The New Jersey Citizen Action Political Action Committee (NJCA PAC) has released its list of endorsed candidates for the 2025 New Jersey Assembly elections. The organization emphasized the importance of defending the state's Open Public Records Act (OPRA) amid perceived threats to democratic institutions.
The endorsed candidates include Carolyn Rush and Brandon Saffold for Legislative District 1, Heather Simmons and Dave Bailey Jr. for LD 3, Brian Everett for LD 4, Becky Holloway and Kevin Ryan for LD 6, Andrea Katz for LD 8, Roy Freiman and Mitchelle Drulis for LD 16, Loretta Rivers for LD 17, Alixon Collazos-Gill and Dr. Rosaura Bagolie for LD 27, Chigozie Oneyma for LD 28, Barbara McCann Stamato for LD 31, Jessica Ramirez for LD 32, and Damali Robinson for LD 38.
OPRA is seen as a fundamental aspect of government transparency in New Jersey. However, it was significantly weakened by legislation S-2930/A-4045 despite strong opposition from various advocacy groups, media organizations, legal experts, and residents. This legislation reportedly allows agencies to sue requestors they accuse of interfering with government operations and imposes stringent requirements on information requests.
Dena Mottola Jaborska, NJCA Executive Director said: “Our recommendations focus on candidates who opposed this legislation or were willing to challenge those who supported it.” She added that "transparency isn’t negotiable."
Jaborska also highlighted the urgency of defending citizens' rights to access information in light of increasing threats to democracy at all levels of government. She urged voters to support candidates committed to restoring OPRA protections in the next legislative session.
