In a move that threatens to disrupt New Jersey’s political establishment, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop has launched a full-scale recruitment of candidates to run for State Assembly and down-ballot offices next year, backed up by a pledge to spend $10 million to do it.
Fulop’s goal is to discompose the state’s party boss system in a likely post-line world by recruiting candidates who would be independent of county chairs – and perhaps supportive of him.
“Eliminating the county line system in New Jersey is just the first step in reform, and until there are real competitive primary elections, we will continue to see the kind of entitlement mentality in Trenton and local offices that leads to harmful policy choices like trying to gut OPRA, move backwards on campaign finance, and stand by the county bosses,” Fulop stated.
The three-term mayor of Jersey City will use its campaign website to engage New Jerseyans interested in running for the legislature, county commissioner, and municipal office in 2025.
“Never has it been more clear that New Jersey residents want to change our state’s toxic politics, and the best way to make that happen is to support qualified, diverse candidates with organization and money,” said Fulop. “We have already demonstrated that we can organize and raise money with the best of New Jersey, and we will use that capacity to implement the kind of change our state needs.”
He did not offer specifics on how he will fund the $10 million effort.
Fulop could also be laying the groundwork to elect lawmakers who might support his initiatives if he becomes governor.
Before U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi mandated the use of office block voting in the 2024 Democratic primary election last month, Fulop had been preparing to run his own lines in counties that might support other candidates in the 2025 gubernatorial primary.
Fulop didn’t list any specific incumbents he plans to target, although his calling out of the OPRA bill could indicate a plan to find a candidate to take on the bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman Joe Danielson (D-Franklin). It’s also possible that former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood), a Fulop supporter, could seek a return to the legislature in the 37th district; she gave up her seat in 2021 to run for State Senate.
Office block ballots could also set up Fulop to compete with county Democratic organizations to find candidates to run for Assembly against Republican incumbents.
For example, he could become a headhunter in the 21st legislative district, where Republican Assemblywomen Nancy Munoz (R-Summit) and Michele Matsikoudis (R-New Providence) are up next year. That could force Senate President Nicholas Scutari, the Union County Democratic chairman, to either back Fulop’s recruits or force a Democratic Assembly primary.
“Our mission is to transform New Jersey’s political landscape by backing candidates dedicated to integrity and transparency, from local municipalities to the state level,” Fulop explained on his website. “We’re here to provide financial support, resources, and volunteers to empower candidates and break down barriers.”
The web page, stevenfulop.com/run, advocated an end to “the era of backroom bargaining over political positions.” It asks people interested in running for office to fill out an online form.
“Those days need to be over and that happens by electing independent-minded individuals,” Fulop said. “We believe this is key to changing the dynamics of politics and ensuring fair play.”
Fulop might not be the only one playing in Democratic legislative primaries in 2025; George E. Norcross III, a longtime believer in manifest destiny, could be eyeing primaries against incumbents in other parts of the state.
Candidate recruitment is nothing new for Fulop. When he challenged incumbent Jerramiah Healy in the 2013 Jersey City mayor’s race, he forged his own slate of city council candidates and won seven of the nine seats.
The line issue has not yet been settled; Quraishi must first hold a trial in a lawsuit filed nearly four years ago by unsuccessful congressional candidates, including the lead plaintiff, Christine Conforti.
Fulop announced his opposition to the line last October; he became the second major New Jersey Democrat to do so, following an announcement by Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) two weeks earlier.
If the Conforti case is not completed by next year, Fulop is likely to mirror Kim’s move by filing his own lawsuit and asking Quraishi to order office block ballots for the 2025 primary election.