Pro-business PAC splits endorsements in key legislative races

The largest political action committee representing New Jersey’s business community is backing candidates from both parties in the state’s most competitive legislative races, supporting Republicans in the 4th district, but splitting endorsements in the 11th and 16th.

With affordability and taxes as top political issues, both parties are seeking to secure support from the business community to tout their successes on the economy, the New Jersey Organization for a Better State (NEW JOBS) PAC made 89 endorsements for the 2023 midterm elections: 51 Republicans and 38 Democrats.

For three open seats in the 4th, the PAC has endorsed Republican Christopher Del Borrello for State Senate and his running mates, Matt Walker and Amanda Esposito, for Assembly.  Del Borrello faces Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Washington Township) in a race for the Senate seat held for the last twenty years by retiring Democrat Fred Madden (D-Washington Township) under a new map that has made the district more favorable to Republicans.

“Paul Moriarty has been in Trenton for 17 years, and our state has gotten less competitive economically as more and more businesses, jobs, and people flee the oppressive tax structure and suffocating regulations coming out of Trenton,” said Del Borrello.  “As Senator, I promise a new direction and I look forward to working with our state’s business leaders – especially here in South Jersey – to make it happen.”

NEW JOBS endorsed three incumbents in the 11th: Democratic State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) and Republican Assemblywomen Marilyn Piperno (R-Colts Neck) and Kim Eulner (R-Shrewsbury).

In the 16th district, endorsements went to State Sen. State Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick) and Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-Hillsborough).  But in the race for an open Assembly seat, the business PAC is supporting Republican Ross Traphagen, a Clinton councilman, over Democrat Mitchelle Drulis, a former top aide to Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes).

Only Assemblywoman Bethanne McCarthy Patrick (R-Mannington) got an endorsement in the 3rd, with NEW JOBS not taking sides in the Senate contest between GOP incumbent Edward Durr (R-Logan) and his Democratic challenger, former Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro).

In the next tier of competitive races – in the 2nd, 8th, 14th, and 38th districts – the endorsements were more evenly split.  Of the 11 candidates endorsed, six were Republicans and five were Democrats.

State Sen. Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township), Assemblyman Don Guardian (R-Atlantic City), Assemblywoman Claire Swift (R-Margate) got the group’s backing in the 2nd; Republican State Senate candidate Latham Tiver, Assemblyman Michael Torrissi (R-Hammonton), and Assemblyman Brandon Umba (R-Hainesport) were endorsed in the 8th; State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) got the support in the 14th; and State Sen. Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus), Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn), and Assemblyman Christopher Tully (D-Bergenfield) were endorsed in the 38th.

NEW JOBS skipped an endorsement for an open Assembly seat in the 14th.

“With these endorsements, NEW JOBS is pleased to back this slate of candidates for the New Jersey Legislature that will lead to greater pro-business policies in Trenton,” said NEW JOBS Executive Director Ray Cantor.

Incumbents who were passed over in districts where NEW JOBS is staying out of the race: State Sens Joe Cryan (D-Union), Renee Burgess (D-Irvington), and Brian P. Stack (D-Union City);  Assemblywomen Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton), Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth), Shanique Speight (D-Newark), Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark) and Shama Haider (D-Tenafly); Assemblymen Herbert Conaway, Jr. (D-Delran), Anthony Verrelli (D-Hopewell),  Reginald Atkins (D-Roselle), James Kennedy (D-Rahway), William Sampson IV (D-Bayonne); Benjie Wimberly (D-Paterson); and Clinton Calabrese (D-Cliffside Park).   No endorsement was made for State Senate in the 24th district, where Assemblyman Parker Space (R-Wantage) is running.

In contests for open seats, the PAC is backing: Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato for Senate and Stafford Mayor Greg Myhre for Assembly in the 9th; Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra for Assembly in the 10th; Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry for Senate in the 12th; Sussex County Commissioner Dawn Fantasia and Chester Mayor Mike Inganamort for Assembly in the 24th; North Bergen Commissioner Julio Marenco for Assembly in the 33rd; Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia and Carmen Morales for Assembly in the 34th; Saddle River Councilman John Azzariti in the 39th; and Essex County GOP Chairman Al Barlas in the 40th.