Emerge New Jersey Hires Geri Jannarone as Executive Director

NEW JERSEY — Today, Emerge, the nation’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, announced that Geri Jannarone will be the next executive director of Emerge New Jersey. In this role, Jannarone will oversee the organization’s strategy and outreach for 2021 and beyond. Before joining Emerge, Jannarone most recently served as Campaign Manager and Political Director for New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone Jr.

“I am so excited to have Geri on board the Emerge team and I look forward to seeing all that she will do to transform New Jersey politics,” said A’shanti F. Gholar, President of Emerge. “Across the country, women are leading movements for change and demanding more for our communities, especially those who have suffered under bad and misguided policy making. We need the compassion, strength and courage of Democratic women in government now more than ever, and I am confident that Geri will give women across the state of New Jersey the tools they need to run and win.”

“I’m thrilled to join such an outstanding organization. At this critical time in our nation’s history, it has never been more important to elect women at every level of government. Here in New Jersey, women are underrepresented from the state house to Congress, and I am excited to help change that,” said Jannarone. “I’ve followed Emerge for over a decade and admire the organization’s particular focus on uplifting the voices of Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, unmarried, and young women. I look forward to using my skills, talent, and experience to implement new political infrastructure that will help bring New Jersey women to greater heights.”

Jannarone comes to Emerge with an extensive background in state politics and advocacy. She served as the Director of Advocacy and Special Campaigns for Parano and Associates and as a regional field organizer for Phil Murphy’s gubernatorial campaign. Jannarone is a Founders Circle member of Elect Women NJ and is the Democratic Municipal Chairwoman of Brielle, New Jersey. She was previously Vice Chairwoman and Program Director of Emerge New Jersey and the State Chapter Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Since 2012, Emerge New Jersey has recruited, trained and provided a powerful network to more than 90 Democratic women. Currently, 13 Emerge New Jersey alums serve in elected office including Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake who represents District 34 in the state legislature.

Nationally, Emerge has trained more than 4,500 Democratic women to run for office, has more than 1,000 alums currently in elected office and has committed to reaching 100,000 women of the New American Majority–Black, Brown and Indigenous women and women of color, as well as LGBTQ+, young and unmarried women–over the next 15 years. There are currently 27 state affiliates, and the organization has impacted a total of 45 states, Washington, D.C. and territories.

Learn more here: https://nj.emergeamerica.org/