Food & Water Action Announces New Jersey Candidate Endorsements

National advocacy group backs Garden State champions on water & clean energy

State office plans on-the-ground electoral work

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Food & Water Action is endorsing 17 candidates in New Jersey Senate and Assembly races, supporting candidates who will advance a progressive agenda on an array of issues, from stopping fracked gas pipelines and water privatization to promoting a just, rapid transition to 100 percent renewable energy.

Food & Water Action is the political lobbying arm of Food & Water Watch, which has a field office in New Brunswick. The organization has worked in communities across the state to oppose corporate water takeover schemes, and to build opposition against dirty energy infrastructure projects like oil and gas pipelines and compressor stations.

The organization’s endorsement decisions were based on candidate interviews, surveys, and an analysis of voting records. “The post-Christie era presents a unique opportunity to advance a progressive agenda for New Jersey, “said Junior Romero, the Central Jersey organizer for Food & Water Action. “These are the candidates and elected officials who are willing to go the extra mile to protect public health and clean drinking water, and they share our vision on developing clean, renewable energy here in the Garden State.”

Food & Water Watch supports a total moratorium on fossil fuel energy projects, and a just transition to clean, renewable energy by 2035. It was the first national organization to call for a ban on fracking, and has worked for years on a statewide ban in New Jersey. Food & Water Watch has worked to oppose the privatization of public water systems, which are costly and undemocratic takeovers of an essential resource.

The group will do on-the-ground organizing in several key races to encourage voter turnout, mobilizing thousands of state residents to turn out to support progressive candidates.

After sending out surveys to gubernatorial candidates over the summer, Food & Water Action chose not to endorse any of the contenders. Despite numerous requests, neither Republican nominee Kim Guadagno and Democratic candidate Phil Murphy responded to the survey.

“Phil Murphy says he supports a transition to 100% clean, renewable energy. If we want to turn that vision into reality, these are the lawmakers who can help make it happen in Trenton,” added Romero.

If Murphy wins the gubernatorial election, he will need support–and, when necessary, pressure– from progressive lawmakers to enact the bold policies that New Jerseyans deserve. That means opposing fracked gas pipelines from the Pinelands to north Jersey, and a commitment to safe, affordable drinking water that is owned by the public, not for-profit corporations.

The full list of endorsements appears below. (Note: Candidates with an asterisk (*) are current elected officials)

8th District
George Youngkin, Senate
Joanne Schwartz, Assembly
Maryanne Merlino, Assembly

14th District
Dan Benson, Assembly *

15th District
Shirley Turner, Senate *
Elizabeth Muoio, Assembly *
Reed Gusciora, Assembly *

16th District
Andrew Zwicker, Assembly*
Roy Freiman, Assembly

18th District
Patrick Diegnan, Senate*
Nancy Pinkin, Assembly*
Robert Karabinchak, Assembly*

20th District
Jamel Holley, Assembly*

38th District
Tim Eustace, Assembly*

39th District
Linda Schwager, Senate
Jannie Chung, Assembly
Annie Hausmann, Assembly

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Contact: Junior Romero, jromero@fwwatch.org. 909-202-5961