Republican gubernatorial candidate former state Senator Ed “The Trucker” Durr said today that he will not take part in county conventions or the annual “Walk to Washington.”
“I made it clear in last night’s debate that this campaign is about the people, regular working-class New Jerseyans,” Ed ‘The Trucker’ Durr said. “I was invited on the train to Washington, I declined because I have no interest in riding a train filled with lobbyists and the political establishment for two hours. Besides, I don’t know many working-class folks who have $700 to ride a train.”
Durr continued, “I’ve also decided not to attend any county party conventions. While there are two or three conventions that may be fair, the outcome has already been decided for the rest. That’s what the political establishment does – they go into a backroom and decide who they are getting behind, who is getting the special interest money and who gets county party resources.
“Fortunately, without a county party line the establishment can be defeated. I will continue to take my campaign directly to the people attending meets and greets and setting up my own where there are none. I’m in this to win it. I shocked the political establishment once and I will do it again by going directly to the people.
“The people want something different and that’s what I intend to give them,” Durr added.
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According to a recent report from Insider NJ, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s chief political strategist, Brendan Gill, has announced that the governor’s reelection campaign will not be participating in county party conventions this year. This decision comes as a surprise to many political insiders, as county party conventions are typically seen as a crucial step in securing the party’s nomination for elected office.
Gill cited concerns about the fairness and transparency of the convention process as the main reason for the campaign’s decision to opt out. He expressed frustration with the way some county party organizations have handled their conventions in the past, accusing them of favoring certain candidates and manipulating the outcome of the nominating process.
This move by the Murphy campaign is likely to have significant implications for the upcoming gubernatorial race in New Jersey. County party conventions are often seen as a key battleground for candidates seeking their party’s nomination, as they provide an opportunity to rally support among party insiders and activists. By choosing to bypass this step, the Murphy campaign is taking a risk by potentially alienating key party leaders and influencers.
However, Gill remains confident that the campaign’s decision will not hinder their chances of securing the Democratic nomination. He emphasized that the campaign will continue to engage with voters and build support through grassroots organizing efforts, rather than relying on the endorsement of county party organizations.
It will be interesting to see how this decision plays out in the coming months leading up to the primary election. Will other candidates follow suit and also decline to participate in county party conventions? Or will the Murphy campaign’s strategy backfire, leading to a loss of support among key party leaders? Only time will tell.
