Senate President Steve Sweeney told a group of union members on Tuesday that he intended to seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.
Sweeney made his announcement at the New Jersey State Association of Pipe Trades convention in Atlantic City, telling delegates from the plumbers union that he’ll need their support when he runs for governor in four years.
He had planned to run for governor anyway in 2025, when Democrat Phil Murphy is term-limited, and his upset defeat for re-election in the 3rd district does not appear to have changed his plans.
After 20 years in the State Senate – the last twelve as Senate President – Sweeney will leave public office in 28 days after losing to Republican Edward Durr.
This is the second unofficial announcement for the next gubernatorial campaign.
Immediately following his concession speech ten days after Election Day, Republican Jack Ciattarelli said that he intended to run again in 2025.
Another potential Democratic candidate for governor, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), was also on the Pipe Trades union agenda.
Sweeney has made no secret of his interest in running for governor despite the outcome of his own legislative race.
If he wins, Sweeney will follow the model of Democrat Robert B. Meyner, who lost re-election to his Warren County State Senate seat in 1951 and was elected governor in 1953.
He spoke after Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden), a former South Jersey AFL-CIO president, and before Bill Mullen, the president of the New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council.
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