Frelinghuysen Backs GOP’s Rosemary Becchi In NJ’s 11th District

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ -- Rosemary Becchi, the Republican candidate running against U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey's 11th District, has earned the endorsement of Rodney Frelinghuysen, the recently retired GOP congressman who dominated the district for decades.

Frelinghuysen called Becchi “uniquely qualified” to represent the interests of New Jersey families in Washington, D.C.

“Rosemary Becchi is uniquely qualified to represent New Jersey’s 11th District in Congress given her extensive, bi-partisan efforts in advocating for tax relief and fighting to make our state more affordable for families through the non-profit Jersey First,” the former congressman said.

Frelinghuysen continued:

“The 11th District seat has traditionally been held by representatives eager to work in a bi-partisan manner to accomplish the best for everyone throughout New Jersey. Sadly, the partisan divide has only increased in Washington, and the current group of federal representatives in our area have broken their promise not to get mired in the partisan vitriol and impeachment demagoguery that is gridlocking the nation’s capitol. It’s time to send someone like Rosemary to Washington, an effective leader with a passion to solve problems, not create new ones.”

New Jersey's 11th District had been a Republican stronghold for many years before Sherrill's victory in 2018, with Frelinghuysen, the former chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, occupying the seat for decades until his retirement.

According to a statement from Becchi’s campaign team, Frelinghuysen will serve as honorary chairman of the Becchi for Congress effort.

• See related article: GOP Says Rosemary Becchi Can Beat Mikie Sherrill In 11th District

Becchi thanked Frelinghuysen for his endorsement and praised his work in the district.

“Congressman Frelinghuysen’s decades of honest and attentive public service, not only in the House, but also as a Morris County freeholder and in the New Jersey Assembly, embodied the best of what we should expect from our elected leaders,” Becchi said.

“I am deeply honored by his endorsement and his willingness to serve as honorary chairman of my campaign,” Becchi added.

Becchi, a tax policy attorney and the public advocate behind nonprofit Jersey First, previously had plans to challenge incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski in the 7th District. However, the Short Hills resident said she decided to step up to the plate when national, state and local Republican leaders asked her to consider a run in the 11th District instead.

• See related article: Republican Challenger In NJ-11 Reflects On Trump's State Of Union

Here’s how Becchi’s campaign team described her qualifications in a news release:

“With more than 25 years experience in public policy and the law, Rosemary has built a reputation as a leading tax policy advocate. She is widely known for founding and leading Jersey First, a non-profit organization with a mission to educate and advocate for policy solutions to lower taxes, reduce government spending and help put the Garden State’s economy back on track. Rosemary began championing for lower taxes and fewer financial burdens on American families with her work on writing the 529 College Savings Law, which continues to help families afford college. She is running to protect senior citizens from being shortchanged by foolhardy efforts to expand Medicare to all and to protect the nation’s private sector jobs and businesses from misguided, economy-killing regulations proposed in radical plans to address climate change.”

The district includes the following municipalities:

Morris County - Boonton Town, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Denville, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township and Victory Gardens

Essex County - Bloomfield (split with 10th), Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Montclair (split with 10th), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell, West Orange (split with 10th)

Passaic County - Bloomingdale, Little Falls, North Haledon, Pompton Lakes, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne and Woodland Park

Sussex County - Byram, Hopatcong, Ogdensburg, Sparta and Stanhope

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