A powerful state senator jumped into the Democratic Party fracas this morning, not to pick a side, but to ask people not to precipitously pick a side without allowing “the process to play out.”

If they do pick a side, do it civilly and without rancor.

As reported yesterday by InsiderNJ, the decision by sitting U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) to run for the United States Senate next year prompted a collision between two Democratic assembly people from Kim’s home county of Burlington vying for Kim’s congressional seat.

Burlington County Democratic Party Chair Joe Andl picked a side, backing Assemblyman Herb Conaway over Assemblywoman Carol Murphy.

That prompted Murphy to respond.

But state Senator Troy Singleton fired of a cautionary letter to committee members.

Here it is:

As your State Senator and a party leader, I wanted to reach out to you directly because I am concerned about some of the heightened rhetoric I have heard and seen as it relates to the upcoming opening in the 3rd Congressional District race. As many of you are aware, both of my legislative colleagues, Assemblyman Dr. Herb Conaway and Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, are seeking to be our party’s nominee for the seat that Congressman Andy Kim is vacating in his pursuit of the United States Senate seat.  Each has earned the opportunity to stand before you and make their case as to who should be our party’s standard bearer. The process to determine our party’s nominee must be transparent and inclusive of the voices of our county committee. The county party will send out more details on that process in the coming weeks. 

The reason that our county organization was able to reverse forty years of Republican control in Burlington County was on the strength of our collective and unified efforts. This singular focus, of each of us dedicating ourselves to the high ideals of our party’s platform, has allowed us to win and maintain the trust of the voters throughout the county. Primary campaigns can oftentimes test that unity, but our obligation to each other is to be mindful that no one individual stands ahead of our shared success. 

Therefore, I am asking each of you, my fellow Burlington County Democrats, to allow the county committee selection process to run its course. For those wishing to publicly support either Herb or Carol in their quest to seek the party’s nomination, you should do so without any fear of consequence or retribution. Neither of these actions furthers our ability to maintain this seat next November or strengthen our party moving forward.