Middletown, NJ – Elect Women NJ, an organization focused on raising money to invest in strong, diverse women candidates in NJ races, released their endorsements for the 2021 election cycle. They have awarded 14 endorsements to local candidates.

Elect Women NJ launched last year to fund women candidates and build a network across the state to invest in candidates at a local level, including races for board of education, council, mayor, county commissioner, surrogate,  and sheriff.

Kerri Kennedy, Founder and Chairwoman of Elect Women NJ, reflected on the importance of women in elected offices at all levels around the globe. Ms Kennedy founded her first political organization, after she returned from training women running for Parliament for Afghanistan’s 2010 elections. The climate was dangerous for women  and many ran at great personal risk. Still, after the elections, women held 28% of the Parliament seats compared to 21% in the U.S.

When Ms Kennedy asked a respected women leader in Afghanistan what we could do to help women in her country, the Member of Parliament said get more women elected in the U.S. We know that more women in leadership increases a country’s peacefulness, happiness, and governance.

“Elect Women NJ  focuses on local races as one solution to challenging the systemic, under-representation of women. Research demonstrates increased diversity in elected office improves policy outcomes.  At a local level, we know that the  women we fund can have an exponential impact on our lives,” said Tricia Maguire, Founder and Executive Director of Elect Women NJ.

Elect Women NJ formally endorsed 14 candidates and financially supported an additional 10 women in races to watch this election cycle.  “Additionally, using a special fund designated for further support black women candidates, we awarded an additional $2,500 to five of our endorsed candidates.” reported Maguire. .  

“We are also thrilled to announce that 64% of our endorsed candidates are women of color. Increasing the numbers and diversity of women in elected office is critically important to our mission.” said Linda Peng-Grooters, Founder and Treasurer of Elect Women NJ.

Kennedy adds,”increasing women’s leadership in politics is more important than ever. Today in Afghanistan, the Taliban have taken control, human rights are at  great risk and women have been eliminated from Cabinet positions and the workforce. In the U.S., courts in Texas have threatened women’s essential reproductive rights for women and COVID-19 has led to significant declines in women’s progress in the workforce. At times like this, when we risk global backslides in women’s progress, it is important for us to increase the urgency with which we address gender parity and meet this moment with the seriousness that it demands in our communities and around the globe.”

Kathy Williams, Founding Board Member and Vice-Chair of Elect Women NJ says, “Given the critical imperative at this time to support more women in office, we are incredibly proud of the talent and strength reflected in our endorsed candidates. We know they will make a positive change in their communities.”

We are proud to to announce  Elect Women’s 2021 Endorsed Candidates

Stephany Kim-Chohan, Highland Park Council

Dahlia Vertreese, Hillside Mayor

Lesley D'Almeida, Atlantic Highlands Borough Council

Daryl Eisenberg Knegten, Watchung Borough Council

Shelley Brindle, Westfield Mayor

Eman El-Badawi, Cranbury Township Committee

Shanel Robinson, Somerset,  Commissioner

Jacqueline Sturdivant, Red Bank Borough Council

Neena Singh, Montgomery Township Committee

Amy DeGise, Jersey City, Council

Celeste Fernandez, Atlantic County Commissioner

Leslie Posnock, Monmouth County Surrogate

Cori Herbig, Parsippany-Troy Hills Council

Judith Hernandez, Parsippany-Troy Hills Council

We are supporting the following Races to Watch:

Jill Gladstone, Bridgewater Township Council

Jennifer Feigley, Bridgewater Township Council

Women to Watch:

Nichelle Santos, Warren Township Committee

Monica Townsend, Middlesex Borough Council

Keturah "Key" Harris, Medford Council

Britani Raynor, Medford Council

Baramdai Sharma, Mount Olive Council

Jessica Kitzman, Ringwood Council

Ann Marie Peterson, Hawthorne Council

Kate Stutzel, Emerson Council

We are hosting an event on October 5th at 6pm to meet our endorsed candidates.  Please go to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rf--rqz4sH9cxh9Rcv2pCzTtT2yKMqei_ to register and join us.

Elect Women NJ is also looking to grow our board. Interested women can send CVs and letters of interest to Kerri@ElectWomenNJ.com