Laura Fortgang is hoping for some Mikie Sherrill-like magic.

Fortgang announced Monday that Mollie Binotto will be the chairwoman of her campaign for an Assembly seat in District 26. Binotto, of course, was the campaign manager for Sherrill’s successful
congressional run in District 11, much of which overlaps the 26th Legislative District.

The candidacies of Democrats Fortgang of Verona and Christine Clarke of Jefferson became known last week, but Fortgang’s Monday announcement makes it official.

The Republican incumbents in the district are Jay Webber of Morris Plains and BettyLou DeCroce of Parsippany.

Fortgang, who chairs the Verona Democratic Committee, ran for the Assembly two years ago “off the line” and was defeated in the primary.

Fortgang has spent about 25 years in the personal coaching field and is the author of five books.

“My whole career I’ve worked with individuals and C-suite executives in Fortune 100 companies, looking at the obstacles, seeing a problem from all sides and working together to find the best path forward,”
she said in a release, adding that she wants to bring those skills to Trenton.

Democrats must be seen as underdogs in a district the incumbents won by about 8,000 votes in 2017.