Favorite son Josh Gottheimer won a landslide victory at the Bergen County Democratic convention tonight, capturing the party endorsement and ballot slogan in the state’s largest county for his campaign for governor.
Gottheimer defeated Rep. Mikie Sherrill, 616-148, (66%-16%), with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka finishing third with 95 votes (10%). They were followed by New Jersey Education Association President and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller with 45 votes (5%) and former Senate President Steve Sweeney with 29 votes (3%).
A sixth candidate, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, is not participating in county conventions; he is running his own slate of candidates for county commissioner and for the legislature in the 37th, 38th, 39th and 40th districts. There were 41 delegates signed in who did not cast votes or invalidated.
Bergen County makes up 10% of the total Democratic voter registration in New Jersey, second behind Essex County. Bergen cast 9% of the total votes in the 2021 Democratic gubernatorial primary,
A five-term congressman from Tenafly, Gottheimer was unable to attend tonight’s convention: he was in Washington for a key vote to avert a shutdown of the federal government. Sherrill also remained in Washington rather than go to Bergen County tonight.
“I am deeply honored and grateful to have the endorsement of Bergen County Democrats — the community I’m proud to call home and where I’m raising my family. In 2016, we took on an entrenched Republican incumbent and flipped an 84-year Republican stronghold blue. Last year, Bergen County helped me win by 12 points in a District that Harris only won by one point,” Gottheimer said. “With the support of the largest county in the state, I know that we will win decisively again in June and in November, and I’ll be fighting to get Democrats across Bergen and Jersey elected.”
Shortly after announcing his run for governor last November, Gottheimer secured endorsements from over 100 Bergen County Democratic leaders, including County Chairman Paul Juliano, County Executive James Tedesco, the entire legislative delegation, all county officeholders, 30 mayors and 59 Democratic municipal chairs.
“Jersey is way too expensive, and Trump is only making it worse with his reign of chaos and irresponsible tariffs that are really just a tax on hardworking families. Folks are tired of empty rhetoric — they want commonsense solutions that put money back in their pockets. That’s why I’m running to cut taxes and lower costs, and I have the experience and a long track record as a problem solver to get it done,” stated Gottheimer. “While all the Democratic candidates in this race share our Jersey Values, I’m the only one making lower taxes and lower costs my top priority. Together, we will protect our Jersey Values, fight anyone who messes with Jersey, and make life more affordable for Jersey families.”
Last year, before U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi ended the practice of county lines that offered preferential ballot positions — and before her withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race — First Lady Tammy Murphy defeated then-Rep. Andy Kim with 64% of the vote at the Bergen Democratic convention. Gottheimer did two points better in a
This is Gottheimer’s first convention win; he’s been skipping contests where he believes the outcome was predetermined. Sherrill has won conventions in Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, and Sussex; Sweeney has captured endorsements in Burlington, Atlantic, and Cumberland.
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