The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ) is supporting candidates from both parties, but all Democrats in this year’s most competitive races.
The union announced 91 endorsements in this year’s legislative elections, backing 74 Democrats and 17 Republicans.
“The PFANJ Executive Board toils arduously throughout the year, and especially in the months leading up to the general election, to ensure that those who acquire our endorsement have deserved it,” said Steve McConlogue, the president of the PFANJ. “ Many legislators have proven to us that they will continue to advance the mission of the PFANJ and support legislation that is imperative to the fire service and first responders.”
The group’s support for Democrats is clearest in this year’s most competitive districts – the 3rd, 4th, 11th, and 16th – where the group backed every single Democratic legislative candidate.
These include: State Senate candidate John Burzichelli and Assembly candidates Heather Simmons and Dave Bailey Jr. in the 3rd; Assemblyman and State Senate candidate Paul Moriarty (D-Washington) and Assembly candidates Cody Miller and Dan Hutchinson in the 4th; State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) and Assembly candidates Luanne Peterpaul and Dr. Margie Donlon in the 11th; and State Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Hillsborough), Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-South Brunswick) and Assembly candidate Mitchelle Drulis in the 16th.
In other competitive districts – in the 2nd, 8th, 14th, and 38th – the union made nine endorsements; of those, seven were Democrats.
In the 2nd, the group endorsed State Sen. Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) and Democratic Assembly candidate Lisa Bender; they skipped Republican Assembly incumbents Don Guardian (R-Atlantic City) and Claire Swift (R-Margate).
In the 8th, only Republican State Senate candidate Latham Tiver got the group’s backing; they did not throw their support behind Assembly incumbents Michael Torrissi Jr. (R-Hammonton) or Brandon Umba (R-Hainesport).
The group backed the full slate of Democrats running in the 14th and 38th. These include: State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton), Assembly candidate Tennille McCoy in the 14th; and State Sen. Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus), Assemblyman Christopher Tully (D-Bergenfield), and Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn) in the 38th.
The group backed the full slate of Republicans running in the 1st, 25th, and 39th districts, as well as GOP candidates in the 9th, 21st, 23rd, 26th, and 40th.
“An endorsement by the PFANJ is not bestowed upon easily,” said PFANJ 1st Vice President Matthew Caliente. “We firmly believe in the idea of ‘supporting those who support us, ‘ and this has been the basis of our endorsement process.”