Varela picks up more Hunterdon support three days before convention

Three days before Hunterdon County Democrats meet in Flemington to award their endorsement in the 7th congressional district, businessman Brian Varela is touting dozens of new supporters who will get to cast votes for him on Sunday.

Among the endorsers are East Amwell Committeeman Al Nardi, High Bridge Councilman Curtis Nowell, Califon Councilwoman Cathy Smith, and Bloomsbury Councilwoman Cheryl Whitmore; Democratic State Committeeman Khush Pall and former Democratic State Committeewoman Karen Becker, the runners-up in the 2025 and 2024 races for county Democratic chair, respectively; the Democratic municipal chairs of East Amwell, Kingwood, and Bethlehem; and 20 other members of the county Democratic committee.

Varela had previously unveiled a number of other endorsements from Hunterdon County, particularly in the county seat of Flemington, and his campaign says he’ll go into the convention with 45 public Hunterdon supporters in total.

“Brian’s track record speaks for itself – he gets results because he knows how to bring people together,” East Amwell Democratic municipal chair Paul Carluccio said in a statement. “He’s a proven fighter who can mobilize the grassroots energy we need to defeat Tom Kean Jr. and actually deliver for working families in Congress.”

Five other candidates will be competing at the Hunterdon convention, but going off of endorsements, Varela’s main competition appears to be Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot. Bennett has the support of local Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis (D-Raritan Township) – whose husband is the sitting Democratic chairman – and lots of other local elected officials and party leaders.

A win at the convention will confer the official support of the Hunterdon organization and the chance to use its ballot slogan in June, a fairly insubstantial prize compared to what the now-defunct county line would have meant. But as the first county party to cast a vote in the expensive and competitive 7th district primary, Hunterdon Democrats will help to shape the narrative of the race, and every campaign recognizes that a win there would be a substantial boost to their chances.