Former DNC chairman endorses Varela for NJ-7

Tom Perez, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2017 to 2021 and the U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Barack Obama, is getting involved in the race to flip New Jersey’s most competitive congressional seat.

Perez announced this morning that he’s endorsing Brian Varela, one of six Democrats running for the 7th congressional district, saying he’s the best candidate to take down two-term Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield).

“Brian Varela understands that Democrats win when we organize everywhere and fight for working people,” Perez, whose own forays into elected politics have taken place in Maryland, said in a statement. “He has built an impressive grassroots campaign grounded in delivering economic opportunity, worker empowerment, bringing down costs, and fighting the chaos and corruption that Tom Kean Jr refuses to stand up to. Brian has demonstrated both the vision and the campaign strength needed to win this race and serve New Jersey families in Congress.”

Varela’s campaign has focused on earning local endorsements across the 7th district, but he’s also attracted attention from an unusual array of state and national politicians; alongside Perez, also on Varela’s side are former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, former State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford), and the Latino Victory Fund.