Progressive Groups Back Clarke, Fortgang In NJ-26: Election 2019

CALDWELLS, NJ — Christine Clarke and Laura Fortgang have picked up support from multiple progressive groups in their quest to unseat incumbent Assembly members Jay Webber and BettyLou DeCroce in New Jersey’s 26th District.

Clarke and Fortgang will take on Webber and DeCroce, both Republicans, in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

According to Ballotpedia, here’s how many votes each candidate received in the June primary election:

• Jay Webber – 9,475
• BettyLou DeCroce – 8,851
• Laura Fortgang – 4,325
• Christine Clarke – 4,286

Careen DeAndrea-Lazarus, Passaic County co-chair at Action Together New Jersey, offered heavy praise for both Clarke and Fortgang.

“Families in New Jersey are finding life financially, environmentally and medically precarious,” DeAndrea-Lazarus said. “Property taxes as well as healthcare costs are making it almost untenable to stay in our great state. Changes need to come and come quickly. Electing the correct people especially in state assembly is as important as it gets. This is why I feel Christine Clarke and Laura Fortgang are the right people for those seats. Both come from middle class surroundings and understand the realities of raising a family here.”

The state’s 26th District includes the following towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties: Butler, Fairfield, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Montville, Morris Plains, North Caldwell, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Rockaway Township, Verona, West Caldwell and West Milford.

CHRISTINE CLARKE

Clarke, a Democratic party member, has earned endorsements from groups such as the New Jersey Sierra Club, The New Jersey AFL-CIO, the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, The Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, PAM’s List, Action Together New Jersey, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, SOMA Action and Our Revolution, as well as the Democratic Party in Morris, Essex and Passaic counties.

Clarke has lived in Jefferson Township for 15 years with her husband and four children.

Learn more about her platform here.

Our Revolution called Clarke an “environmental advocate and a grassroots organizer.” The group wrote:

“As an Assembly member, [Christine Clarke] will lead where our current representatives have, frankly, failed us. Christine will push for more green infrastructure that creates jobs while helping to clean our air and water. She will also work to prepare New Jersey for the next environmental crisis, ensuring that our roads, waterways, bridges, and tunnels are not vulnerable to our rapidly changing climate. And, Christine will continue to look out for our children while she fights for their future, by expanding pre-kindergarten and increasing funding for our schools.”

LAURA FORTGANG

Fortgang, another Democratic candidate, was raised in New Providence and is a 24-year resident of Verona.

Learn more about her platform here.

Fortgang has earned endorsements from groups such as the New Jersey Sierra Club, The New Jersey AFL-CIO, the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, Pam’s List and SOMA Action. She also received a “Gun Sense Candidate Distinction” from Moms Demand Action.

• See related article: Verona Democrat Running For D-26 Assembly Seat

In a statement announcing their endorsement, SOMA Action described Fortgang as “unbought and unbossed.”

Fortgang thanked the group, writing:

“I decided to run for Assembly because I saw how out of touch our incumbents are with the people of the district –to the point of belittling and dismissing real concerns. I also see how factioned our state government has become. We need to bring fresh, independent voices to Trenton who will always put constituent needs and accountability first. Social and environmental justice depends on responsible representation that will fight against corruption and self-dealing.”

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Send feedback and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com