Mayor Steven Fulop is announcing his campaign for Governor’s initial senior leadership team. The group includes nationally recognized consultants and strategists with a significant history of helping elect Democrats to statewide office across the country as well as New Jersey-based leaders with major experience in state elections. The campaign’s early focus will center on volunteer recruitment, engagement and organizing across the state, and its leadership team will be involved in all aspects of that effort. Over 150 new volunteers have already signed up to join Team Fulop since the Jersey City Mayor announced his campaign last week, and that number is expected to grow significantly over the coming months. 

“Any successful campaign requires talented, experienced leaders who believe in the candidate’s vision and will work as hard as they can to achieve victory, and that is exactly what we have been able to assemble in a very short period of time,” said Mayor Fulop. “I’m proud that we have already been able to recruit so many volunteers, and our team will be working alongside me to build a grassroots supporter network that will allow us to connect with everyday residents across the state, listen to their concerns and hopes and show them that we can build an even better New Jersey together.”

The Fulop for Governor team includes: 

Scott Salmon, Esq. – Counsel – Scott is a partner at Jardim, Meisner & Susser, P.C. where he is the chair of the firm’s Election Group. He has handled some of New Jersey’s highest profile election cases in recent years.

Lisa Mandelblatt – Senior Advisor for Community Engagement – Lisa most recently served as the Political Director for Congressman Tom Malinowski. She has a long history of involvement in Union County politics both as an activist and candidate.

Jannie Chung – Lead Volunteer Organizer – Jannie has served as a Councilwoman in Closter for three terms and has been involved extensively in grassroots organizing in Bergen County. She has numerous relationships in both the AAPI community within Bergen County and throughout New Jersey.

Barbara Stamato – Hudson County Coordinator – Barbara has an extensive history in Hudson County and currently serves as the Chairwoman of the Jersey City Democratic Organization. She is currently a candidate for State Assembly in the 32nd District.

Phil Swibinski – Lead Communications/Direct Mail Strategist – Phil leads Vision Media, helping it grow into one of New Jersey’s most respected and successful public relations and media consulting firms. He has served in leadership capacities for numerous campaigns and provided communications, media and public affairs services to a variety of clients.

Mark Putnam – Media Consultant – Mark is the CEO of Putnam Partners and is widely regarded as one of the premier political TV ad makers in the country. His experience includes serving as one of President Obama’s lead media consultants and the primary ad maker for President Biden’s “Unite the Country” Super PAC, as well as helping elect 11 Governors, 10 U.S. Senators and dozens of members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Mark has been Mayor Fulop’s ad creator since his first campaign for Mayor in 2013, when Mayor Fulop swam the Hudson River in February for his leadoff advertisement.

Megan Clasen – Digital Consultant – Megan is the co-founder of Gambit Strategies, one of the premier digital firms in the country. Megan was a senior paid media advisor to President Biden’s campaign in 2020, leading the digital advertising work and executing the largest digital ads program ever run by a Democratic campaign. During the 2022 cycle, Gambit Strategies won in over 30 races from state legislatures to governor’s offices across 19 states.

Fred Yang – Polling – Fred has been Mayor Fulop’s long-time pollster and has worked for a number of New Jersey clients, including Bill Pascrell, Jr. Fred is the pollster for numerous members of the U.S. House of Representatives, several US Senators including Maryland’s Chris Van Hollen, Georgia’s Jon Ossoff, and Pennsylvania’s Bob Casey, and is the pollster for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Maryland Governor Wes Moore.

Ian Mandel – Research – Ian is the founder of Jones Mandel and is one of the Democratic Party’s most sought-after research strategists. He has helped dozens of clients win elections, advising 10 governors, seven U.S. senators and numerous U.S. Representatives, mayors and other elected officials. Ian is the long-time research consultant for the Democratic National Committee, overseeing the Democratic Party’s public records research. Ian’s New Jersey clients include Gov. Phil Murphy and Congressman Frank Pallone.

Mayor Fulop announced his candidacy last week with a launch video that showcased his service in the U.S. Marines and the massive progress he has brought to Jersey City over the last ten years. He quickly secured the support and endorsement of the powerful Hudson County Democratic Organization, which consistently delivers the highest plurality to its endorsed primary candidates of any county in the state.