The grassroots organization SOMA Action, a progressive advocacy group based in South Orange and Maplewood, New Jersey, has endorsed Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
The progressive organization also awarded support to Assemblywoman Garnet Hall (D-Maplewood) and West Ward Democratic Municipal Chairman Chigozie Onyema for the 28th Legislative District’s State Assembly seats.
The endorsements highlight a shift in local progressive momentum amid a contentious primary season.
SOMA Action utilized a ranked-choice voting (RCV) system to determine its gubernatorial endorsement, a method the group advocates for statewide.
In the initial round, Fulop led with 47% of first-choice votes, followed by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (28%) and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) (15%).
Ten percent of members voted for “no endorsement.” Since no candidate met the required two-thirds threshold, the group conducted successive runoff rounds, ultimately awarding Fulop 81.6% support .
Fulop, a three-term mayor running on an anti-establishment “Democrats for Change” platform, credited SOMA Action’s transparent process as a model for democratic engagement.
His campaign emphasized grassroots outreach, including 120 town hall meetings, and his selection of South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum as his lieutenant governor running mate .
In the 28th District Assembly race, SOMA Action endorsed incumbent Garnet Hall (44% first-choice votes) and challenger Chigozie Onyema (39%), bypassing nine-term incumbent Cleopatra Tucker (3%).
Fourteen percent of members opted for “no endorsement” as Hall, who lost the Essex County Democratic Committee’s support at its convention, aligned with Fulop’s slate, leveraging his campaign’s surging momentum.
Onyema, backed by the county party and the Working Families Party, has also earned endorsements from the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and the Communications Workers of America (CWA), positioning him as a bridge between establishment and reform factions .
A Rebuke to Party Machine Politics
SOMA Action’s endorsements challenge traditional power structures. Co-President Allison Posner criticized New Jersey’s history of “picking officials behind closed doors,” while Erika Malinoski praised RCV for preventing vote-splitting and ensuring consensus.
The group’s rejection of Sherrill, who holds endorsements from ten county committees, and Baraka, a progressive rival, signals a divergence from North Jersey’s political establishment .
The endorsements arrive as Fulop’s campaign claims growing grassroots support, with 2,000 volunteers mobilized statewide.
Meanwhile, Hall’s alliance with Fulop underscores a strategic pivot after losing county backing, while Onyema’s dual support from progressive and establishment groups highlights his cross-coalition appeal .
With the June 10 primary approaching, SOMA Action’s choices may influence voter turnout in Essex County, a key Democratic stronghold.
The use of RCV in their process also sets a precedent for advocacy groups seeking to emulate participatory democracy models.
Environmental Backing: Onyema and Hall were among 28th District candidates endorsed by the New Jersey LCV for their climate advocacy .
Union Divisions: The CWA notably declined to endorse Hall, instead supporting Onyema and Tucker, reflecting tensions between labor and anti-machine candidates.
As primary voting intensifies, SOMA Action’s endorsements underscore the evolving battle between grassroots activism and entrenched party dynamics in New Jersey’s 2025 elections.
Discover more from NJTODAY.NET
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.