Climate coalition walks back member organization’s primary threat

The Central Jersey Climate Coalition walked back threats made by some of its member organizations to primary Rep. Frank Pallone if he did not accede to a set of demands to demands related to the Green New Deal.

“I would like to correct a statement that was made by Anna-Marta Visky,” James Boyle, the coalition’s communications coordinator, said. “While OUR Revolution Monmouth County is a supporter of the coalition, they have not been involved in the planning process and cannot fully speak for the full coalition as they are not in communication with us.”

Visky, the chair of Our Revolution Monmouth County, said her organization would back primary challengers against Pallone if he did not accede to the coalition’s demands, which include calls on Pallone to hold hearings on the Green New Deal, back the plan, return roughly $15,000 in campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry he received during the last election cycle and refuse such contributions in the future.

Rutgers University’s branch of the AAUP-AFT and the state branch of Food and Water Watch indicated they were not ready to back primary challengers but did not shut the door on doing so.

The coalition itself won’t be backing anyone in the sixth, Boyle said, at least not yet.

“The Central Jersey Climate Coalition is indeed a political alliance, but we are not an electoral organization. We will not be, at this point, endorsing candidates for the democratic primary in 6th district,” Boyle said. “While some of our coalition members may have higher political aspirations, these goals do not reflect the mission of the coalition. As of right now, any kind of continued stalling or delay from Congressman Pallone will be met with escalation from below.”