SEIU endorses six Dem legislators, including Gopal, Zwicker

The New Jersey State Council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) endorsed six Democratic state legislators for the 2023 elections today – two of whom, State Sens. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) and Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick), are running for re-election in two of the state’s most competitive districts.

Also getting the support of the union are State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), State Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge), Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth), and Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange), who is running unopposed for her district’s Senate seat.

“These legislators have stood with us in the statehouse and in the streets,” SEIU NJ Council President Megan Chambers said in a statement. “They have shown up for our members and for working people, and they deserve our strong support.”

Of the six endorsees, only Vitale and Quijano face a contested primary next month. Vitale is the heavy favorite against solo off-the-line candidate Michelle Burwell, while Quijano and her running mates are being challenged by a slate associated with former Assemblyman Jamel Holley (D-Roselle), who seemingly recruited candidates to boost his mayoral comeback campaign in Roselle.

In November, the political limelight will be on Gopal and Zwicker, each of whom holds a competitive seat that Republicans hope to flip this year. The same could be true of Greenstein, though she is unlikely to be at serious risk of losing unless the GOP has a very strong year.