With an endorsement from Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) coming this afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris now has unanimous support from New Jersey’s Democratic House delegation in her less-than-24-hour-old bid for the presidency.
“Yesterday, we praised President Biden for his remarkable presidency and his over 50 years of service to our country,” Norcross said. “Today, we look forward and have a clear choice to make for the future of America. Vice President Kamala Harris is ready for the job, and I am proud to endorse her for President of the United States. I look forward to working with her on growing the economy and putting the American worker first.”
Harris got endorsements yesterday from Reps. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City), Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), and Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson).
Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver, who is overwhelmingly likely to join the delegation after she wins a safely Democratic special election for the 10th congressional district this fall, is also on Team Harris. So too are Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Delran), the nominee for the Democratic-leaning 3rd district, and Sue Altman, the nominee for the highly competitive 7th district.
New Jersey’s two senators, though, have yet to officially weigh in. Senator Cory Booker was floated by Democratic State Chairman LeRoy Jones as a possible contender for vice president on Harris’s ticket, though he has not been one of the names that has been frequently mentioned by national observers; Senator Bob Menendez, meanwhile, was recently convicted on federal bribery charges and has not been closely involved in New Jersey politics in months, though he does remain a Democratic National Convention (DNC) superdelegate for now.
Prior to President Joe Biden’s decision to not seek re-election yesterday, some had predicted that if Biden stepped down, there could be a chaotic open primary process leading up to the DNC in August. That has not come to pass, however, with Harris consolidating key support from Biden and from most of her would-be rivals.
This evening, there will be a mandatory meeting of New Jersey’s delegates to the DNC, with the agenda being to officially endorse Harris for president.
This story was updated at 3:00 p.m. to reflect Herb Conaway’s endorsement of Harris, and again at 6:16 p.m. with Altman’s endorsement.