Essex will consider no lines in Dem presidential primary, Jones says

Essex County Democratic Chairman LeRoy Jones, Jr. said he’s ready to consider U.S. Senator Bob Menendez’s proposal to eliminate organization lines in the presidential race.

“The senator makes some valid and cogent points,” Jones told the New Jersey Globe.  “I’m open to the idea and prepared to have that discussion with the state chair and other stakeholders.”

Essex has the largest block of Democratic primary voters in state.  In the 2016 New Jersey primary, 12% of all statewide voters came out of Essex County.

Jones is slated to become the Democratic State Chairman next year as part of a deal with Gov. Phil Murphy.

Hudson County Democratic Chair Amy DeGise told the Globe this evening that she prefers an open presidential primary in June.  Hudson made up 9% of the votes cast in the 2016 Democratic primary.