Sollami Covello is considering run for Congress

The race for an open congressional seat in New Jersey’s 3rd district quickly began to take shape on Saturday following Rep. Andy Kim’s announcement that he will instead challenge Bob Menendez in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate next year.

Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello told the New Jersey Globe that she is mulling a congressional bid.

“I’m definitely interested,” Sollami Covello said.  “I believe after serving the county for seventeen years as county clerk, I am experienced and prepared for this next step to serve on the national level.  I’m an attorney and a leader.

Two Burlington County lawmakers, Senate Majority Whip Troy Singleton (D-Delran) and Assembly Majority Whip Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel), said earlier today that they would consider running for Kim’s seat.   Burlington makes up 68% of the Democratic primary electorate in the district.

“I am waiting to see who else is running, but am definitely considering it,” Sollami Covello said.

Sollami Covello worked in Gov. Jim Florio’s office as a policy advisor and later as a legal examiner for the New Jersey Department of Education and as Assistant Mercer County Counsel before her election as county clerk in 2005.  She defeated Republican incumbent Cathy DiCostanzo by 237 votes out of more than 94,000 cast, 50.1%-49.9%.    Since then, Sollami Covello has been re-elected three times.

She is a former president of the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey.

Her late father, Paul Sollami, served seven terms on the Mercer County Board of Freeholders.

Other potential Democratic House candidates include Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin, Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik, and East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, the Mercer County Democratic chair.

The 3rd district was held by Republicans until Kim unseated two-term incumbent Thomas MacArthur (R-Toms River) in 2018.