Morris Democrats want pro-life activist to resign party post

Morris County Democratic leaders are asking Aaron (A.J.) Oliver to resign as the Morristown Democratic municipal chairman over his pro-life position.

“As a progressive chair of this party, I have always championed reproductive freedom and access to reproductive health care. This is paramount to the values of the MCDC and the Democratic Party,” said Morris County Democratic Chairman Chip Robinson.  “I strongly denounce the actions of anyone who advocates against legislation that would protect these crucial freedoms.”

Less than two weeks before the November general election, two major grassroots groups – New Jersey 11th for Change and the Morris County Democratic Women’s Caucus — pulled their endorsements of Oliver for Morris County Commissioner after learning that he was an anti-abortion activist.

Oliver had not disclosed his position on abortion to most Democratic leaders, including his two running mates, although Robinson acknowledged knowing where Oliver stood.

But the flurry of social media commentary about Oliver’s abortion stance didn’t wind up hurting him much on Election Day.  He finished just 283 votes behind T.C. McCourt and 943 votes behind Dina Mikulka out of more than 170,000 votes cast.  All three lost to Republican incumbents in a landslide.

Robinson and the county party vice chair, Robin Gurin, stopped short of calling for Oliver to withdraw from the county commissioner race.

Gurin, who refused to say when she found about Oliver’s pro-life position and would not say if abortion was a litmus test for Democrats, has now come around and also wants Oliver gone.

“We condemn and do not stand by or support the recent activism of Aaron Oliver,” she said.

A national pro-life Democratic group that Oliver is involved in is calling out Morris County Democrats for trying to force Oliver out as a municipal chairman.

“The New Jersey Democrats who are using Trump-like tactics to push A.J. out of the party should take a good look in the mirror and re-evaluate their emulation of an unpopular former President,” said Kristen Day, the executive director of Democrats for Life for America.

Oliver did not immediately respond to a 5:51 PM email seeking comment.