Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr. (D-Delanco) picked up a key endorsement in his bid for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 3rd district today, winning the endorsement of Senate Majority Conference Leader Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch).
As a college student twenty years ago, Gopal served as a legislative aide to Conaway. Now, Gopal is positioned to help his one-time boss win the organization line in Monmouth County, where Gopal is now a three-term state senator and former Democratic county chairman.
“He has been a friend since then and one of my strongest supporters during my tenure in the State Senate here in Monmouth County,” said Gopal. “Dr. Conaway is a champion for New Jersey families. His incredible work expanding access to health care for hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans, lowering the cost of prescription drugs for seniors, and making sure our kids have access to clean air and clean drinking water made him a valuable and effective partner in the legislature.”
Conaway and Assembly Majority Whip Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel) are facing off in a primary for the House seat that Rep. And Kim (D-Moorestown) is giving up to run for the U.S. Senate. The two are running mates in the Burlington-based 7th district; Burlington County made up 66.1% of the 2022 Democratic primary vote in the 3rd district.
Ten municipalities in western Monmouth County were added to the 3rd district in the last round of redistricting – Allentown, Englishtown, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Holmdel, Manalapan, Marlboro, Roosevelt, and Upper Freehold – and combined make up 12.4% of the vote in the last Democratic primary. Gopal, whose legislative district includes two towns in the congressional district, can deliver convention votes to Conaway.
Five towns in Mercer County, including Hamilton Township, were 31.5% of the Democratic primary vote two years ago. Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) are still considered potential candidates. Murphy has ties to that part of Mercer from her time as chief of staff to State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro).
All three counties in the 3rd district have open convention processes.
“I am honored to have the endorsement of my friend and colleague Senator Vin Gopal, who just won the deep red part of CD-3 that is in his legislative district,” Conaway said. “As a Member of Congress, I will work hard each and every day for the residents of western Monmouth County.”
The seat became considerably more Democratic after redistricting, with heavily Republican Ocean County removed, but it is not a general election lock. Joe Biden won 56.4% in the current 3rd in 2020, and Kim held the seat last year with 55.5%, but Republican Jack Ciattarelli took 48.9% in the district when he challenged Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021.