Pro-Trump Democrat Roger Bacon files for State Senate seat

He wants to Drain the Swamp. He’s called for the removal of Gov. Phil Murphy from office. And he’s running as a Democrat for the New Jersey State Senate.

Self-styled pro-Trump Democrat Roger Bacon, who by now is something of an in-joke for New Jersey politicos, has filed to run for the 23rd legislative district this year under the slogan of “Drain the Swamp in Trenton Now!” It marks his eighth campaign for public office – and, presumably, will soon mark his eighth consecutive defeat.

Democratic county parties in the 23rd district, which is solidly Republican, instead seem to be backing Denise King against State Sen. Doug Steinhardt (R-Lopatcong); King previously ran for the same district in 2019 and 2021. 

With the party line on her side, King is near-certain to win the primary. Given that Bacon filed with 123 signatures, only 23 above the threshold, it’s possible that he’ll get booted from the ballot entirely if Democrats challenge his petitions.

Bacon, who lives in Phillipsburg, is a dogged politician with little regard for party affiliation, geography, or any semblance of a winning campaign strategy.

He ran for governor in both 2009 and 2021, getting kicked off the ballot the latter time for having too many invalid signatures. His congressional campaigns, meanwhile, have spanned New Jersey’s southernmost and northernmost districts (the 2nd and 5th) and three different party labels: Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian.

Most recently, he ran against Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) last year in the 7th congressional district. He campaigned as a Democrat, though his conspiracy-minded talking points against the incumbent were far from the Democratic mainstream.

“The devilish Joe Biden globalist gang has mounted a very effective war on your liberty using a bio weapon virus, fear mongering, divide & conquer techniques, destructive economic policies, and the cancel culture as their most powerful weapons,” his website reads. “Jesus did warn us there will be wars but many folks really got snookered.”

Malinowski won the primary 94%-6%.