Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Delran)’s campaign for New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district picked up a number of new endorsements from notable Burlington County Democrats today, including five countywide elected officials and the mayor of the county’s largest town.
“Dr. Herb Conaway has served Burlington County families with great distinction,” County Commission Director Felicia Hopson (D-Willingboro) said in a statement. “From his years fighting for abortion access and funding for women’s health to his work keeping our county informed and safe during the COVID-19 public health emergency, Herb has always advocated for Burlington County residents. I know that in Congress, Herb will continue to fight with the same passion and drive for everyone, especially New Jersey’s women.”
Also endorsing Conaway are two of Hopson’s fellow commissioners, Tom Pullion (D-Edgewater Park) and Dan O’Connell (D-Delran); County Sheriff James Kostoplis; County Clerk Joanne Schwartz; Evesham Mayor Jaclyn Veasy and Councilwoman Heather Cooper, the county party vice-chair; the mayors of Delran, Burlington City, and Bordentown; and four municipal Democratic chairs.
The endorsements are more bad news for Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel), Conaway’s only declared opponent in next year’s primary to succeed Senate candidate Andy Kim (D-Moorestown). (Among those who endorsed Conaway today is Mount Laurel Councilwoman Karen Cohen, whom Murphy – a Mount Laurel resident whose husband is the township’s Democratic municipal chairman – helped elect in 2020.)
Burlington County Democratic Chairman Joe Andl endorsed Conaway earlier this week; Murphy responded by issuing a statement calling Andl’s involvement in the primary “tremendously disrespectful and frankly hypocritical.”
State Sen. Troy Singleton (D-Delran), meanwhile, is attempting to play peacemaker. Singleton, who represents the same legislative district as both Murphy and Conaway, said today that anyone in the county should feel free to back either candidate “without any fear of consequence or retribution.”
“Each has earned the opportunity to stand before you and make their case as to who should be our party’s standard bearer,” Singleton said. “The process to determine our party’s nominee must be transparent and inclusive of the voices of our county committee.”