It might be an understatement to say that Democrats were in full crisis mode this week, Save Jerseyans, with Hollywood donors (including George Clooney), Leftist media pundits, and some elected officials calling on Joe Biden to step aside from the 2024 contest. Lots of evasive non-answers, too, including from NJ-07’s Sue Altman who is running in arguably the state’s only very competitive House race this cycle. Even Nancy Pelosi is hedging.
But the public calls for a new candidate are hardly unanimous, and New Jersey Democrats are no exception to the tumult engulfing the national party mere weeks before their nominating convention.
On Tuesday, the Democrat mayor of Elizabeth, N.J. pushed back against Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11) who became the first New Jersey Democrat congressman calling for Biden to drop out.
“I know that President Biden and his team have been true public servants and have put the country and the best interests of democracy first and foremost in their considerations,” Sherrill said in her statement. “And because I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country, I am asking that he declare that he won’t run for reelection and will help lead us through a process toward a new nominee.”
“I am with the President…never want to rely on Mikie Sherrill for back up,” tweeted Mayor Chris Bollwage.
Then on Wednesday, Jersey City mayor and 2025 gubernatorial candidate Steven Fulop publicly aired his disagreement with Sherill, albeit somewhat less aggressively.
“I just don’t think this press release is helpful,” Fulop opined on X. “The voters voted for him in a primary and he is the same person he was 3 weeks ago when you (and others) were praising him. A bad debate or Washington pundits commenting are not reasons to walk away from him. He is one of the most successful presidents in modern history + he deserves a second term. We should all be digging in and working harder on his behalf – not creating chaos.”
Sherill is believed to be a possible Democrat candidate for governor next year which may’ve played a part in motivated Fulop to upbraid her in a public social media forum.
