Gillibrand backing Youngblood for Congress

It appears that U.S. Senator Kristen Gillibrand has endorsed Tanzie Youngblood for the Democratic nomination for Conrgess in New Jersey’s 2nd district.

The New York Democrat, viewed as a potential presidential candidate in 2020, used social media on Friday to provide a late boost Youngblood’s coffers in advance of Tuesday’s primary election.    The front-runner for the nomination is State Sen. Jeff Van Drew, a right-of-center Democrat who has been endorsed by the state party establishment and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Gillibrand’s decision to wade into New Jersey politics with a late endorsement gives Youngblood her first major Democratic supporter – and was done without the blessings of Gov. Phil Murphy, Sen. Bob Menendez, and Sen. Cory Booker, also a potential 2020 candidate.

Gillibrand described Youngblood as a “former teacher and Blue Star mother running…to fight for a more inclusive, progressive future.”

One insider seemed unimpressed by Gillibrand telling New Jersey Democrats to vote for Youngblood, suggesting that her endorsement of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo over progressive Cynthia Nixon puts her in a “do as I say, not as I do” position in New Jersey.