Huge show of force expected at Dem meeting tonight

The quarterly meeting of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee is typically an unexciting, low-turnout, check-the-box kind of event, but four of the state’s top five Democrats will attend the meeting tonight to energize the base at the start of the 2018 cycle.

Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin will be on hand – a incredible show of force as New Jersey Democrats begin a bid to flip four House seats in the fall election.  Democrats are expected to compete for gains at the freeholder and municipal levels.

The only top Democrat not attending is Senate President Steve Sweeney.

Murphy’s attendance at the meeting is a show of support for his former campaign staffer, Liz Gilbert, who is now the executive director of the state party.