Booker backs Cryan, Quijano, Atkins

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-Newark) backed incumbent State Sen. Joe Cryan (D-Union) and his Assembly running mates for re-election Monday, becoming the latest Democrat to side against Assemblyman Jamel Holley (D-Roselle).

“Over the past year we have seen the devastating impacts misinformation and a lack of leadership have had as the coronavirus ravaged our country,” Booker said. “Senator Cryan, Assemblywoman Quijano and Reverend Atkins have been leaders in their community, recognizing quickly the importance of providing residents with fact-based information while working to make sure our frontline workers have the resources they need.”

Holley, a three-term assemblyman, is mounting an off-the-line primary against Cryan. Democrats around the state have flown to the incumbent Senator’s back.

He’s won endorsements from Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Union County Democratic Chairman Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden), who is also a state senator.

“Our country has experienced so much loss over the past year because of misinformation and paranoia emanating from the internet and working its way from some of our leaders directly into our streets and neighborhoods,” Cryan and his running mates, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth) and Rev. Reginald Atkins, said in a joint statement. “We would like to thank Senator Booker for his dedicated service and powerful voice during these truly unprecedented times.”

Progressive Democrats of New Jersey Vice Chair Jason Krychiw, a Union County Democratic committeeman, is also seeking Cryan’s seat.

The 20th district is solidly blue. Democrats outnumber Republicans in registration by a margin of more than six-to-one, and there’s more of them than there are Republicans and unaffiliated voters combined. Whoever wins the Democratic primary will almost certainly win in the general election.