EDISON — Yesterday, the Middlesex County Democratic Organization concluded its convention week with the endorsement of Governor Philip Murphy, Claribel Cortes for Middlesex County Surrogate, and Commission Director Ron Rios and Commissioner Shanti Narra for County Commissioner and a slate of state legislative for the June 8 Primary election.
“This incredibly diverse and accomplished slate represents the best of Middlesex County and New Jersey,” said Chairman Kevin P. McCabe. “We will continue to harness energy from last year’s Presidential election to get every single one of these candidates elected this November. All of our candidates have a proven track record of working to improve the quality of life for Middlesex County’s working middle-class families. Vice Chair Beatrice Moskowitz and I are proud of the slate our County Committee members have endorsed and look forward to a strong turnout this June and November.”
When seated, Cortes will be the first Latina to serve as Middlesex County Surrogate. It will also mark the first time that all three Middlesex County constitutional row offices will be held by women.
The candidates who received the Middlesex Democratic endorsement to run in the June 2021 Primary are:
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Governor Phil Murphy
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North Brunswick Councilwoman Claribel Cortes for County Surrogate
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Commissioner Director Ron Rios and Commissioner Shanti Narra for County Commissioner
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12th Legislative District: Mayor Joe Altomonte of Matawan for State Senate, and Raya Arbiol of Old Bridge and Michael Palazzolla of Jackson for General Assembly
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14th Legislative District: Senator Linda Greenstein of Plainsboro for State Senate, and Assemblymembers Wayne DeAngelo and Dan Benson of Hamilton for General Assembly
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16th Legislative District: Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker of South Brunswick for State Senate, and Assemblyman Roy Freiman of Hillsborough and Sadaf Jaffer of Montgomery for General Assembly
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17th Legislative District: Senator Bob Smith of Piscataway for State Senate, and Assemblymembers Joseph Egan of New Brunswick and Joseph Danielsen of Franklin Township for General Assembly
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18th Legislative District: Senator Pat Diegnan of South Plainfield for State Senate, and Assemblymembers Robert Karabinchak of Edison and Sterley Stanley of East Brunswick for General Assembly
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19th Legislative District: Senator Joe Vitale of Woodbridge for State Senate, and Speaker Craig Coughlin of Woodbridge and Assemblymember Yvonne Lopez of Perth Amboy for General Assembly
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22nd Legislative District: Senator Nicholas Scutari of Linden for State Senate, and Assemblymembers James Kennedy of Rahway and Linda Carter Plainfield for General Assembly
“Our Middlesex County legislative delegation is united in its commitment to lead our state’s economic recovery from the COVID pandemic,” said Chairman McCabe. “Under the leadership of our own Speaker Coughlin, our members have passed some of the most fiscally responsible, progressive legislation in our state’s history. I look forward to electing other Democrats to join our legislative ranks this June and November.”