Fulop wins his second county chairman endorsement

In his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has picked up the backing of Warren County Democratic Chairman Tom Palmieri.

That gives Fulop his second county chairman endorsement – he has the backing of Hudson County’s Anthony Vainieri, Jr. —  and the support of a county chairman who backed another potential gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), for Congress three times.

In addition to Palmieri, the entire executive committee of the county organization, including Vice Chair Sherry Corcoran.   The early endorsements make Fulop the frontrunner to win the organization line at the 2025 Warren County Democratic convention.

“New Jersey has made tremendous progress over the last six years, which is why we need a candidate for Governor who can win in 2025 and continue moving our state forward — there is no one better equipped for that fight than Steven Fulop,” Palmieri said.  “I’m ecstatic to announce the Warren County Democratic Committee’s support for Mayor Fulop, and I look forward to working closely with him to deliver the leadership our state needs.”

Palmieri showcased Fulop earlier this month as the headliner at a pre-primary fundraiser.

“It’s an honor to know that Chairman Palmieri and the leaders of the Warren County Democratic Committee agree with our campaign’s vision for a state that delivers progress for all of its residents, from the Hudson River to the Delaware and everywhere in between,” Fulop stated. “While Jersey City and Warren County may not appear to have many similarities, the fact is that there are common challenges facing communities throughout our state like affordability, transportation, education, and more, and our campaign is about confronting those issues and delivering solutions for residents no matter where they live.”

With about 23,400 registered Democrats, Warren County makes up roughly one percent of the potential statewide Democratic primary vote.  Only Salem and Cape May counties have fewer Democrats.

Warren is one of the most Republican counties in the state – Democrats haven’t won a countywide election since 1999 – and Democratic primaries have a more progressive bent.  It is one of two New Jersey counties to support Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary; he carried Warren with 51% against Hillary Clinton.  Palmieri had endorsed Clinton.

In the 2017 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Murphy carried Warren County by five percentage points, 37%-32%, against Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville).  Jim Johnson finished third with 20%.

Gottheimer represented part of Warren County for six years before redistricting moved the county entirely into the 7th district.

Last week, Fulop won the backing of three mayors from the 11th district, represented by another possible gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair).  That brings his endorsement roster to nine, along with the Amalgamated Transit Union.

So far, Fulop is the only announced candidate for the Democratic nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy.

In addition to Gottheimer and Sherrill, possible candidates include: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka; Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin; Johnson, a former Deputy U.S. Secretary of the Treasury;  Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo; Senate President Nicholas Scutari; New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller,  the mayor of Montclair; and former Senate President Steve Sweeney.