CWA backs Onyema, Tucker for Assembly in 28th

The Communications Workers of America District 1 has endorsed Chigozie Onyema for State Assembly in the 28th legislative district, making Assemblywoman Garnet Hall (D-Maplewood) the only incumbent in the state to lose the support of the CWA to a primary challenger.

Along with Onyema, the union is backing nine-term Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark).  Onyema, the West Ward Democratic municipal chairman, defeated Hall at the Essex County Democratic convention.

While the CWA endorsed Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz (D-Paterson) in the 35th district, the union is staying out of the race for an open seat.  Passaic County Commissioner Orlando Cruz, Newark Corporation Council Kenyatta Stewart, and former Garfield Councilman Romi Herrera are also in the race.

In the 31st district, the union is backing Assemblyman William Sampson (D-Bayonne) for re-election, but didn’t endorse Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato (D-Jersey City) or the other two Democrats in the race: Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker (D-Jersey City) and Bayonne Councilwoman Jacqueline Weimmer.

The union is not taking sides in the 32nd district, where six candidates are facing off for two Assembly seats: Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-Jersey City); Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla; former state official Katie Brennan; Crystal Fonseca, a Jersey City official; Hoboken Library Director Jennie Pu; and Jersey City Councilman Yousef Saleh.   Assemblyman John Allen (D-Bayonne) is not seeking a second term.

Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth) received an endorsement in the 20th district, but the CWA didn’t pick a second candidate.  Assemblyman Reginald Atkins (D-Roselle) is not seeking re-election.  Quijano is running with Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados;  they face Ed Rodriguez and Walter Wimbush.

The CWA endorsed 26 additional incumbents with primary challenges: Dan Hutchison (D-Gloucester Township); Cody Miller (D-Monroe); Louis Greenwald (D-Voorhees); Melinda Kane (D-Cherry Hill); Carol A. Murphy (D-Mount Laurel); Balvir Singh (D-Burlington Township); Andrea Katz (D-Chesterfield); Mitchelle Drulis (D-Raritan); Roy Freiman (D-Hillsborough); Joseph Danielsen (D-Franklin); Kevin Egan (D-New Brunswick); Sterley Stanley (D-East Brunswick); Robert Karabinchak (D-Edison); Craig Coughlin (D-Woodbridge); Yvonne Lopez (D-Perth Amboy); Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth); Rosy Bagolie (D-Livingston); Alixon Collazos-Gill (D-Montclair; Gabriel Rodriguez (D-West New York); Michael Venezia (D-Bloomfield); Carmen Morales (D-Belleville); Ellen Park (D-Englewood Cliffs); Shama Haider (D-Tenafly); Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn); and Chris Tully (D-Bergenfield).

No endorsements were made in eight legislative districts where Democratic incumbents have no primary challengers.