Jim Fazzone, the former mayor of Burlington City who lost a state Senate election last year, is seeking the GOP nomination for governor with a small campaign that hasn’t yet garnered much attention.
Fazzone appears to have launched his campaign with a July Facebook post, but he hasn’t yet filed to run with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. The former mayor is also a former Democrat—he switched party affiliation in 2015 after clashes with the Democratic-controlled city council—and he is a longshot to win the gubernatorial nomination against several more established Republican contenders.
Fazzone’s campaign is largely based on Facebook and TikTok, with one clip showing him speaking before Lucy The Elephant in Atlantic County. According to his social media, Fazzone has made a variety of campaign stops in the last month, including in Moorestown, Jersey City, and on Long Beach Island.
“We are in support of families, we are in support of taxpayers, and we are in support of you, the workers,” Fazzone said in one video. “That is our campaign initiative, and our slogan is, ‘Get your Jersey on.’ So get your Jersey on, be proud of being from New Jersey, and be kind to each other out there.”
Multiple attempts by the New Jersey Globe to reach Fazzone were unsuccessful.
Fazzone gained some recognition in 2013 for endorsing Gov. Chris Christie, when the mayor was still a Democrat. Two years later, he defected to the GOP, telling the Burlington County Times that his “vision for a better future for our great city” would be more achievable as a Republican.
“I’m still a left-wing bleeding liberal; just take the Democrat part out of that,” he said after his switch.
Just a few months later, however, Fazzone lost renomination as Burlington mayor to James Fine in a 68%-32% blowout; Democratic Councilman Barry Conaway went on to flip the mayor’s office back to Democrats that fall, and he continues to serve as mayor to this day.
Fazzone attempted to mount a comeback in the State Senate last year, but State Sen. Troy Singleton (D-Delran) easily dispatched him in the solidly blue 7th legislative district, winning 68%-32%.