NEW JERSEY WORKING FAMILIES ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS FOR SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

Bloc of progressive legislators pledge to implement three-part

Working Families agenda

NEWARK — New Jersey Working Families Alliance announced its endorsement of a slate of 46 candidates in the 2017 New Jersey Legislature Senate and Assembly elections. The politically potent advocates, who endorsed Ambassador Phil Murphy during the Democratic primary, have been collaborating with the candidate to push a progressive agenda post-Christie. The organization cited the slate’s commitment to advancing progressive policies and championing the interests of working families. Each of the endorsed candidates are committed to passing a $15 minimum wage, earned sick days for all, the Democracy Act, and heightened transparency and accountability measures in economic incentive programs, all initiatives the organization has spearheaded statewide and locally for years.

“New Jersey needs bold, progressive action to lift our state’s working families, and that starts with electing bold, progressive champions in the legislature. Our endorsed candidates share our vision for a more equitable Garden State, and bring expertise and leadership as we chart a new course under a new administration. We are ready to hit the ground running with these legislators and new progressive candidates to advocate on behalf of working families and transform our state,” said Analilia Mejia, Director of New Jersey Working Families. “After eight years of a Christie administration that worked against the interests of working families, it’s time for New Jersey to rebuild and answer the needs of all residents. With these endorsements, NJ WFA is creating a progressive bloc of legislators, who, along with Ambassador Phil Murphy, will right the fortunes of our state by working on behalf of the many, not the moneyed few.”

The New Jersey Working Families Alliance endorsements are based on candidate questionnaires and an analysis of past voting records. The candidates have committed to championing a progressive agenda in three main issue areas to help transform New Jersey into a fairer and more equitable state: worker justice, voter right expansion, and smarter economic initiatives.

New Jersey Working Families will do on-the-ground organizing in key legislative districts to mobilize state residents to vote in support of the endorsed candidates. Organizing efforts will include door knocking, commuter leafleting, and independent mailers.

The full list of endorsements appears below. Asterisk (*) indicates incumbents:

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The New Jersey Working Families Alliance is a grassroots independent political organization fighting for a government that represents the needs and values of working families. We elect candidates who share our values and organize campaigns to advance progressive policies. Together we’re building a movement of working families to fight for economic and social justice in New Jersey.

Our affiliates are: Union of Rutgers Administrators/American Federation of Teachers; Communications Workers of America; Communications Workers of America Local 1032; Communications Workers of America Local 1037; Communications Workers of America Local 1081;International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers 194; Laundry Distribution Joint Board; Workers United NY/NJ; BlueWave NJ; Clean Water Action New Jersey; New Jersey Citizen Action; New Jersey Education Association; New Jersey Sierra Club; SEIU NJ State Council; SEIU Local 32BJ; SEIU CIR; New Jersey Industrial Union Council; Amalgamated Transit Union; Amalgamated Transit Union 819; Amalgamated Transit Union 822

Contact: Anne Songcayauon, asongcayauon@workingfamilies.org, 201-233-7735