Democratic State Chairman LeRoy Jones, Jr. has called a mandatory meeting of delegates to the Democratic National Convention for Monday evening with a plan to endorse Kamala Harris for President, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.
Delegations from New Hampshire and Tennessee backed Harris today, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he would not seek a second term and endorsed Harris as his successor.
Gov. Phil Murphy and seven New Jersey House delegation members announced today that they would back Harris.
New Jersey has 126 delegates and 19 super delegates.
Several New Jersey labor unions have scheduled meetings for Monday to discuss presidential endorsements, and that will help guide more than a dozen labor leaders who also serve as delegates.
Murphy is viewed as a potential running mate for Harris. The governor is expected to address the delegates in tomorrow’s meeting.
So far, five of New Jersey’s 126 delegates have pledged support for Harris. She also has seven pledged super delegates who cannot vote on a contested first ballot.
U.S. Senator Cory Booker, who had briefly mulled a presidential run, is not expected to join the race but has not publicly stated his support of Harris.
Jones held off a personal endorsement today in a statement praising Biden and asking that Booker and other New Jerseyans be considered for the vice presidency.
Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage, the mayor of the state’s fourth-largest city and a delegate, said today that Democrats should have an open process to pick a new nominee.
“Dems need to have a convention that generates strength with open participation for both spots,” Bollwage said in a social media post. “Dictation from party elders will not generate enthusiasm.”