Bergen Record endorses Gottheimer

The (Bergen) Record has endorsed Josh Gottheimer for re-election to a second term in Congress from New Jersey’s 5th district.

“From his earliest days in office, the energetic Gottheimer has been a consensus builder, working across the aisle with Republicans when it suited for the benefit of folks in the 5th district, and providing constituent services as if he were a 10-year incumbent,” the editorial board wrote.

The Record called Republican challenger John McCann “a fervent Trump acolyte with scary views on immigration who has offered a full-throated endorsement of the Republican tax cut plan.”

“We learned a lot about McCann during an ugly episode earlier in the campaign, after vulgarity and swastikas were spray-painted on a Gottheimer campaign sign at the home of a Sussex County couple,” the editorial said.  “In a Facebook post, after properly denouncing the acts, McCann went on to partly blame Democratic Party leaders Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters for spreading hate. This sort of demagoguery stands in sharp contrast to Gottheimer’s more centrist and moderate work ethic in the House.”

This is Gottheimer’s second Bergen Record endorsement.  The newspaper backed his successful challenge to seven-term Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) in 2016.