Powerful Political Organization Announces Endorsements For Hudson County Spots

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — The powerful local political arm of the Democratic party announced on Saturday a slate of legislative candidates that they will endorse for positions representing Hudson County this year.

The Hudson County Democratic Organization, considered the most powerful of political groups in the area, publicly announced its endorsements for the June Democratic primary for the 32nd and 33rd District legislative seats.

If their chosen candidates win the Democratic primaries in June, they will compete in the general election in November.

They're running to represent the reconfigured districts determined last year by the Legislative Redistricting Commission.

• District 32 now includes Hoboken and parts of Jersey City.
  
• District 33 now includes Union City, North Bergen, West New York, Weehawken, Secaucus, and Guttenberg.

Gov. Phil Murphy and senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker joined HCDO Chairman Anthony Vainieri on Saturday for the announcements.

They publicly endorsed these candidates:

• 32nd District: Current Assemblyman Raj Mukherji for State Senate, and Jessica Ramirez and John Allen for State Assembly.
• 33rd District: Current State Sen. Brian Stack for re-election to State Senate, and West New York Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez and Julio Marenco for State Assembly.
• County Executive: Craig Guy for County Executive

Early this week, after the announcements were made, former U.S. Rep. Albio Sires said he will run for mayor of West New York.

Gabriel Rodriguez is the current mayor of that town, but will run for Assembly instead of for re-election.

What About Chaparro?

Some have questioned why Hoboken-based Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro, who appears to be stepping down after an eight-year term, was not given the nod to run for higher office or for re-election.

On Tuesday, Chaparro released a statement, saying, in part, "As announcements regarding the political future of my seat were made, I wanted to let everyone know that I am committed to a hard-working 2023 and will still help my community in any capacity I can going forward."

“This is an exciting day for Hudson County as we officially begin the primary election by endorsing seven truly outstanding candidates, all of whom have long records of public service and varied experiences that will enable them to become the excellent representatives that the people of our county deserve,” said Vainieri.

Murphy said, “The people of Hudson County deserve elected officials who will work every day to deliver for New Jersey's middle class and working families, and I look forward to working alongside Craig Guy and the legislators from Hudson County to do just that.”

The event was held outside the historic Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City.

Also in attendance were Rep. Rob Menendez, former Rep. Albio Sires, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, Sheriff Frank Schillari, County Clerk Junior Maldonado, Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, Assemblyman Will Sampson, Mayor Al Santos, Mayor Wayne Zitt, Hudson County Commissioners Bill O’Dea, Jerry Walker, Ken Kopacz, and Anthony Romano, as well as council members.

The HCDO will announce its endorsements in the 31st Legislative District and for the countywide commission seats at a later date, they said.

The HCDO released these bios:

Democratic Candidate Bios

Raj Mukherji has served in the State Assembly since 2013 representing the 33rd District. He is an attorney and serial entrepreneur with healthcare, real estate, technology, and regulated cannabis holdings who joined the U.S. Marine Corps following 9/11 and later entered public service as a Deputy Mayor in Jersey City.

Jessica Ramirez is a Jersey City resident and partner at the law firm D’Arcy Johnson Day, where she specializes in serious personal injury, sexual abuse, medical device and product liability litigation. She has served on the State Ethics Committee and as an Eminent Domain Commissioner.

John Allen of Hoboken is the former Chief of Staff to Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and his predecessor Dawn Zimmer. He’s an attorney with the firm Schenck Price and also serves on a number of public bodies, including the Hudson County Planning Board and the Garden State Joint Insurance Fund.

Brian Stack has served as a State Senator representing the 33rd Legislative District since 2007 and previously was elected to the State Assembly. He is the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has responsibility for approving nominations to a variety of state and judicial positions. He also serves as Mayor of Union City, where he is renowned as one of the state’s most active and engaged elected officials.

Gabriel Rodriguez is currently in his first term as Mayor of West New York and has served on the Board of Commissioners since 2015. He formerly served as Field Representative and Campaign Director for Congressman Albio Sires, and he works as an Accounts Manager for the West New York Board of Education.

Julio Marenco was elected to the North Bergen Board of Commissioners in 2015 and previously served as a member of the local Board of Education. A U.S. Navy veteran who served in the submarine service, he is an attorney, adjunct professor and an associate member of the State Parole Board.

Craig Guy is the longtime Chief of Staff to Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and a career public servant. He is a retired Jersey City police officer, a member of the Hudson County Schools of Technology Board of Education and the Treasurer of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.