Posted on 06/16/2024 1:38:40 PM PDT by T Ruth
The New Jersey AFL-CIO will not take sides in the hotly contested race for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district between Republican incumbent Tom Kean, Jr. and Democrat Sue Altman.
That means national Democrats head into one of the races that could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives without the backing of the state’s largest labor union.
Altman was likely a casualty of her past disputes with the South Jersey Democratic machine and with the New Jersey AFL-CIO president, Charles Wowkanech. The New Jersey Globe has learned that leaders of the building trades unions had pushed for no endorsement in the race.
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While individual unions are free to make their own endorsements in the 7th district, neither candidate’s name will appear on campaign materials circulated by the AFL-CIO, including GOTV labor walks in the fall.
Altman has received endorsements from eleven labor unions ….
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In 2022, the AFL-CIO and the New Jersey Building & Construction Trades Council endorsed incumbent Tom Malinowski for re-election. Kean ousted Malinowski in that election.
The AFL-CIO endorsed Republican Christopher Smith (R-Manchester) for re-election in New Jersey’s 4th district. Smith has been a longtime recipient of labor endorsements.
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(Excerpt) Read more at newjerseyglobe.com ...
New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District election, 2022
Candidate % Votes
✔ Thomas Kean Jr. (R) 51.4 159,392
Tom Malinowski (D) 48.6 150,701
Total votes: 310,093
New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District election, 2020
Candidate % Votes
✔ Tom Malinowski (D) 50.6 219,629
Thomas Kean Jr. (R) 49.4 214,318
Total votes: 433,947
It has been very close in the last three cycles with incumbent Malinowski beating Kean and then Kean beating Malinowski. There were 103,000 more votes cast in the presidential year when Malinowski won.
With more votes, Dems always win.
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