TRENTON, N.J.  — Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto today announced his selection of veteran New Jersey political strategist Mark Matzen as the new Executive Director of the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee (DACC). Matzen brings 25 years of experience to the Assembly Democrats and will lead their campaign efforts across the state. The highly respected Matzen, who was the architect of then Mayor and Senate candidate Cory Booker’s political outreach strategy, will now look to build on DACC’s past success and grow the Democrats’ majority in the State Assembly.

“I am proud of the progress Assembly Democrats have made in the last four years. By passing legislation that benefits working families, like increasing the minimum wage and passing the largest infrastructure rebuilding plan in New Jersey’s history, we have increased our caucus to a record number. This year, we have the opportunity to build on that success by finally turning the page on eight years of Chris Christie by electing Phil Murphy to be our next Governor, and DACC will be coordinating our efforts with his campaign and the Senate Democratic Majority to ensure that he will have the necessary legislative majorities to enact his progressive agenda,” said Speaker Prieto. “Mark Matzen is one of New Jersey’s brilliant minds and we are fortunate to have him to lead DACC’s efforts. Mark’s appointment continues DACC’s legacy of engaging top professionals, like Michael Muller before him, to support our candidates and ensure we run effective, efficient and successful campaigns.”

As in previous cycles, DACC will assist Democratic candidates for Assembly throughout the state through direct advocacy, financial and organizational support and all other actions necessary to ensure victory. Its focus will be on both protecting the current majority by supporting incumbent members in competitive districts and expanding the field to new districts where opportunities to pick up additional seats exist based on professional polling and analysis of institutional data. Additional DACC staff will be announced in the near future.

“I am honored to be tasked by Speaker Prieto to take the reins at one of the most successful political organizations in the country and will work tirelessly to ensure that Democrats running for the Assembly have the resources and support they need to win,” said Matzen. “I look forward to building on the excellent foundation left at DACC by Michael Muller and his team and continuing their record of winning difficult races and bringing progressive values to the Statehouse.

The committee held its first fundraising event under its new leadership this morning at the historic Trenton Masonic Temple, which was attended by numerous Democratic Assembly members, labor leaders representing several major public and private sector unions, business and political leaders, Democratic Assembly candidates and more.

Mark Matzen is a Co-Owner and Partner of the political consulting firm Fifty One Percent Strategies. In addition to serving as the Political Director of the Cory Booker for Senate campaign, Mark spent four years managing strategic communications, public outreach, and political organization in the New Jersey State House as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governors Jon Corzine, Richard Codey and James McGreevey. He also served as Chief of Staff and senior political strategist to Representative Rush Holt (NJ-12) for more than five years.