Sue Altman, the presumptive Democratic nominee for Congress in the competitive 7th congressional district, announced an endorsement today from U.S. Senator Cory Booker.
“I’m proud to endorse my friend Sue Altman,” Booker said in a statement. “I’ve long respected her tenacity in fighting for New Jersey values and families. I look forward to continuing to fight with Sue to turn NJ-07 blue and regain the House majority.”
Altman has no Democratic primary opponents in her race for the 7th district, with several prospective challengers dropping out months ago. That’s allowed the state Democratic establishment to rally around Altman, who spent many years at odds with that same establishment as the state director of the progressive Working Families Party.
Previously endorsing Altman were all six county Democratic parties in the 7th district as well as five Democratic House members: Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), Donald Payne Jr. (D-Newark), Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), and Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch).
Altman’s uncontested primary sets her up for a general election fight against Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), who unseated Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) in 2022 and is widely seen as the most vulnerable Republican congressman in New Jersey this year. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently added Altman to its “Red to Blue” list for strong House challengers, an indication that the 7th district will attract substantial national attention.