Steve Sweeney won the unanimous endorsement of Gloucester County Democrats and gets to use his home county’s organization slogan in his bid to become the next Governor of New Jersey.
No other candidates were invited to seek votes. Mikie Sherrill’s campaign sent a letter asking to participate in their process on December 23, but never heard back; the county chairman, Chad Bruner, told the New Jersey Globe that he “didn’t remember getting any letters.”
None of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates spoke before the party’s executive committee voted to endorse; Sweeney was in attendance, but did not seek until after his selection, Bruner said.
Sweeney launched his political career in 1996 when he won a race for Gloucester County freeholder and, in 2001, ousted 28-year veteran Raymond Zane to capture a seat in the New Jersey State Senate, representing Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem counties.
“I am proud to have the backing of my home, Gloucester County, where I raised my children,” said Sweeney. “It’s also where I served — where I expanded special needs services, built the DREAM Park, saw the expansion of Rowan University, and oversaw the creation of Paulsboro Port. We created an office of Veterans Affairs, opened a VA clinic, and built a veterans cemetery for those who served and their families. We accomplished a lot together, but I know we can still do more.”
Gloucester Democrats also endorsed incumbent county commissioners and State Assembly members seeking re-election in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th legislative districts.
This is Sweeney’s fourth convention win after scoring victories in Burlington, Atlantic, and Cumberland counties. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) has won party endorsements in Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Sussex and Middlesex, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) won Bergen.
“We got a lot done together, and when I’m Governor, I’ll always make sure South Jersey has a seat at the table in Trenton,” Sweeney stated. “Together, we can get our state’s skyrocketing costs under control, make our communities safer, and build a New Jersey that puts workers, seniors, and families first. There’s still a long road ahead, but with Gloucester’s support, I know we can get there.”
If he wins, Sweeney would become the first statewide officeholder from Gloucester County since Republican Robert Hendrickson was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948. Hendrickson, a former state senator from Woodbury, served as Senate President before running for governor in 1940; he won the GOP primary but lost the general election to Democrat Charles Edison.
The only governor from Gloucester County was Charles Stratton, the first to be popularly elected following the ratification of the 1844 New Jersey State Constitution. A Whig, served from 1845 to 1848.
This story was updated on March 14 at 5:38 PM.