Governor Phil Murphy this afternoon hosted a power luncheon at Adega with some of the prime political and financial backers of incumbent Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

Baraka has a cruise control election on May 8th against Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins.

But Murphy wants to make sure he gets there comfortably.

So he helped haul $30,000 toward Baraka’s reelection.

Among those in attendance with the Governor on behalf of the mayor were Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, Chris Ward, attorneys DeCottis and Giantomasi, Mercury minder Mo Butler and Essex County Freeholder President Brendan Gill.