Altman gets new wave of NJ-7 endorsers, including two top labor leaders

Former New Jersey Working Families Party director Sue Altman’s Democratic campaign for the highly competitive 7th congressional district picked up seven new endorsers today, including two top labor leaders: Communication Workers of America state director Franceline Ehret and 32BJ SEIU state director Kevin Brown.

“At a time when right-wing extremists continue to erode the fabric of trust in our institutions, we must always remember the importance of people like Sue – people who fight for the rights of the people and who work diligently to defend them,” Brown said in a statement. “Sue’s movement and political experience makes her prepared to take on any challenge that involves holding power to account in our state.”

The personal endorsements from Ehret and Brown don’t necessarily guarantee support from the unions themselves; Ehret said that the CWA will conduct a separate vetting process for its endorsement. But at the very least, neither union is likely to back another candidate as long as their leaders are in Altman’s camp.

Also supporting Altman is Jim Johnson, a former undersecretary in the U.S. Treasury Department. Johnson ran for governor in 2017 and was floated as a potential congressional candidate this cycle, but ultimately decided against it.

“I’m a big fan of Sue Altman and I am thrilled that she is running,” Johnson said. “She’s smart. She has a fantastic ground game. And she is passionate and deeply engaged… There is no doubt in my mind she is the kind of leader this district needs. And exactly the kind of representative to breathe new life into our struggling Capitol.”

Brown, Ehret, and Johnson could all boost Altman’s fundraising, a critical component of any congressional campaign – though Altman has already shown herself quite capable on her own, raising more than $100,000 in her first week as a candidate.

Altman additionally got endorsements from four other progressive figures: Westfield 20/20 cofounder Marci Bandelli, New Jersey Citizen Action executive director Dena Mottola Jaborska, and activists Patricia Campos-Medina and David Pringle. (In 2018, Pringle ran for the 7th district himself, but dropped out of the race after failing to get party support.)

The endorsement from Bandelli could be particularly important as Altman works to gain support in the Union County suburbs that make up a huge portion of the 7th district’s Democratic primary votes. Altman is from the opposite end of the district – she grew up in Clinton and now lives in Lambertville – but influential activist organizations like Westfield 20/20 could help close that gap.

Altman remains the only Democratic candidate running to unseat Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), and is quickly establishing herself as the frontrunner. The man Kean beat last year, former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes), has said he won’t seek a rematch.