Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D-Newark) is staying out of endorsing a gubernatorial candidate as the race heats up.
With three potential Essex County candidates — Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Sean Spiller, and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) — the four-term assemblywoman isn’t ready to take sides.
Speight also declined to comment on the upcoming appointment of a Newark councilmember to replace LaMonica McIver, who was elected to Congress on Wednesday. The appointee will remain in the position until a November 2025 special election, and Speight declined to answer a question about an unelected member of the city council remaining in office until the results of the November 2025 special election are certified.
Speight’s husband, Bishop Andre Speight, the Newark Central Ward Democratic chairman, is running for McIver’s Council seat.