Group Helped ‘Flip’ NJ-11, Now They’re Pushing For Murphy In 2021

NEW JERSEY — A grassroots advocacy group that helped to “flip” New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District three years ago endorsed Gov. Phil Murphy’s re-election bid last weekend – and got a shout out from the governor in return.

In 2018, NJ 11th for Change joined the push to elect U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democratic Party member. Prior to that, the district had been a longtime Republican stronghold, occupied by Rodney Frelinghuysen, who retired that election cycle.

Since then, the group has continued to push for political candidates in the district and beyond. That includes the race for governor, where Murphy, the Democratic Party candidate, faces a challenge from former state assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who earned the Republican nomination. Other gubernational candidates for 2021 include Madelyn Hoffman of the Green Party and Gregg Mele of the Libertarian Party.

• See related article: Ciattarelli Wins GOP Nomination In NJ Gov. Race
• See related article: Meet 2 Alternatives To Murphy, Ciattarelli: 2021 NJ Governor Race

“We're so glad to have a governor and an administration that shares our values and our goals for New Jersey,” NJ 11th for Change co-executive directors Leslie Bockol and Mara Novak said in a joint statement.

“We respect the progress he has made towards our organizations’ values of fairness, compassion, inclusivity and a decent quality of life for all the people of New Jersey,” Bockol and Novak added.

The group also endorsed Murphy’s running mate, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, an East Orange resident who also serves as commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs.

According to NJ 11th for Change, here are some of the Murphy administration’s “key accomplishments” during his first term:

• Establishing a path to $15 an hour minimum wage
• Enacting earned sick leave and expanding paid family and medical leave
• Improving New Jersey’s health care system to make it more transparent, accessible, and affordable
• Launching a Cover All Kids initiative to ensure that every child in New Jersey has health care
• Advancing the Reproductive Freedom Act to protect women’s access to health care
• Making high quality education accessible to all with historic investments in public schools and a tuition-free college program
• Ensuring tax fairness through a millionaire’s tax
• Fully funding NJ’s public worker pension fund after years of neglect by previous administrations
• Eliminating longstanding racial disparities in New Jersey’s criminal justice system to make it more transparent and fair
• Signing legislation to put New Jersey on a path to achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050

After hearing of the group’s endorsement, Murphy offered his own words of praise.

“I'm grateful to the members of NJ 11th for Change for this exciting endorsement,” Murphy said. “We share a deep passion and commitment to a New Jersey that is both stronger and fairer, with equal opportunity for all.”

“Their successful advocacy efforts and voter education programs in the 11th Congressional District, and beyond, speak volumes to the power of grassroots organizing, and I'm thrilled to have their support,” the governor added.

The 11th 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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