Envisioned as a jumping off point to Pennsylvania on behalf the campaign of Kamala Harris, the Blue Wave NJ barbecue today at the home of progressive leader Marcia Marley turned into a 2025 gubernatorial gear-up for Democratic Primary candidates.

All in the same Montclair backyard jockeying for position under the sign “March to ROEvember”:

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

NJEA Prez (and local Mayor) Sean Spiller.

All Essex County-based candidates, of the three, only Sherill remains officially unannounced as New Jersey examines a future without sitting Governor Phil Murphy gone after next year.

Both Spiller (below) and Baraka are already in the 2025 contest, with Sherill imminent.

Others at the Marley house as Democrats prepare to take a busload of Harris backers over the river next weekend?

New Jersey Democratic Committee (and Essex County Democratic Committee) Chairman LeRoy Jones, Jr.;

U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (the Democrats’ nominee for the United States Senate);

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone;

State Senator (and CD-9 Democratic nominee) Nellie Pou;

State Senator Britnee Timberlake;

Newark City Council President (and CD-10 Democratic nominee) Lamonica McIver;

State Senator Andrew Zwicker;

Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill;

Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie;

CD-2 Dem nominee Joe Salerno;

and Sue Altman, CD-7 Democratic nominee.

For entry in support of the Harris-Walz ticket, chair, hosts, sponsors, friends, guests, and Blue Wave NJ members respectively paid $5k, $2.5K, and $1K, $500, $100, and $75.

The reproductive freedom issue helped motivate these Democrats this afternoon in advance of the Nov. 5th election. Joining Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito in the 2022 opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade were Justice Clarence Thomas, appointed by the first President Bush, and the three appointees of then-President Donald J. Trump — Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.  Democrats are mobilizing to help Harris stop Trump from returning to the White House and were excited today in expectation of Tuesday’s Harris-Trump debate.