A coalition of labor and grassroots progressive groups has raised over $500,000 to help Democrat Sue Altman unseat Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) in New Jersey’s 7th district, the New Jersey Globe has learned.
The New Jersey Education Association, the Communications Workers of America, the Working Families Party, 32BJ SEIU, New Jersey Citizen Action, Make the Road New Jersey Action, and Blue Wave New Jersey are expected to use the funds to pay for digital ads, direct mail, paid canvassing, and even airplane banners in their bid to flip the 7th district seat.
“The road to a just, pro-worker Congress runs right through New Jersey, and CWA members are ready to get to work like never before to make sure that working people win at the ballot box in November,” said CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor. “We cannot let billionaires continue to buy their way into power and pave the way for politicians who want to strip us of our rights, our union, our retirement, and our freedoms.”
Trainor called Altman “a true champion for labor who has been in the trenches on behalf of New Jersey’s working families throughout her entire career.”
“We’ll be knocking on doors, making phone calls, and speaking with every single voter we can reach to make sure this district knows which candidate stands with us,” he said.
NJEA President Sean Spiller, a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination next year, said that Altman, as a former teacher, “understands the importance of investing in our public schools to ensure every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.”
“Sue will work to keep divisive and harmful political agendas out of our schools so that educators can focus on what matters: helping their students succeed and keeping New Jersey’s public schools the best in the nation,” stated Spiller.
Kevin Brown, the executive vice president of 32BJ SEIU, called Kean a MAGA congressman “that votes to cut programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security.”
“It’s time to send Sue, a true advocate for workers, to Washington,” he said.