Atlantic county commissioner picks Fulop for governor

Atlantic County Commissioner Ernest Coursey will support Steve Fulop for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and said he’ll run on a line with him in the June 2025 primary.

One day after Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman issued his personal endorsement of former Senate President Steve Sweeney for governor, the Fulop campaign said it would assemble its own slate of candidates, anchored by Coursey, if he doesn’t win the line at the convention.

That would mean recruiting two Assembly candidates in the 2nd district, and a county commissioner and surrogate candidate to run at-large with Fulop, the mayor of Jersey City.

Coursey will be the lone Democrat in county government when Atlantic reorganizes in January.  County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick gave up her seat to run for State Senate, and Sheriff Eric Scheffler was defeated for re-election last month.

“Mayor Steven Fulop is a proven leader with a detailed policy agenda and a vision to make New Jersey better for all residents, and that’s why I’m excited to run for re-election in 2025 alongside him and my friend Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr.,” Coursey said.  “Together with Mayor Small, our plan is to have a full countywide ticket of Democrats who share Steve’s passion for public service and his vision for New Jersey’s future.”

Fulop already has the endorsement of Atlantic City Mayor Martin Small, Sr., who is also up for re-election in 2025.  Coursey, a longtime county commissioner and former city councilman, is Small’s chief of staff.