Durr, McCarthy Patrick say they’ll unveil running mate soon

State Sen. Ed Durr (R-Logan) and Assemblywoman Bethanne McCarthy Patrick (R-Mannington), who will face a slate of primary challengers this year in the 3rd legislative district, said today that they’re preparing for a tough campaign season and will announce the third member of their ticket “shortly.”

“I hope that with what I have accomplished over the course of the year-plus, I’ve earned the respect and the vote of the public,” Durr said.

“We’re going to do our best, the senator and I,” McCarthy Patrick agreed. “I’m not happy with [the challenge], why would I be? I think we’ve been doing a fantastic job, only being in a year. Give us more time, and we’re going to crush it.”

Durr, McCarthy Patrick, and Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer (R-Woolwich) shocked the New Jersey political world in 2021 when they unseated Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) and his running mates, but their political careers have not proceeded smoothly from there.

Durr and Sawyer in particular have clashed with one another, and this year Sawyer is likely to join a ticket headed by Salem County Commissioner Mickey Ostrum, who launched his Senate campaign last week. But Durr said today that even though Sawyer will be on an opposing team politically, he does still have a working relationship with her.

“I think there’s still a relationship,” he said. “It’s just that we don’t see eye to eye, clearly, and that’s going to be her choice and we’ll move forward from here.”

One problem that Durr and McCarthy Patrick will have to confront is their lack of fundraising prowess; McCarthy Patrick is one the worst-funded legislators in Trenton with only $6,756 on-hand, while Durr hasn’t even filed a 2022 end-of-year report. That could be a serious liability in a competitive primary – and in the general election, if South Jersey Democrats decide to make a serious push to win the 3rd district back.

This story was updated on February 17 at 12:37 a.m. to reflect an updated campaign finance filing from Assemblywoman McCarthy Patrick.