The Democratic primary for Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown)’s open 3rd congressional district seat has not yet drawn a huge amount of national attention, but one candidate – Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Delran) – is getting hundreds of thousands of dollars in support from two different outside groups.
Yesterday, the New Jersey Globe reported that the scientists-focused PAC 314 Action Fund would spend $170,000 on an ad supporting Conaway. And today, the liberal veterans’ group VoteVets announced it will launch a $220,000 ad buy promoting Conaway as well. (Conaway is an Air Force veteran and a physician.)
“With our rights under assault from a MAGA-led Congress, there’s only one candidate with experience taking on extremists to get progressive priorities signed into law: veteran, doctor, assemblyman Herb Conaway,” the ad declares. “Conaway stood up to Republicans to restore funding for Planned Parenthood; passed discounts for seniors; and Conaway helped guarantee the right to abortion right in the New Jersey Constitution. Herb Conaway: a proven progressive patriot for Congress.”
Conaway faces four Democratic opponents in the June 4 primary, among them his own Assembly running mate, Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel). Also in the running are civil rights attorney Joe Cohn, businesswoman Sarah Schoengood, and teacher Brian Schkeeper.
The primary winner is very likely to succeed Kim in a modestly blue district that covers nearly all of Burlington County and parts of Mercer and Monmouth Counties. Several of the potential winners could make history, too: as South Jersey’s first Black congressman (Conaway) or its first congresswoman (Murphy and Schoengood).
But despite those stakes, the race has drawn less attention than other New Jersey contests like the U.S. Senate campaign or the race for the 8th congressional district – and it’s drawn far less money, too. Conaway is the race’s fundraising leader, but he’d only raised $359,000 by the end of the 1st quarter of 2024; his opponents have all raised far less than that.
It remains to be seen whether 314 Action and VoteVets will continue to be involved in the race beyond their announced investments, and whether any other major groups might get in on the action. Murphy, notably, has the endorsement of EMILYs List, which often spends huge sums to help female Democratic candidates win competitive primaries.