Highland Park—Today more than 120 New Jersey Women Leaders released an open letter strongly supporting Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) for the next Speaker of the House of Representatives. Among the elected officials, organizational leaders, and grassroots activists pledging their support were New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver and NJ State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37).

The letter cites Pelosi’s skilled and tested leadership as well as her role in the passage and defense of the Affordable Care Act. ”Without Nancy Pelosi’s leadership the Affordable Care Act simply would not exist,” the letter reads. “After leading the charge to pass the Affordable Care Act, defend the Affordable Care Act, and then winning back the House in a historic election as a referendum on the Affordable Care Act, it is hard to imagine that Nancy Pelosi would be facing these same challenges within her party if she were a man… The blue wave that sent eleven New Jersey Democrats to Congress was fueled primarily by women. Denying the Speakership to the woman who led that charge and was its chief architect will be misinterpreted as a move away from our Democratic priorities and ideals.”

Read the full letter and view current signatures here.