Hoboken Democrats oted tonight to endorse Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) for U.S. Senate and Ravi Bhalla, the city’s two-term mayor, for Congress.
In a secret ballot vote, Kim won 83% of Hoboken county committee members, with 6% each going to Tammy Murphy and Patricia Campos-Medina. Former Newark school board member Lawrence Hamm and the incumbent, Bob Menendez, each received 2%; Menendez, who is under indictment on federal corruption charges, has not yet announced if he will seek re-election to a fourth term.
In the race for the 8th district House seat, Bhalla defeated incumbent Robert J. Menendez (D-Jersey City), 73%-25%, with 2% going to a third candidate, Kyle Jasey.
“The Hoboken Democratic Committee has once again affirmed their commitment to fair elections and a rejection of the undemocratic process undertaken by the HCDO. The committee executed a transparent and equitable process in which members were each given the same opportunity to have their voice heard,” said Democratic Municipal Chair Rachel Hodes. “Today’s outcome is a product of our years-long fight for transparency and equity in the political process.”
But Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, a former municipal chair, slammed the process as rigged for Bhalla.
“The Hoboken Dems squandered the chance to showcase democratic values, instead choosing to mirror the corrupt practices they claim to oppose – a committee predominantly chosen and led by Team Bhalla insiders, a dubious secret ballot process, and even barring candidates, including sitting congressmen, from meeting committee members,” Fisher said. “Mayor Bhalla’s involvement only underscores this hypocrisy, as he criticizes unfair processes at the county level while perpetuating them locally. Despite these advantages, it was clear to see support be revealed for Congressman Menendez’s re-election in Hoboken.”
Hoboken makes up about 6.5% of the votes cast in the Democratic primary in Hudson County.