Four members of the New Jersey State Assembly from Hudson County have committed to using the same ballot slogan as Steve Fulop in next year’s Democratic primary for governor, a declaration that came after the new Democratic county chairman, Craig Guy, pushed off a request that he endorse Fulop.
The four incumbents – Barbara McCann Stamato (D-Jersey City) in the 31st district, Jessica Ramirez (D-Jersey City) and John Allen (D-Hoboken) in the 32nd, and Julio Marenco (D-North Bergen) in the 33rd – are prepared to reject the Hudson County Democratic Organization slogan if the party doesn’t award it to Fulop. Sheriff Frank Schillari and Guttenberg Mayor Wayne Zitt have also agreed to do the same.
A three-term mayor of Jersey City, Fulop had previously been endorsed by Hudson County Democratic Chairman Anthony Vainieri, who didn’t seek re-election this year. Guy, the county executive, replaced him on Monday evening.
Fulop claims that Guy committed to honor Vainieri’s pledge but cited his support for abolishing the organization line and his decision to switch his U.S. Senate endorsement from Tammy Murphy to Andy Kim as reasons for the delay.
“Chairman Vainieri made a commitment that the HCDO would support our campaign, and Chairman Guy informed me on Monday that he has decided to break that promise and cited concerns he apparently now has about transparency and accountability positions I have publicly discussed for months,” Fulop said.
Guy told the New Jersey Globe that he has not ruled out endorsing Fulop and will meet with the Democratic mayors from Hudson County next week.
“I’m proud that Hudson County is blessed with incredible Democratic leaders,” he said. “As the new chairman of the HCDO, I will work to reach a consensus on the best leaders for our party in 2025 and beyond.”
Two incumbents from the Hudson Assembly delegation, William B. Sampson IV (D-Bayonne) and Gabriel Rodriguez (D-West New York), were not on the list of lawmakers committing to Fulop. Sampson will do whatever Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis tells him, and Rodriguez is closely allied with State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian P. Stack and West New York Mayor Albio Sires.
“I have no regrets about saying that the corrupt county line system needs to end, or about endorsing Andy Kim for Senate, or speaking out about OPRA, and if that means we have to run with our own ballot slogan, so be it,” Fulop said. “Regardless of whether or not we run with the HCDO slogan, our ticket will win Hudson County next year and most incumbents will share our campaign slogan.”
See here for a full list of endorsements in New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial contest.