Endorsement is the next step in building a multi-racial coalition of working families that will reshape N.J. politics‘
Trenton, New Jersey – A powerful coalition of progressive labor unions and advocates have announced their decision to endorse Ras Baraka to serve as the next Governor of the state of New Jersey.
Rutgers AAUP-AFT, 32BJ SEIU, New Jersey Citizen Action, Make the Road Action New Jersey, New Jersey Working Families Party and Workers United LDFS Joint Board are throwing their support behind Baraka.
In this unprecedented and historic collective endorsement, New Jersey’s most powerful progressive groups have coalesced around Baraka’s candidacy. The demise of New Jersey’s infamous county line has brought a talented field of candidates for voters to choose from, and Baraka is best positioned to take advantage of this historic opportunity by appealing directly to voters and leading in a way that will counter the inhumane and destructive policies of the Trump administration.
Baraka’s candidacy will bring together a multi-racial movement of working class voters from every corner of the state and harness them into a winning coalition. His lifelong commitment to social justice, racial justice, equity, and democracy in the classroom and during his tenure as Newark’s Mayor will ensure he can bring impactful change to Trenton, and help build a New Jersey that works for everyone.
“New Jerseyans face a grave affordability crisis, with health care, utility, and in particular housing costs continuing to spiral out of control,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Executive Director for New Jersey Citizen Action. “Ras Baraka stands as the best choice from a field of talented candidates to address this crisis. His commitment to uplifting working families, to economic reinvestments in hard-hit communities, and to sweeping reforms geared towards revitalizing affordable housing will ensure we build a New Jersey where everyone can thrive, not just the wealthy or politically connected. New Jersey Citizen Action stands ready to help build a coalition that will elect a champion and protector of low- and moderate-income people.”
“We’re proud to be a part of this unprecedented joint endorsement of Ras Baraka for Governor. New Jersey Working Families Party defeated the corrupt county line system, so we know exactly what it takes to win and reshape the halls of power in Trenton,” said Antoinette Miles, State Director of New Jersey Working Families Party. “We’ve worked with Ras since his first Mayoral run, and we’ll be going all in to help him win and deliver transformational policies that will bring down costs for working families.”
“We are inspired and energized to co-endorse Mayor Ras Baraka for Governor of New Jersey alongside a coalition that has the people power, know-how and acumen to win this historic election in November,” Ana Maria Hill, Vice President and New Jersey District Director of 32BJ SEIU, a labor union representing 15,000 essential workers across New Jersey, said. “Mayor Baraka has joined our predominantly Black and brown 32BJ SEIU members on the picket line, stood up to employers who disrespect working families and passed legislation to improve the lives of essential workers struggling with rising costs. While numerous candidates share our values and priorities, this historic moment calls for a united broad-based movement for working New Jersey residents. This race will draw the nation’s gaze and Mayor Baraka has answered the call for fearless leadership and path to victory for working people, our immigrant neighbors and all overlooked residents of this state. We will have boots on the ground to get out the vote for Baraka starting this month, through to November.”
“The Trump administration is disrupting—or canceling outright—life-saving biomedical research, attacking initiatives to promote democratic values, and terrorizing the most vulnerable students and scholars on our campuses,” said Rebecca Givan, executive vice president of the AAUP-AFT union chapter at Rutgers University. “The 6,000 educators and researchers we represent at Rutgers are keenly aware of these dire threats. We know we need a governor who can express our outrage and articulate an alternative that works for working people in New Jersey. We’re convinced Ras Baraka can do this like no other Democratic candidate. Our union is proud to support him for governor.”
