Malinowski will seek support for U.S. Senate bid tonight

Former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) will appear before a group of Democratic municipal chairs in Union County tonight to make his case for a possible U.S. Senate bid, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.

Malinowski has been calling party leaders to gauge whether Democratic leaders in his old congressional district would support him if he decides to run statewide.

He represented 13 of the 22 Union County municipalities during his four years as a congressman and won 60% of the vote in the Union County portion of New Jersey’s 7th district in his 2022 campaign against the Republican who unseated him, Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield).

Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) will also meet with the 22 municipal chairs leaders; another candidate, First Lady Tammy Murphy, will have her chance to take questions from the local party leaders in Union County on Saturday.

All three candidates will appear virtually.

The Union County Democratic Chairman, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, is likely to endorse Murphy.  A top Democrat told the New Jersey Globe that involving municipal chairs creates an early screening process that will allow Scutari to make an early personal endorsement.

The full committee will not officially vote to award the line until February or March.

The incumbent, Bob Menendez, who is under indictment, was not invited to be interviewed by Union County Democratic municipal leaders.

The organization line in Union County is awarded by a vote of the municipal chairs.  Each municipality, from Elizabeth to Winfield, gets one vote.  Scutari can break a tie.