Four incumbent lawmakers facing challenges in the June 6 primary election have won endorsements from the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, the state’s largest firefighters union.
The union is backing Richard Codey (D-Roseland), a former governor seeking his 14th term in the state Senate, over a seven-term State Sen. Nia Gill (D-Montclair). Legislative redistricting forced Codey and Gill into a primary fight in the 27th district.
In the 26th district, the firefighters have endorsed five-term Republican State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montclair) for re-election. Pennacchio faces Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo for the GOP nomination.
Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Denville) also scored an endorsement. After being redistricted from the 25th into the 26th., the two-term Republican is up against BettyLou DeCroce (R-Parsippany), who is seeking a comeback after losing the 2021 primary to now-Assemblyman Christian Barranco (R-Jefferson).
Also getting an endorsement is Assemblyman John McKeon (D-West Orange), who is running for a 12th term in the redrawn 27th district. The FMBA had previously announced their support of his running mate, Alixon Collazos-Gill, for the seat of retiring Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin (D-Montclair). McKeon had not previously sought the endorsement.
“While the NJ FMBA does not offer our endorsement to any candidate without an ask, we allow any candidate who believes they have earned it to make their case to our members,” said NJ FMBA President Eddie Donnelly. “It’s up to them to convince the men and women in this room, and our brothers and sisters across New Jersey, that they understand the needs of New Jersey’s firefighters, EMTs, and Dispatchers.”
The union is also backing three incumbents in the 20th district: State Sen. Joseph Cryan (D-Union), Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth), and Assemblyman Reginald Atkins (D-Roselle). They face opponents on a slate allied with Roselle mayoral candidate Jamel Holley.
Donnelly also paid tribute to Giblin, who will retire from the legislature after eighteen years.
“When you find a friend in politics that you can trust you stick with them,” said Donnelly. “We could always trust Tom Giblin and knew that he would always be with us, we couldn’t be more grateful for his decades of service and support of the NJ FMBA.”