The Brady PAC, a leading gun control advocacy group, endorsed 19 Democratic Assembly incumbents for re-election on Wednesday.
In its announcement, the PAC said it endorsed candidates dedicated to maintaining New Jersey as “one of the leading gun violence prevention states in the country.” The organization endorsed Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) for governor last month.
“New Jerseyans have voted time and time again for strong gun laws to protect our children and communities,” said Karen Kanter, president of Brady New Jersey. “Our state cannot afford to reverse course. We must elect a strong majority in the Assembly that will partner with Mikie Sherrill to build on our state’s progress on gun violence prevention and deliver what every New Jerseyan deserves: a future free from the fear and the absolute devastation of gun violence.”
The Brady PAC is the political arm of the Brady Campaign; both organizations are named for former White House press secretary James Brady, who was shot and severely injured in the 1981 assassination attempt of President Ronald Reagan. The group supports universal background checks, regulation of “ghost guns,” and increased oversight and accountability for gun stores and manufacturers.
New Jersey possesses some of the country’s strictest gun control laws. Brady PAC says Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli and GOP Assembly nominees would put those reforms at risk.
The list includes Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul of LD-11, which is expected to be competitive, as well as Lisa Swain and Chris Tully of LD-38. Democratic incumbents from some competitive districts, like the 3rd and 8th legislative districts, were not included.
“Brady’s endorsed candidates for the General Assembly stand with the victims of gun violence in New Jersey and all New Jerseyans who want safe neighborhoods,” said Ashley Lantz, the executive director of Brady PAC. “They stand with the parents who worry about their children’s safety, with the Black and Brown communities disproportionately harmed by gun violence, with the children traumatized by active-shooter drills, and with every family mourning a preventable loss.”
The full list of endorsees:
Bill Spearman (LD-5); William Moen, Jr. (LD-5); Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (LD-6); Carol Murphy (LD-7); Balvir Singh (LD-7); Margie Donlon (LD-11); Luanne Peterpaul (LD-11); Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (LD-15); Mitchelle Drulis (LD-16); Roy Freiman (LD-16); Rob Karabinchak (LD-18); Speaker Craig Coughlin (LD-19); Annette Quijano (LD-20); Rosy Bagolie (LD-27); Michael Venezia (LD-34); Ellen Park (LD-37); Shama Haider (LD-37); Lisa Swain (LD-38); and Chris Tully (LD-38).
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