Middletown, NJ – Elect Women NJ, the pioneering political action committee dedicated to investing in strong, diverse women candidates for local offices, proudly announces its largest endorsement class since its founding in 2020. For the 2025 election cycle, the organization is backing 66 women seeking positions including county clerk, sheriff, and commissioner to mayor, committee, council, and Board of Education (BOE).

In just five years, Elect Women NJ has supported 214 women in all 21 counties. This year’s class is the youngest and most diverse slate to date: 12 candidates are under 40 (including two under 25), and 46 percent represent diverse backgrounds, with record numbers of APIDA and Latina women.

“This milestone cohort demonstrates that the future of leadership in New Jersey is bold, diverse, and deeply committed to public service,” said Cara Parmigiani, Vice Chair of Elect Women NJ. “We are especially proud to see more young women stepping up to lead, ensuring that the next generation’s voices are heard at every level of government.”

“Our support not only includes funding, it also equips women with the tools to run and win,” said Mary Knowles, Chair of Programming. “Through our free trainings, we’ve prepared 200 women to tell their story, identify the issues in their communities, understand the political landscape, and navigate the process of getting on the ballot. As we grow, our network grows with us creating a pipeline of capable, passionate women leaders ready to transform local government.”

As Elect Women NJ continues to expand its impact, the organization will gather supporters, candidates, and community leaders for its Annual Gala on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at The Gran Centurions in Clark, NJ. The gala serves as both a celebration of progress and the organization’s single largest fundraiser of the year.

“Our annual gala is more than a celebration, it’s our most important opportunity to raise the funds that fuel women’s campaigns across New Jersey,” said Anna Alexander, Co-Chair of the Gala Committee. “It’s also where our community comes together to recognize trailblazers and rally behind the next generation of women leaders ready to make an impact.”

This year’s program will introduce the 2025 cohort and honor Jersey City Council President Joyce E. Watterman with the 2025 Sheila Y. Oliver Trailblazer Award. Fatima Heyward, President of the Young Democrats of America, will deliver the keynote address.

Elect Women NJ remains committed to expanding representation and building a stronger, more inclusive democracy in New Jersey by empowering women to run, win, and lead.

Here are this year’s endorsed candidates:

Sheriff
● Mildred Scott, Middlesex County

Surrogate
● Bernice Martina Jalloh, Somerset County

Clerk
● Alison De Noia, Monmouth County
● Nancy Pinkin, Middlesex County

Commissioner
● Chanelle Scott McCullum, Middlesex County
● Clary Azcona-Barber, Middlesex County
● Allison Eckel, Burlington County
● Yolanda Garcia Balicki, Cumberland County
● Cathleen Lewis, Mercer County
● Nina Melker, Mercer County
● Jacqui Wenzel, Monmouth County
● Jocelyn Mathiasen, Morris County
● Melonie Marano, Somerset County
● Elizabeth Graner, Somerset County
● Ethel Conry, Warren County

Mayor
● Jenny Mundell, Bloomfield

Committee
● Charlyn Martin, Carneys Point
● Corinne Taylor-Walls, Cinnaminson
● Anna Evans, Hainesport
● Samantha Loveman, Hainesport
● Tracy Thompson, Hamilton Township
● Yvette Soto, Hamilton Township
● Thelma Witherspoon, Hamilton Township
● Amy Lee Downey, Hazlet Township
● Laura Bibb, Hazlet Township
● Jill Gomez, Hillsborough
● Courtney Peters-Manning, Hopewell Township
● Mansi Patel, Long Hill Township
● Lori Faye, Lumberton Township

● Lauren Spirig, Mendham Township
● Clare Hackney, Mendham Township
● Beth Schroeder Buonsante, Mullica Township
● Rachael White, Raritan Township

Council
● Margaret Montone, Aberdeen Township
● Kathleen Scatassa, Atlantic Highlands
● Monica Charris Tabares, Bloomfield
● Kimberly Mazzei, Boonton Town
● Carol G. Morokoff, Boonton Town
● Tara Temprano, Borough of Hawthorne
● Trina Folkes, Bound Brook
● Karen Koronkiewicz, Chatham
● Judy Rugg, Dover
● Christina Malecki, Fair Haven
● Susan Engelhardt, Flemington Borough
● Gina Sullivan, Florence Township
● Shepa Uddin, Franklin Township
● Margaret Rogers, Freehold Borough
● Kimberly Grieser, Galloway Township
● Joyce Pratt, Galloway Township
● Rosemary Goldberg, Galloway Township
● Tracey Madigan, Jamesburg
● Alissa Pecora, Keyport
● Amanda Santos, Lawrence Township
● Nancy Verga, Morris Plains Borough
● Baramdai Sharma, Mount Olive
● Michelle Pirone Lambros, Municipality of Princeton
● Diya Patel, Parsippany
● Kyana Evans, Paulsboro
● Christie Del Rey-Cone, Rutherford
● Tammy Williams, West Orange
● Jaclyn Morris, Woodstown

Board of Education
● Christine Parlamis, Glen Rock
● Jannah Hameed, Hillsborough
● Parul Khemka, Livingston
● Natalie Biello, Millstone Township
● Nancy Salgado-Cowan, Piscataway

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Elect Women NJ is New Jersey's first and leading anti-racist, feminist political action committee dedicated to raising funds for viable, diverse, Democratic, and pro-choice women running for local office. Founded in 2020, the organization has raised over $130,000 to support women candidates for positions such as Sheriff, Surrogate, Commissioner, Mayor, Council, and Board of Education. By focusing on community building and fostering a network of donors, Elect Women NJ ensures that their support has the greatest impact, helping women candidates overcome financial barriers to success and building a pipeline of strong women leaders in New Jersey