The New Jersey Education Association’s political action committee (NJEA PAC) has announced its endorsement of Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D), Rep. Mikie Sherrill for governor, and nine additional candidates for the state legislature ahead of the general election on November 4. This brings the total number of legislative endorsements by NJEA PAC to 61.
The NJEA officers—President Steve Beatty, Vice President Petal Robertson, and Secretary-Treasurer Tina Dare—released a joint statement regarding the endorsements:
“NJEA members are proud to endorse Speaker Coughlin for re-election. His leadership has been instrumental in passing pro-public education and pro-public employee policies that benefit our members, the students we serve and the communities where we live. Along with all our endorsed legislative candidates, we know that he will continue that progress for New Jersey.
“Our members have high standards for earning NJEA’s endorsement, and our members’ endorsement comes with a promise of support on the ground from now through Nov. 4. Our members are excited to work hard in the coming weeks to elect Speaker Coughlin and all our other endorsed legislative candidates, along with Mikie Sherrill, our endorsed candidate for governor. Together, they will work to guarantee that New Jersey families can continue to send their children to the nation’s best public schools. They will also ensure that union members are treated with dignity and respect and compensated for the excellent work we do every day.”
The endorsements span both Republican and Democratic candidates based on their positions related to public education and labor issues important to NJEA members and their families.
On September 9, NJEA PAC added several new endorsements including Rep. Mikie Sherrill for governor; Assemblyman Robert D. Clifton (R) in LD 12; Assemblyman Sterley S. Stanley (D) and Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (D) in LD 18; Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin (D) and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez (D) in LD 19; Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter (D) and Assemblyman James J. Kennedy (D) in LD 22; Assemblyman Alexander “Avi” Schnall (D) in LD 30; and Larry Wainstein (D) in LD 33.
The full list of endorsements includes candidates from various legislative districts across New Jersey representing both parties.