“The road to victory in November runs through working class communities and voters of color, said Nedia Morsy, New Jersey director of Make the Road Action New Jersey. “To turn the tides of voter apathy, we need a strong champion. A champion who will uphold the Constitution and won’t hand over the keys to our cities to the Trump administration’s mass deportation machine. A champion who will honor the contributions of immigrants and working families. Mayor Baraka is that champion. He has consistently defended immigrant communities and just last week filed a lawsuit to prevent a private prison corporation from opening a massive new immigration detention facility. He was the first elected official in New Jersey to call for wealthy corporations to pay their fair share. As the cost of housing across New Jersey skyrockets beyond wages, Mayor Baraka has pioneered creative solutions to make housing more affordable and keep families in our state. On behalf of our more than 6,500 members, we are proud to join this historic alliance to endorse Mayor Baraka and begin the work to get him elected as the next governor of New Jersey. Nationally, Mayor Baraka is setting the bar of what it means to be a candidate who represents immigrant communities. This campaign is bigger than any one of us – together, we represent the multi-racial working class coalition that we must build in order to fight Trump’s MAGA agenda and envision a world for all of us.”
“I am deeply humbled by this historic show of unity from New Jersey’s most progressive labor unions and advocacy organizations. This coalition’s endorsement is bigger than any one campaign – it’s a movement to transform our state from the ground up. In the wake of Andy Kim’s campaign toppling the line, we have a once-in-a-generation chance to deliver real, lasting change for working people. That means expanding access to healthcare and working towards a public option, raising wages, putting people to work building green energy and affordable housing, and investing in communities too long left behind,” said Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “To meet this moment, we must do it shoulder to shoulder. United — not divided — we will fight for working families, challenge entrenched power and build a New Jersey that puts people before politics.”
Baraka is poised to fundamentally reshape New Jersey politics, which for too long relied on the corrupt county line system to favor political insiders and corporate special interests over the needs of working families whom Baraka has spent his entire career serving.
Baraka ran an insurgent candidacy against an entrenched political machine to serve as mayor of New Jersey’s largest city. While in office, he has led Newark to a massive reduction in crime thanks to community-based violence intervention, while also reducing homelessness and jumpstarting the creation of affordable housing, and finally replacing tens of thousands of lead water pipes that were threatening the health of the city’s children.
He has pledged to take that same progressive view to Trenton by lowering costs for working families and ending the gravy train that special interests have long enjoyed in the halls of the Statehouse.
This endorsement comes after the Build and Defend coalition issued a set of shared principles that would guide their work in the upcoming election. Each of the organizations announcing their endorsement today used these principles, which included a commitment to strengthening our democracy and fighting for working people, in their own screening processes.
While there are several strong candidates running for office, the coalition felt that Baraka was the best candidate — not only on the issues but because of his ability to advance fundamental reforms to New Jersey politics that will put working families in the drivers’ seat in Trenton.
Now that this coalition has made this historic endorsement, the organizations are prepared to mobilize thousands of members across New Jersey to power Baraka to victory, first in the Democratic primary and then in November.
They will be holding a rally on Monday morning with Baraka to highlight their support.
Several progressive organizations have recently thrown their support behind Lisa McCormick’s campaign for governor of New Jersey. These endorsements come as no surprise, as McCormick has been a vocal advocate for progressive policies and has a track record of fighting for social justice and equality.
One of the organizations that has endorsed McCormick is the New Jersey Working Families Alliance. The alliance is a coalition of labor unions, community organizations, and advocacy groups that work to promote economic and social justice in the state. In a statement announcing their endorsement, the alliance praised McCormick for her commitment to fighting for working families and her dedication to progressive values.
Another organization that has endorsed McCormick is the New Jersey chapter of Our Revolution, a national progressive organization that was founded by supporters of Bernie Sanders. Our Revolution NJ cited McCormick’s support for Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, and criminal justice reform as key reasons for their endorsement. They also highlighted her commitment to campaign finance reform and her refusal to accept corporate donations.
Progressive organizations like New Jersey Working Families Alliance and Our Revolution NJ play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape in New Jersey. Their endorsements can help to mobilize grassroots support for McCormick’s campaign and bring attention to the issues that matter most to progressive voters.
As the race for governor heats up, it is clear that McCormick has the support of key progressive organizations in New Jersey. With their backing, she will have a strong base of support as she works to build a more just and equitable future for all residents of the state.
