Angered by an embryonic dark money group muddying the waters in the 2nd district State Senate race, Libertarian Shawn Peck has dropped out of the race and endorsed his Republican opponent, State Sen. Vince Polistina.
“I got into this race because I wanted to be part of making Atlantic County a better place to live for families like mine. But recent developments have deeply troubled me. I want to express my strong condemnation of the shadowy Democratic PACs that are attempting to use my candidacy for their own purposes,” said Peck. “Their interference is detrimental to the well-being of our community, and I firmly denounce them, and I refuse to allow Atlantic County to be defrauded by a shady New York super PAC.”
The announcement comes after some Republicans in the 2nd district received an attack mailer from a recently formed 527 political committee based in Jamaica, Queens, Jersey Freedom, suggesting that they vote for Peck instead of Polistina. It’s an old tactic seemingly aimed at reducing Polistina’s vote against his Democratic opponent, Atlantic County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick.
Peck told the New Jersey Globe that he had never heard of Jersey Freedom until last night.
“I’ve got nothing to do with it. I don’t know who these people are,”: he said. “I don’t want to be an unwitting participant.”
Instead, Peck decided he would end his own Senate campaign and ask his supporters to vote for Polistina.
“In light of this, I am proud to endorse Vince Polistina as the candidate conservatives should rally behind,” said Peck, a mortgage banker and first-time candidate. “Whatever our policy differences, we cannot allow a shadowy dark money democrat super PAC to trick us into electing a radical leftist democrat. I appreciate your understanding and ask you cast your vote for Vince and all the Column A Republicans. I know I will.”
Despite his withdrawal, Peck’s name will remain on the ballot. Vote-by-mail ballots went out last month and over 6,000 votes have already been cast in the 2nd legislative district.
Now Peck will shift his resources, whatever they are, to boost his one-time opponent.
“It is crucial to recognize that our real adversaries are not each other but the radical Democrats who seek to sow division among us,” Peck said. “By rallying behind Vince Polistina, we can present a united front and work together to face the challenges that lie ahead, working towards a stronger and more prosperous Atlantic County that aligns with our shared values.”
He praised Polistina for a “demonstrated track record of putting our community first.”
“From telling Biden ‘Hell No’ to his plan to drop 60,000 migrants in Atlantic County, pushing back against the Offshore Wind Bailout, and standing up for Parental Rights, Vince has earned my support,” Peck said.
While Peck was quick to react to Jersey Freedom’s mailer, another intended beneficiary of their efforts, self-proclaimed conservative Giuseppe Costanzo,62, a Camden Couty resident who had not been a registered voter for several years before recently returning to the voter rolls, has remained elusive despite promising the New Jersey Globe that he would discuss his candidacy last night.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco called the mailers a “clear attempt to confuse voters.”