Gusciora endorses Buttigieg

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora today endorsed Pete Buttigieg for the Democratic presidential nomination, saying the South Bend mayor “has more elected experience than Donald Trump.”

Gusciora is the second big New Jersey endorsement for Buttigieg in two days.  Rep. Andy Kim (D-Marlton) announced his support last night.

“I think he’s got a great story to tell,” Gusciora told the New Jersey Globe.  “He’s broken the ceiling for inclusion.”

Gusciora was elected mayor of New Jersey’s capital city in 2018 after serving 23 years as a state assemblyman.  For many years, he was the only openly gay member of the legislature.

“He’s a patriot, a soldier, the mayor of an urban city,” Gusciora said.  “He’s demonstrated progressive views on urban issues.”

In 2012, Gusciora made national headlines when Gov. Chris Christie called him “numbnuts” after a dispute over civil rights issues.

Gusciora called out Christie for attempting to equate his call for a referendum on same-sex marriage to the civil rights battles of the 1960s.

“Yet you have numbnuts like Reed Gusciora who put out a statement comparing me to George Wallace and Lester Maddox,” Christie said.

Civil rights icon John Lewis bashed Christie for his attack on Gusciora.

Buttigieg also has the backing of Roselle Park Mayor Joe Signorello.