In Hudson County, the ball is in Bernie Sanders’ court.
Democratic county chair Amy DeGise is prepared to hold an open presidential primary, if Sanders agrees to not bracket with a slate of nine progressive freeholder candidates.
DeGise began considering an open primary last month, before the field of White House aspirants had narrowed to just two candidates.
If Sanders decides that he wants to bracket with the opposition freeholder slate, DeGise is prepared to put Biden on the Hudson organization line, according to several sources with direct knowledge of the issue.
An open presidential primary could also take away Cory Booker’s ability to run for re-election to the U.S. Senate on the Hudson Democratic organization line. That would put Booker and former Newark school board member Lawrence Hamm, in an open primary as well.
In that situation, Reps. Albio Sires (D-West New York), Donald Payne (D-Newark) and Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) would head the Hudson Democratic Organization line.
All three face progressive primary opposition.
Hudson County represents about 9% of the total statewide Democratic primary vote.
In 2016, Hillary Clinton ran on the Hudson organization line and won the county by 20,060 votes, 64%-36%.