Suleiman opens campaign account to challenge Polistina for Senate

Michael Suleiman, the former Atlantic County Democratic chairman, has opened a campaign account to challenge State Sen. Vincent Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) next year and has raised more than $30,000 in his first 48 hours.

Suleiman filed his State Senate campaign account with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, giving Democrats an early contender for one of New Jersey’s most competitive legislative seats.

The 2nd district has been a political battleground for more than half a century, switching parties five times over the last 55 years and continuing to swing sharply between Democrats and Republicans.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill carried the district by nine percentage points in 2025, four years after Republican Jack Ciattarelli outpolled Gov. Phil Murphy there by nearly seven points.  Joe Biden won the district by 12 points in 2020, while Kamala Harris carried it by just two points four years later.

Polistina won the Senate seat in 2021 and was re-elected by more than seven points in 2023. Last year, voters split their legislative tickets: Democrat Maureen Rowan (D-Atlantic City) unseated two-term Assemblywoman Claire Swift (R-Margate), while Republican Don Guardian (R-Atlantic City) held the district’s other Assembly seat.

“Costs are out of control, and Atlantic County families deserve a State Senator who is going to fight corporate greed to lower grocery, energy, and housing prices,” Suleiman said. “We are building the resources required to mount a relentless, winning campaign for working families.”

Suleiman said he is holding off on a formal campaign launch until after this year’s election, with a public rollout and campaign video planned for early December.

“Right now, my focus is on helping our candidates win on November 3 while simultaneously laying the financial groundwork to take on Vince Polistina,” he said.

Suleiman has deep roots in 2nd district Democratic politics. He began his career as an aide to Whelan, the former Atlantic City mayor who represented the district in the State Senate from 2008 until his death in 2017.

Suleiman later spent ten years as Atlantic County Democratic chairman, where he helped rebuild a county organization that had struggled against a once-dominant Republican machine. During his tenure, Democrats increased their fundraising and field operations and captured state, county, and municipal offices.

He stepped down as county chairman in 2024 and founded South Jersey Forward, a nonprofit think tank. More recently, Suleiman has maintained a public profile through social media videos focused on Atlantic County politics and economic issues.

His early campaign is expected to focus heavily on affordability, Atlantic City, and the potential impact of new casino competition from New York.

“Vince Polistina is pro-Trump, anti-choice, and completely ineffective at bringing real resources home to Atlantic County,” Suleiman said. “With New York gaming on the horizon, Atlantic City could lose thousands of jobs.”

Suleiman also attacked Polistina’s record on the casino economy.

“Vince Polistina shows up to take photos and cut ribbons, but he doesn’t fight for the jobs that help our families put food on the table each day,” he said. “I’m running for State Senate to grow our economy after decades of false promises by the casino industry.”

The race would contrast two candidates with long histories in Atlantic County politics.

Polistina, a former assemblyman, returned to elective office in 2021 by defeating Democratic Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo for the Senate seat.  His victory returned the seat to Republicans after Democrats had held it since Whelan defeated interim Republican State Sen. James “Sonny” McCullough (R-Egg Harbor Township) in 2007.

Suleiman’s $30,000 haul during his first two days gives him an early start on what could become an expensive 2027 contest.

“The success of my viral videos have shown that Atlantic County residents yearn for a straight shooter who will stand up to entrenched interests,” Suleiman said. “Protecting local jobs, reinvigorating our economy, and making health care more accessible are issues every voter can stand behind.”

“I look forward to making my case directly to primary voters all across LD2 following Election Day,” he said.