Essex progressive group backs Fulop

SOMA Action, a grassroots progressive group in South Orange and Maplewood, has endorsed Steve Fulop for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and Assemblywoman Garnet Hall (D-Maplewood) and West Ward Democratic Municipal Chairman Chigozie Onyema for State Assembly in the 28h district.

Fulop, the three-term mayor of Jersey City, won the vote against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), who represents South Orange and Maplewood in the U.S. House of Representatives, on a ballot that included Ranked Choice Voting.   Fulop has selected South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum as his running mate.

On the first ballot, Fulop led Baraka, 47%-28%, with Sherrill at 15%.  Another 10% voted to make no endorsement.  The group required two-third majority to endorse.

“Giving voters a meaningful say in elections is a critical part of rebuilding our democracy,” said Allison Posner, Co-President of SOMA Action. “New Jersey has a bad habit of picking ‘elected’ officials behind closed doors and teaching them that they don’t need to bother to engage with their voters. Here at SOMA Action, we’re doing our part to push back. We gave our members sole power to decide the endorsement, and the way to win was to get out and talk to them.”

Hall received 44% of first place votes, Onyema 39%, and Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker 3%, with 14% preferring no endorsement..

“We believe in practicing what we preach,” added Erika Malinoski, SOMA Action’s other Co-President. “As an advocate for Ranked Choice Voting, this endorsement was also our chance to test RCV in a highly competitive, six-way election. I’m happy to report that it went very well. Instead of the progressive vote being split such that everyone’s last choice (no endorsement) won, we were able to come to agreement on options that have solid support from the overwhelming majority of the people who voted.”