government work for families,” said Sherrill.
Jones said Democrats were “fortunate to have someone of Dave Parano’s caliber and with his tremendous level of experience to guide us through the next important chapter for our New Jersey Democratic State Committee.”
“I have been working closely with Dave for a number of years and have seen firsthand his level of commitment to advancing our democratic values while building our Democratic Party,” Jones stated. “Dave’s relationships, his knowledge and his tenacity were integral components to Governor Sherrill’s historic victory last year, and I know he is the right person to help lead our team in the face of the tremendous challenges we continue to confront each day from the White House and MAGA Republicans here at home.”
Jones also praised Avelenda, who ran the state party prior to her appointment as executive director of the North Jersey District Water Commission in March.
“It’s important to acknowledge and thank Saily Avelenda for her hard work and dedication and for the important role she played in our Party’s success,” said Jones. “We are fortunate to have someone of Dave Parano’s caliber and with his tremendous level of experience to guide us through the next important chapter for our New Jersey Democratic State Committee.”
Parano said that Sherrill and Jones are committed to building the Democratic Party in New Jersey.
“Governor Sherrill and Chairman Jones have proven themselves to be effective and inspirational partners in the continuing ascendance of the New Jersey Democratic Party and I am very proud to have the opportunity to move forward with them and our team at the NJDSC,” he said. “Time and again I am reminded that the true strength of our Party lies in our diversity and our ideas, and I believe that when we work together democrats can stand against any individual or group who would seek to tear us apart for their own gain. We’ve already hit the ground running with an eye towards November and I’m looking forward to catching up with old friends and collaborators and meeting even more new ones in these next weeks and months.”