Taking issue with the endorsements of several progressive groups of Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle for the LD37 Senate seat, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson sent a letter to BlueWave NJ’s Marcia Marley expressing surprise that he wasn’t contacted ahead of the endorsement.

‘If there has been a process’, Johnson writes, ‘I have been excluded from it’, pointing out that his voting record is ‘indistinguishable’ from Vainieri Huttle’s.

Johnson sent letters to NJ Citizen Action and Garden State Equality as well.

The looming battle between the two Assemblymembers comes after veteran incumbent Senator Weinberg’s decision to retire at the end of the term; Johnson has party organization support for the line following Vainieri Huttle’s decision to pursue her candidacy off-the-line in the June primary (with a slate of running mates). Huttle decried the convention process, claiming the ‘deck has been stacked’ in Johnson’s favor; Bergen Democratic Chairman Juliana fired back to Huttle that ‘I can only surmise that because you did not expect to have the votes at the convention you decided to take your ball and go home’.

Johnson’s full letter to BlueWave NJ is below:

Dear Marcia,

As you know I am the longest serving member of the District 37 Assembly. I have shared an office with and been mentored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg for 20 years and my voting record is indistinguishable from Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle.

With that, I was surprised that your organization endorsed Assemblywoman Huttle without speaking to me or contacting me in any way. I would be the first Black Senator in a district that’s roughly 40% people of color. I have worked side-by-side with Senator Weinberg and Assemblywoman Huttle to pass major landmark legislation. The only real difference between us is that the over 300 members of the Bergen County Democratic Party overwhelmingly support me. Those convention members are elected officials, advocates, and volunteers who give their time and energy to the people of District 37 day in and day out. I have their support because I have supported our residents and Democratic values for many years.

I was told that Blue Wave decides on endorsements based upon a process. If there has been a process, I have been excluded from it.

I want you to know that while I am disappointed, and I am interested in why you have chosen not to support me, I will continue to support the important values of Blue Wave.

Sincerely,

Gordon M. Johnson