In an email blast this morning, Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie and Vice Chair Peg

Schaffer respectively declared their candidacies for the chairmanship and vice chairmanship of their party.

“We are thrilled today to formally announce our re-election campaign to continue leading the New Jersey Democratic State Committee forward,” said the chair and vice chair of the Democratic Party.

The move came as the party braced for the formal entrance into the race to lead the state party of Essex County Chairman Leroy Jones.

Currie has served as party chair since 2013, and his intent on continuing in the leadership post mirrors Senate President Steve Sweeney’s (D-3) – sworn into office in 2009 – insistence on carrying on as senate president as representative of that part of the party antithetical to Governor Phil Murphy.

For his part, Currie burnished Murphy’s support.

It was, in fact Currie’s support for Murphy’s 2017 gubernatorial candidacy – and rejection of Sweeney – that intensified the Sweeney/South Jersey opposition to the democratic State Party chairman, seen as an ally when the Passaic County party chair stepped forward to serve statewide.

Below is the full joint-statement from Currie and Schaffer:

“From the Senate and Congress to the state legislature to county and local offices, there are more Democrats holding office in New Jersey now than in recent memory, and our party has never been stronger. We’re living up to our values — while Donald Trump threatens our democracy, New Jersey is leading the way with better, more progressive politics. These times demand we keep that momentum going, and continue leading our state party forward.

“As Chair and Vice Chair, our record of success has helped our party grow into a more diverse, effective organization. Under the Currie-Schaffer team, NJDSC registered over 100,000 new Democratic voters, trained hundreds of new candidates and campaign operatives and provided direct financial and operational support to county and local parties throughout our state, resulting in unprecedented Democratic wins in traditionally Republican areas. Together, we are building a Democratic Party that looks like New Jersey and works for New Jersey.

We’re honored to have the support of our Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, along with many of the leading Democratic County Chairs in our state. These endorsers include: 

• Hudson County Chair Amy DeGise
• Bergen County Chair Paul Juliano
• Mercer County Chair Janice Mironov
• Passaic County Democrats
• Somerset County Democrats
• Morris County Chair Chip Robinson
• Sussex County Chair Katie Rotundi
• Hunterdon County Chair Arlene Quinones Perez
• Warren County Chair Tom Palmieri
• Many other Democratic leaders to be announced soon

“We couldn’t be more excited to continue strengthening our party by ensuring every Democratic candidate has the resources they need to win, by making sure that we continue living up to our values and that we continue winning elections and passing progressive policies to help the middle class and working families. You will be hearing much more from us about our campaign soon.”