Three more Democratic candidates allied with gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop have entered the race for State Assembly next year, bringing the total number of South Jersey districts where the Jersey City mayor is forming down-ballot slates in what might be another lineless primary to five.
Lisa Bonanno, a Linwood school board member, is the first Democrat to challenge Republican incumbents Don Guardian (R-Atlantic City) and Claire Swift (R-Margate) in Atlantic County’s 2nd legislative district. This is Fulop’s first candidate recruitment in an all-Republican district.
Against Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Voorhees) in the Camden County-based 6th district, Fulop’s candidates will be former Clementon school board member Rebecca Holloway and newcomer Kevin A. Ryan.
“Lisa, Rebecca and Kevin all fit perfectly with the kind of candidates our campaign wants to support — they believe in open government, accountability to the voters and a more responsive and progressive state legislature that takes bold action to address the challenges facing our state,” Fulop stated. “We’re going to continue building a statewide coalition of grassroots leaders who are ready to move New Jersey forward.
Holloway, who runs a marketing firm, is a longtime foe of the Camden Democratic organization. She ran for county clerk in the June primary but lost to Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Cherry Hill) by a 60%- 39% margin. She also lost a Democratic primary for county commissioner in 2022 by over 20,000 votes and a race for borough council in 2020.
She praised Fulop for not being afraid to “stand up to powerful interests and fight for progress, transparency and progressive values.”
Ryan is the director of business intelligence at Wolters Kluwer Health, leading a team of data scientists. He previously worked in analytics at Comcast, in the national security analysis department at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and as the director of the Center for Strategic Analysis. He serves on the board of the Voorhees Soccer Association.
“I believe strongly in the values of open government, transparency, and accountability, and I’m running for State Assembly to fight for these principles in Trenton,” Ryan said. “My experience in national security has taught me the importance of vigilance and dedication, qualities I will bring to serving the people of District 6. I am proud to join the excellent group of candidates that Mayor Fulop is assembling, and together, we will tackle the difficult challenges facing our state and find solutions that improve the lives of all New Jerseyans.”
With Lampitt likely to win the general election for county clerk – Republicans haven’t won countywide in Camden in 34 years – Holloway and Ryan are expected to run against an interim incumbent named in a January 2025 special election convention to replace her. Greenwald’s new running mate is almost certain to be a woman from Cherry Hill, with County Commissioner Melinda Kane a leading candidate.
Bonanno has been a registered nurse for 33 years, the last thirteen of which were spent as a compassionate care nurse. She is currently running for the Linwood City Council, but told the New Jersey Globe that she is dropping out of that race to focus on her legislative bid; that gives local Democrats a chance to fill her spot on the ballot.
“I’m so excited to join this movement and give Atlantic County Democrats a real choice when they vote for who will represent their interests in the State Assembly next year,” said Bonanno. “The kind of grassroots energy we are seeing in our party right now is unprecedented, and I believe that more voter choice will lead to even greater engagement and participation in our electoral process.”
Fulop has pledged to spend $10 million to help Assembly candidates running on his slogan to win competitive Democratic primaries. In addition to Democrats in Hudson County, Fulop has recruited Evesham Councilman Eddie Freeman III in the 8th district, Brian Everett in the 4th, and Rashan Prailow in the 5th.