Somerset County Commissioner Shanel Robinson (D-Franklin) has gotten the support of Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-Franklin), her hometown assemblyman and one of her political mentors, in her bid for the 12th congressional district.
Robinson is the most prominent Somerset elected official in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), and is the favorite to win the official support of the Somerset Democrats at their convention next week. An endorsement from Danielsen, who has represented parts of the county in the legislature since 2014, likely boosts her further.
“I have spent decades fighting to strengthen our democracy and elevate local leaders who put people first,” Danielsen said in a statement. “Shanel is exactly the kind of public servant New Jersey’s 12th district needs in Congress. I watched her grow into this role, and I am proud to offer my full and unequivocal support.”
The municipal Democratic committee in Robinson’s and Danielsen’s shared hometown of Franklin is also supporting Robinson’s congressional campaign.
Danielsen is the eighth sitting legislator to weigh in on the 12th district primary thus far. Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton) has the support of three of her fellow Mercer County legislators, while East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen has endorsements from four legislators from his native Middlesex County. (Danielsen’s district includes some Middlesex towns, but most of his Middlesex constituents aren’t in the 12th district.)
How much those endorsements will mean, however, is up for debate, especially since there are other candidates like Sue Altman, Adam Hamawy, and Jay Vaingankar who are raising plenty of money without any formal local support.
For example, in last month’s special Democratic primary for the 11th congressional district, the winner, Analilia Mejia, had far less institutional support than her three top opponents. In fact, only one sitting state legislator endorsed Mejia before her primary victory: Joe Danielsen.