Blue Dog Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill announced that her campaign is supported by Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, who is perhaps the most notable elected official who betrayed his party by endorsing Republican Governor Chris Christie in 2013.
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s second term expires after next year’s election, and he is barred by term limits from running again.
Critics call DiVincenzo “Slavecatcher Joe” for his enthusiastic collaboration with immigration officials who paid the county millions of dollars to house detainees under inhumane conditions in the local jail.
DiVincenzo’s son was appointed to a six-figure job in state government after the cross-party endorsement, which occurred the same year Christie aides shut down the George Washington Bridge to retaliate against a Democratic mayor who refused to back the Republican.
Sherrill is one of six contenders seeking the Democratic nomination to replace term-limited Governor Phil Murphy, a Goldman Sachs millionaire who used his Wall Street fortune to buy the job in 2017.
She won a seat in Congress by outstanding rivals for the nomination to challenge longtime GOP Representative Rodney Freylinghuysen, who cowered from the fight in Donald Trump’s midterm election.
Sherill joins a crowded primary for governor that includes Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Representative Josh Gottheimer, former state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, who is also leader of the New Jersey Education Association.
Among the Republicans lining up to run are former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former state Sen. Ed Durr and radio host Bill Spadea.