“At a time when working people and working families are under attack each and every day by the Trump administration, it is more important than ever to fight back — not just with our voices and our values, but with real power at the ballot box,” said Charles Wowkanech, President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. “Our pro-labor candidates — including union members and longtime allies — will help build a New Jersey that truly puts working families first.”

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s Labor Candidate’s Program is a nationally recognized model for building worker power through elected office. Over the past 28 years, the program has recruited, trained, and supported rank-and-file union members to run for office — resulting in 1,316 electoral victories and a 78% success rate. Union members trained through the program are now proudly serving working families at every level of government, from city councils to the State Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives.

This year's full slate of endorsements reflects a unified and diverse coalition of pro-worker candidates committed to strengthening labor rights, public education, and economic justice, and includes union members stepping up to serve their communities who are educators, health care workers, building trades workers, public employees, service and industrial workers and more.

“Labor candidates don’t just talk the talk — they live it,” said Laurel Brennan, Secretary-Treasurer of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. “When a union member is elected to public office, they bring with them the values of solidarity, fairness, and economic justice. These candidates are our neighbors, our co-workers, and our leaders — and we are proud to stand with them every step of the way.”

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO represents more than one million union members and their families and works to elect candidates who share the values of dignity, safety, and opportunity for all working people. Through its Labor Candidate’s Program, the federation provides training, strategic support, and grassroots mobilization to help union members win elected office at every level.

“Electing pro-labor candidates isn’t just smart politics — it’s the surest way to build a government that puts working families first,” Wowkanech added. “We look forward to turning out union voters and securing victories up and down the ballot this November.”

For more information about the Labor Candidate’s Program, visit www.njaflcio.org.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO endorsements are listed below:
To access a PDF version, click here. 

Governor
Mikie Sherrill (D)

District 1
Assembly
Antwan McClellan (R)*
Erik Simonsen (R)*

District 2
Assembly
Don Guardian (R)*
Claire Swift (R)*

District 3
Assembly
Dave Bailey Jr. (D)*
Heather Simmons (D)*

District 4
Assembly
Dan Hutchinson (D)*
Cody Miller (D)*

District 5
Assembly
William Moen Jr. (D)*
William Spearman (D)*

District 6
Assembly
Louis Greenwald (D)*
Melinda Kane (D)*

District 7
Assembly
Carol Murphy (D)*
Balvir Singh (D)*

District 8
Assembly
Andrea Katz (D)*
Michael Torrissi (R)*

District 9
Assembly
Lisa Bennett (D)

District 10
Assembly
No Endorsements

District 11
Assembly
Margie Donlon (D)*
Luanne Peterpaul (D)*

District 12
Assembly
No Endorsements

District 13
Assembly
No Endorsements

District 14
Assembly
Wayne DeAngelo (D)+*
Tennille McCoy (D)*

District 15
Assembly
Anthony Verrelli (D)+*
Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*

District 16
Assembly
Mitchelle Drulis (D)*
Roy Freiman (D)*

District 17
Assembly
Kevin Egan (D)+*
Joseph Danielsen (D)*

District 18
Assembly
Robert Karabinchak (D)*
Sterley Stanley (D)*

District 19
Assembly
Craig Coughlin (D)*
Yvonne Lopez (D)*

District 20
Assembly
Annette Quijano (D)*
Eventual Democratic Nominee

District 21
Assembly
No Endorsements

District 22
Assembly
Linda Carter (D)*
James Kennedy (D)*

District 23
Assembly
No Endorsements

District 24
Assembly
Dawn Fantasia (R)*
Michael Inganamort, (R)*

District 25
Assembly
Christian Barranco (R)+*

Aura Dunn (R)*

District 26
Assembly
Brian Bergen (R)*

District 27
Assembly
Rosy Bagolie (D)*
Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)*

District 28
Assembly
Cleopatra Tucker (D)*
Chigozie Onyema (D)

District 29
Assembly
Eliana Pintor Marin (D)*
Shanique Speight (D)*

District 30
Assembly
Avi Schnall (D)*

District 31
Assembly
William Sampson (D)+*
Jerry Walker (D)

District 32
Assembly
Ravi Bhalla (D)
Katie Brennan (D)

District 33
Assembly
Larry Wainstein (D)
Gabriel Rodriguez (D)

District 34
Assembly
Carmen Morales (D)*
Michael Venezia (D)

District 35
Senate
Benjie Wimberly (D)*
Assembly
Al Abdelaziz (D)*
Kenyetta Stewart (D)

District 36
Assembly
Clinton Calabrese (D)*
Gary Schaer (D)*

District 37
Assembly
Shama Haider (D)*
Ellen Park (D)*

District 38
Assembly
Lisa Swain (D)*
Chris Tully (D)*

District 39
Assembly
Andrew LaBruno (D)
Donna Abene (D)

District 40
Assembly
Al Barlas (R)*
Christopher DePhillips (R)*