Staying involved as his party sags in Washington, D.C. under the weight of itself, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) held a rally in Lumberton today for state Senator Dawn Addiego (D-8).

Addiego wants to fend off Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield (D-8) in a contest Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) wants Addiego to win to prevent South Jersey Democrats from looking weak as he seeks another two-year term.

Addiego changed parties from Republican to Democrat shortly after U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew changed from Democrat to Republican, in a head-spinning uniform changing exercise that left the South in a posture of being able to shrug their shoulders at Van Drew’s defection.

But now they have to protect Addiego against the very credible Stanfield, a former Burlington County sheriff, in the most expensive contest of the cycle, according to the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).

The top two legislative races in the state, per ELEC, including candidates’ spending, first, followed by independent spending:

Kim, dependent on the Camden County Democratic establishment to supplement his own organic base, swung into action today on Addiego’s behalf, even as the jittery factor jumps among incumbent Democrats in battleground districts increasingly irritated by congressional Democrats’ inability to get President Joe Biden’s agenda passed.

Kim already has a Republican challenger amid rumblings of more contestants to come, conceivably Assemblyman Ryan Peters (R-8), Stanfield’s former running mate, who opted out of running for the assembly this year.

Joining Kim and Addiego included other BurlCo Democrats, among them state Senator Troy Singleton (D-7), and Lumberton Mayor Gina LaPlaca.

The Addeigo-Stanfield race is described by insiders as too-close-to-call, with the district on paper – and given the general tendency of voters to look skeptically on party changers – leaning Stanfield. The accelerated intensity level on both sides has promoted sources to claim victory for both Addiego and Stanfield, but most concede that even with the spending levels hurled at her, Stanfield emains the favorite.