Spiller endorses Payne for re-election

Montclair Mayor and New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) president Sean Spiller endorsed Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-Newark) for re-election today, giving Payne yet another important endorsement as he seeks a sixth full term in Congress.

“Donald Payne is a progressive leader Democrats can count on,” Spiller said in a statement. “Congressman Payne has been a stalwart advocate for so many critical issues, including casting key votes to pass the American Rescue plan, preserve access to affordable health care and protect voting rights… Along with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, Montclair is fortunate to have such strong representation in Washington.”

This is, in some ways, Spiller’s second distinct endorsement of Payne. The NJEA, New Jersey’s largest teachers union and one of its most powerful labor organizations of any kind, gave its backing to Payne in January, an endorsement which Spiller himself announced. 

Payne, who succeeded his late father in Congress in 2012, faces a challenge from Imani Oakley, who has held a number of jobs in recent years. Oakley has attempted to cast herself as the more progressive alternative to Payne and raised a respectable $121,158 last quarter, but the incumbent outraised her with $224,646 and has gotten key endorsements from Democratic figures like Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez.