The NJEA’s PAC released their list of their endorsement recommendations for the 2020 fall congressional races, as well as LD25’s special Senate and Assembly races, in which they support incumbent Republicans Senator Anthony Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn.

The PAC is supporting the Democratic incumbents, while backing CD2 Democratic challenger Amy Kennedy; they opted against making an recommendation in CD4.

They’re going with Joe Biden for President.

The PAC’s full release:

The New Jersey Education Association’s 125-member political action committee (NJEA PAC) has voted to recommend to the National Education Association’s (NEA) Fund for Children and Public Education the endorsement of U.S. Senator Cory Booker for re-election and Tom Malinowski for Congress in CD-7. These endorsements join recommendations made to the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education for the July 7 primary, which carried through to the general election. Federal election endorsements are made through the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education.

NJEA PAC also announced their endorsement of Anthony M. Bucco for Senate in LD-25 and Aura K. Dunn for Assembly in LD-25.

“We are proud to support all of these great candidates,” said NJEA President Marie Blistan. “We know that having public education advocates at every level of government is a key to making sure our students can learn, grow and thrive. The last few months have shown just how central public education is to everything we do in our communities and our society. These endorsed candidates will work to elevate our profession, fund and support our schools and keep the needs our out students and families as their top priority.”

“These endorsements are just the beginning,” said NJEA Vice President Sean M. Spiller. “The real power of our union is in our willingness to work hard to elect these candidates in November. We have deep roots in our communities and the respect of our friends and neighbors. We are going to use those relationships to talk about why these public education advocates deserve to be elected. We walk the walk when it comes to advocating for what we believe in.”

“As educators and advocates for students and great public schools, we have civic and professional responsibility to participate in the political process and help elect people who share our priorities and values,” said NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beatty. “Our nation is built on the principle that power flows from the people to the representatives they elect. We want to use our power as voters to build a stronger, better democratic society for everyone, especially our students.”

The complete list of NJEA PAC’s endorsements and recommendations to the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education for the general election are:

President

Joe Biden

U.S House of Representatives

CD-1: Donald Norcross

CD-2: Amy Kennedy

CD-3: Andy Kim

CD-4: No endorsement

CD-5: Josh Gottheimer

CD-6: Frank Pallone

CD-7: Tom Malinowski

CD-8: Albio Sires

CD-9: Bill Pascrell

CD-10: Donald Payne Jr.

CD-11: Mikie Sherrill

CD-12: Bonnie Watson Coleman

New Jersey Legislature

LD-25: Anthony M. Bucco – Senate

LD-25: Aura K. Dunn – Assembly

Despite the challenges imposed by the global pandemic, NJEA PAC maintained their standards and practices for endorsements. Candidates were invited to respond to a questionnaire about their public education and labor priorities and they were invited to attend a virtual screening with members of their local screening committee, made up of NJEA members from their congressional district. The screening committee made recommendations to the full NJEA PAC, which voted on their recommendations.

The New Jersey Education Association represents more than 200,000 teachers, certificated staff, educational support professionals, and retired members. NJEA’s mission is to advance and protect the rights, benefits, and interests of members, and promote a quality system of public education for all students.