NJEA Announces Three New Congressional Endorsements
NJEA PAC Operating Committee and NEA’s Fund for Children and Public Education today endorsed candidates in three additional congressional districts in New Jersey. Joe Salerno (CD2), Herb Conaway (CD3) and LaMonica McIver (CD10) earned endorsement on the strength of their records and the priorities they promised to pursue when elected.
Joe Salerno is a tech entrepreneur with a compelling story to tell. He comes from humble roots and is committed to New Jersey’s public schools, where he and his family were educated. He shares our values and is running to fight against those who would denigrate the public institutions that provided families like his with immense opportunity. Salerno is especially focused on protecting fundamental rights.
Herb Conaway is a medical doctor and longtime supporter of public education and labor. Through his decades of service in the State Legislature, Conaway has shown an unwavering commitment to values held by educators and working families. In Congress, he will put the public first.
LaMonica McIver, if elected, will become New Jersey’s youngest member of Congress and only the second African American woman. She is a groundbreaking leader who became the youngest member of Newark City Council and who, while in office, demonstrated a commitment to social justice. McIver will honor the legacy of the late Donald Payne, Jr., by continuing his legacy of steadfast dedication to civil rights.
NJEA’s officers, President Sean M. Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson issued this statement:
“We are thrilled to join our fellow NJEA members in supporting these three terrific candidates. With Congress so closely divided, every seat matters. We are excited to help elect three more United States Representatives who will stand with students, who will listen to educators and who will put the needs of New Jersey’s working families first.”
NJEA’s full list of 2024 endorsements:
U.S. President and Vice President
- Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz
United States Senate
- Rep. Andy Kim
United States House of Representatives
- NJ-1: Rep. Donald Norcross
- NJ-2: Joe Salerno
- NJ-3: Herb Conaway
- NJ-5: Rep. Josh Gottheimer
- NJ-6: Rep. Frank Pallone
- NJ-7: Rep. Sue Altman
- NJ-8: Rep. Robert Menendez, Jr.
- NJ-9: Pending
- NJ-10: LaMonica McIver
- NJ-11: Rep. Mikie Sherrill
- NJ-12: Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman
Certainly hope these endorsed candidates recognize that ,” due to the labor shortage and Covid learning loss (according to new data, the average student has only recovered a third of their learning loss in math and a quarter in reading), it is vital to reimagine teachers’ roles. Our legislators admit to a lack of urgency to address the learning loss and have noted New Jersey is 2-3 years behind the rest of the nation. This is a problem and few are talking about the present education model and is it working for all students and teachers.