We have a winner at last coming out of the LD-35 special Democratic convention in Passaic County. On second ballot, Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly tonight unofficially prevailed by one vote over Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter in the senate tilt.

The final tally was 78-77.

Next up – Wimberly’s Assembly seat.

Al Abdel-aziz vs. Mohamed T. Khairullah, mayor of Prospect Park.

The winner – Paterson Councilman Al Abdel-aziz,who will be the first Palestinian-American to serve in the State Legislature.

The tally was 128 to 31, or 81% of the vote for Al Abdel-aziz.

The new LD-35 slate looks like this:

Benjie Wimberly (Senator)

Shavonda Sumter (Assemblywoman)

Abdel-aziz (Assemblywoman)

The main story of the night was Wimberly’s win over Sumter, who will not challenge the result.

Sumter was the favorite heading into the contest.

But Wimberly prevailed.

Recreation Director for the City of Paterson, President Pro Tempore of the Assembly, legendary local football coach, and the married father of four, Pou’s successor in the state senate comes from a family with deep Silk City roots.

His grandfather and uncle were Philip Randolph labor organizers.

“Knowing you have a legacy, you have to live up to it,” he told InsiderNJ last week in an interview.

In the Legislature, the assemblyman just served as the co-chair of the committee to redesign the primary ballot in New Jersey, in conjunction with a judge’s order. “Taking the line away and trying to neutralize the power of the bosses, per say, was the most significant change,” Wimberly said. “At the end of the day, the people know. Will it have an impact? Some.”

Wimberly said he works with and for the working poor.

“A majority of the people I work with are a couple of paychecks away from being homeless,” he said. “I work to give hope to the hopeless. The reality is many folks [in state government] have to google what goes on in the lives of students, for example. Kids come to school hungry and without coats. The reality is people in this district want housing, healthcare, and food on their tables. These are not issues you campaign on.

“You live them,” he said. “We should not have veterans – people who fought for their country – living in bus stops and unable to get healthcare.”

College affordability?

“We don’t know what’s going to happen with the Department of Education with this new [Trump] Administration,” Wimberly said.

Yet people don’t seem to be convinced government can do much to help, cynicism routinely borne out by low voter turnout in the City of Paterson.

“There is definitely pessimism,” said the assemblyman. “Look, the Democrats had a lot to run on [last year]. But the Republicans attack and we go high. Things like critical race theory and defunding the police – there’s a spin on everything, and the media plays a major role in what people think.”

Wimberly said he hits the barbershops to stay in touch with constituents.

But it’s also just the work he does – children’s recreation, coaching, and community engagement.

In Dunkin Donuts, half the people who walked in on a Thursday morning, made a beeline to his table to talk to him. “You have to find a spark, stick with it, and go hard,” he said of campaign messaging that really reaches people. “Sometimes with the big tent approach you lose a sense of that.”

Wimberly told InsiderNJ he would like to make sure children get access to the programs that made him, his four sons, and the children of Paterson, some of whom – like Victor Cruz, coached by Wimberly, and Tim Thomas – went on to become storied professional athletes. “One of the first things to cut is education and after-school programs,” he said. “That’s not a Donald Trump thing. That’s [state] administration to administration.”

An official statement from the organization:

Woodland Park, NJ – January 16, 2025— Chairman John Currie of the Passaic County Democratic Committee issued the following statement regarding the recent county committee election to fill vacancies in the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly for the 35th Legislative District:

“This evening’s vote exemplifies the core values of our democratic process. It was a transparent and open procedure that empowered county committee members from both Passaic and Bergen Counties to exercise their fundamental right—choosing their representatives through their votes.

“We commend the county committee for their support in this process with an 82% turnout of county committee members.

“The integrity of this process ensured that every voice was heard, and every vote was counted. All candidates presented exemplary visions and qualifications, making it clear that the residents of the 35th district would be well-served regardless of the outcome.

“We are immensely proud of the fair and competitiveness of tonight’s election and are confident in our chosen candidates. As we look forward to the next election, we stand united and eager to support our candidates in addressing the significant challenges ahead. The strength of our democracy is measured by such processes, and tonight, we demonstrated our democratic values.”

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