New Jersey Working Families Party Launches Statewide Candidate Recruitment Program for State Legislature

Heading into the first post-line primary with every state legislator on the ballot, the party announces its first coordinated effort to recruit independent progressives ready to fight for working class families

NEW JERSEY — As progressive candidates rack up primary wins against establishment and moderate Democrats across the country, the New Jersey Working Families Party officially launched its statewide candidate recruitment efforts, calling on residents to nominate working-class champions to run for the state Legislature.

Coming off a strong run of insurgent wins across the state — from sweeping the Jersey City municipal races to electing Congresswoman Analilia Mejia and Assemblymembers Katie Brennan, Ravi Bhalla, and Chigozie Onyema — New Jersey’s leading progressive electoral organization is gearing up for the state’s 2027 elections, the first primary in New Jersey’s post-county line era where every state Senate and Assembly seat will be on the ballot.

“We have a real opportunity here to make New Jersey politics finally work for working people. Voters know the system is broken, and as we’re seeing all over the country, they’re hungry for leaders who are going to do something about it,” said Antoinette Miles, State Director of the New Jersey Working Families Party. “We’re looking for everyday people who are ready to fight for their neighbors and stand up to corporate special interests in Trenton. If that’s you or someone you know, we want to hear from you.”

Over the long-term, the recruitment program aims to build a bench of progressive candidates across the state who are independent from local party bosses and political machines — building on the national hunger for bold, progressive leadership demonstrated by WFP-endorsed primary wins in Michigan, New York, and Colorado.

Over the coming months, the New Jersey Working Families Party will recruit, train, and support candidates to run in Democratic primaries across the state in open seats, safe blue districts, and against incumbents who've lost touch with the working families they're supposed to represent.

Select nominees will be invited to a candidate training bootcamp this October, where they'll build the skills to run, and win, without support from the political machine.

“People want something to vote for, not just against, and they’re not getting that from the establishment,” said Antoinette Miles. “We’re presenting a new vision for how to do politics in our state, one that’s rooted in independent leadership that fights for us, not the machine or the corporations that keep it running."

Community members are encouraged to nominate potential candidates here. The primary elections for the state Senate and Assembly are in June 2027.

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