Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr. (D-Delran) raised an impressive $318,000 during the first quarter of 2024, and has $290,000 cash-on-hand for his bid to succeed Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) as the congressman from New Jersey’s 3rd district.
That brings Conaway’s total fundraising haul to about $359,526 since he announced his bid for Congress in early December of last year. He made no personal contributions to his campaign.
For a while, it looked like Conaway would coast into the seat after scoring decisive wins at Democratic county conventions in Burlington, Mercer, and Monmouth counties. But the race was upended one week ago when U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi signed a preliminary injunction that canceled Conaway’s ballot advantage by banning organization lines in the Democratic primary.
“Our grassroots campaign to put New Jersey families first is resonating with voters all across the district. I’m proud of the broad support we’ve built from passionate grassroots supporters from Burlington, Monmouth, and Mercer counties to propel our campaign forward,” Conaway said. “This campaign is built by and for the people of New Jersey’s 3rd district.”
According to the Conaway campaign, 70% of his first quarter money came from New Jersey donors, and almost 90% of his online contributions came from small-dollar donations.
This is the first glimpse of a full quarter fundraising effort for the open seat Kim is vacating to run for the U.S. Senate.
Four other candidates in the race, including Conaway’s chief rival – and running mate – Assembly Majority Whip Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel), have not yet revealed their fundraising numbers for the first three months of the year.
Civil rights attorney Joe Cohn, businesswoman Sarah Schoengood, and teacher Brian Schkeeper also seek the Democratic nomination.
Murphy released an internal poll this week showing that 49% of registered Democrats remained undecided about who should replace Kim in the House. Conaway leads Murphy, 22%-18%, in a matchup within the margin of error.
A 26-year member of the New Jersey State Assembly and chairman of the Health Committee, The 60-year-old Conaway is an Air Force veteran, physician, and lawyer.
“I have a track record of getting things done in the legislature,” stated Conaway. “If elected to Congress, I’ll take that fight to Washington, to protect our democracy, expand reproductive rights, make healthcare more affordable, and tackle climate change.”
If he wins the seat, Conaway will become just the fourth Black person to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives and the first from South Jersey.