New Jersey Working Families State Director Sue Altman released the following statement following news of an agreement that secures the re-election of John Currie as state Democratic Party chairman:

Today’s agreement is a victory for the progressive movement and Governor Murphy’s agenda.

It prevents a hostile takeover of the New Jersey Democratic Party by a political machine controlled by George Norcross and his political allies, including Senate President Steve Sweeney.

The fact that this deal was done without Norcross and Sweeney at the table is a victory in itself; our state can move forward on unifying the party without the iron grip of the state’s largest and most powerful political machine.

The agreement shows that the party is unified around the governor’s agenda, including reform of our state’s broken tax incentive system and the millionaire’s tax. It also provides leverage for the next 18 months to be sure our partners in the Senate keep their word on other issues, when in the past they have not. And it means that the pro-good government, pro-fairness agenda will be supported by the state party.

And most important, this protects New Jersey’s legislative redistricting process from the control of Norcross and Sweeney and shows that responsible political leaders can reach agreements for the good of the state and the party without their corrupting influence.

The New Jersey redistricting process is far from perfect. And, ideally, it would be nonpolitical.

But the agreement struck between county leaders and Chairman Currie shows we are taking steps forward, and we are entering a new decade where grassroots voices matter more than machine bosses.