Somerset County Democrats Hold Gala, Rev Up For Crucial Election

Keynote Speaker Ken Martin, Minnesota Chair, Rallied Local Faithful Behind Harris/Walz and Entire Democratic Ticket Raising over $200,000 for the Somerset Dems

Peapack & Gladstone, NJ – More than 300 Somerset County Democrats gathered at The Mansion at Natirar Wednesday to celebrate recent success and get energized for the stretch run of the most important election of their lifetimes. The night kicked off with a rousing rendition of the national anthem sung by Elizabeth Romano Peter, whose husband Steve is the Somerset County Clerk, and followed with speeches by SCDO Chair Peg Schaffer, Acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way, and special guest Ken Martin, Chair of the Minnesota Democratic Party and Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

“A secret we learned many years ago was that if you run the best and the brightest, they will ultimately prevail, and our 2024 Democratic ticket is packed with the best and the brightest from Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to Shanel Robinson and Sara Sooy,” said Chair Schaffer. Lauding the fact that the Somerset ticket is predominately female with Kamala; Bonnie; Sue; Shanel and
Sara, Schaffer said “we will break the ultimate glass ceiling this year.” “But this election more than ever depends on turnout. We need to run like we are 20 points behind and do everything in our power to get every last voter to the polls to make sure that the psychotic never sees the Oval Office again.”

In addition to making sure the assembled Democrats understood the stakes of the election, she also rewarded longtime volunteer and DJ Ben Auletta, Jr. of Bound Brook with the 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award.

Chair Martin electrified an already energized crowd leading the chant “When We Fight…We Win.” “This election is the most important of our generation, and we have to do everything we can to ensure that Vice President Kamala Harris and my own Minnesota Governor Tim Walz win the White House,” said Chair Martin. “But it’s just as important for Democrats to win at all levels, and I know Somerset County will fight.