Blue Wave with Green Tide Washes Over NJ

New Jersey will come out blue in this year’s midterm elections. Democratic incumbent, Senator Robert Menendez held onto his seat. Democrats including Mikie Sherill, Tom Malinowski, and possibly Andy Kim, took control of at least three of the state’s five GOP held congressional seats. The New Jersey Sierra Club endorsed 11 out of the 12 congressional candidates who came out on top.

“We had a blue wave with a green tide in New Jersey. For the first time ever, we’ve had 12 of Sierra Club’s endorsed candidates win in New Jersey. Our Congressional delegation will be one of the greenest in the country. Now our Congress can work on important issues such as combating climate change, cleaning up toxic sites, and reversing President Trump’s rollbacks,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Democrats also swept dozens and dozens of county and local races. Most importantly our democratic incumbent, Congress Pallone can now lead as the new Chair of the House Commerce and Energy Committee.”

In the U.S House, 10 Democrats won and 1 Republican Won. Mikie Sherill, Tom Malinowski, and most likely Andy Kim will flip 3 U.S House seats. Andy Kim leads by 0.9 percentage points, or 2,622 votes, over Tom MacArthur with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

“Our U.S Congress is now one of the most pro-environmental delegations that New Jersey has had in a while. New Jersey now has fighters like Mikie Sherill who will protect the people of this state and of this nation. With Tom Malinowski in Congress, he will make the Trump Administration enforce protections for clean air, water, and climate change,” said Tittel. “As we come near to the final mail in voter count, we hope Andy Kim’s district will turn blue. Kim will protect the public from polluters and make sure our communities are safe and healthy places to live in,”

In the U.S Senate Race, Democratic Incumbent, Senator Menendez defeated Republican candidate, Bob Hugin by 9.6% or 270, 109 votes.

“Senator Menendez has been an environmental champion for 3 decades and we are happy to see his legacy continue in the Senate. Menendez’s win is a victory for our environment. He will stand up and protect our health and our children’s health from corporate polluters and Trump’s rollbacks on environmental protections,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The midterm election is a big game changer. Republicans have been trying to block climate change protections and drill off our coast. Now we have people in Congress who will protect and preserve our environment and our public health on a state and national level.”