With an eye on recapturing the US House, the “NJ Women” fundraising group raise $30k for Jennifer McClellan‘s bid for Congress in Virginia.

Earlier this week, several notable NJ politicos hosted a virtual fundraiser for Virginia State Senator Jennifer McClellan (pictured) a candidate for Congress in the only special election in the country on February 21st. This seat, located in Virginia’s Richmond-centric 4th congressional district, is open due to the passing of Rep. Donald McEachin late last year.

The New Jersey event raised $30,000 for McClellan’s Congressional campaign.

Veteran New Jersey political strategist gone national, Jennifer Holdsworth Karp spearheaded the event, assembling a host committee of blue chip Jersey names to fundraise for the McClellan Campaign. Ms. Holdsworth Karp tapped stalwarts Laura Matos and Kay LiCausi to co-chair the event through the “NJ Women” fundraising group (which emerged as a fundraising tool during the pandemic) and has previously funded efforts in New Jersey and beyond, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

The McClellan for Congress event was headlined by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, Congresswoman (and possible future Governor) Mikie Sherrill and NJ’s Virginia-born First Lady Tammy Murphy, each of whom touted Sen. McClellan’s two decade long progressive track record in the Virginia legislature.

Senator McClellan’s record includes laws to protect voting rights, safeguard abortion access, tackle climate change, rebuild neglected schools, expand Obamacare in Virginia, protect workers rights, and reform Virginia’s criminal justice system. Twenty-three percent of VA-4 is in McClellan’s current senate district, providing her with an electoral foundation for victory. Running in a majority minority district, McClellan fighting to become Virginia’s first Black female member of Congress.

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter introduced Senator McClellan to the group.

The guest list for this intrastate fundraiser read like a who’s who NJ Democratic female heavyweights: Assemblymembers Britnee Timberlake, Pam Lampitt, Sadaf Jaffer, Linda Carter joined County Clerk Nancy Pinkin, Mayor Colleen Mahr, Mayor Gina LaPlaca, Deputy Mayor Cristina Cutrone, Councilwoman Amy Quinn, Councilwoman Gail Rottenstrich, NJDSC’s Saily Avelenda, Bernadette McPherson, Dr. Patricia Campos-Medina, Jackie Cornell, Cristina Zuk, Missy Balmir, Tennille McCoy, Rachel Holland, Carrie Xu, Leah Casterlin, Jade Bechelli, Meghan Adamoli, Marcia Marley, Donna Robinson Taylor, Melissa Pollitt, Jessica Stewart, Kari Osmond, Erin Chung, Desiree Ramos Reiner, Sue Altman and Stephenine Dixon.

With an eye on recapturing the US House of Reps, the “NJ Women” fundraising group intends to continue their efforts for other women running for higher office, both in NJ and nationally, in the future.