Essex County Democrats Say Kamala Harris Can Beat Donald Trump
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Could Kamala Harris defeat former president Donald Trump if push came to shove in November? That’s what some of her high-profile Democratic Party peers from Essex County are banking on as they throw their weight behind the vice president.
President Joe Biden’s stunning weekend announcement – he is dropping out of the 2024 race – has ignited a major debate over who should run in his place, including in New Jersey, where some pundits are speculating Gov. Phil Murphy may be a possible vice president candidate. See Related: NJ Democrats React To Biden Leaving Race
Biden quickly endorsed Harris as his successor, and she has taken up the call, launching a campaign that she says will focus on “building up the middle class,” poverty reduction, affordable child care and health care, and retirement benefits for the nation’s seniors.
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“I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Harris wrote.
The race to replace Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket is far from over, however. The chair of the Democratic National Committee said the party will decide on a nominee by Aug. 7.
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Trump has sewn up the Republican nomination, easily capturing the party nod after the recent assassination attempt on his life. See Related: NJ Reacts To Trump Assassination Attempt
Harris is no stranger to Essex County, having made multiple trips to the area over the past few years as vice president. Recent visits include an appearance in Newark, where she lauded the city’s response to its struggles with lead water contamination, and a visit to the Ben Samuels Children’s Center at Montclair State University to speak about child care and COVID-19 vaccines.
ESSEX COUNTY DEMOCRATS RALLY FOR HARRIS
Harris has been finding some major support among her Democratic peers in New Jersey, including Gov. Murphy, who has endorsed her presidential campaign along with two other governors: Gavin Newsom of California and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
When talks of replacing Biden first surfaced after his dismal debate performance, New Jersey Sen. Britnee Timberlake pointed out that the Biden-Harris ticket has already gotten approval from voters, who elected them in this year’s primaries.
Timberlake also questioned why more people weren’t talking about Harris as a legitimate replacement for Biden in the event of a health issue.
“If any president cannot complete their term, that is what the vice president is there for, and Kamala Harris is very capable of stepping in,” she said.
After Biden made his announcement about not running, other Democrats from Essex County have rallied to Harris’ side, including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker.
“For the last decade, I’ve had the privilege of calling Kamala Harris a friend, a Senate colleague, my Vice President — my sister,” wrote Booker, a Newark resident. ““I cannot wait to do everything I can to help her make history, and call her Madam President.”
Another Essex County lawmaker supporting Harris is U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill of the 11th District, who praised the vice president for “breaking barriers while improving public safety, protecting abortion rights and standing up for our democracy.”
“Vice President Harris understands what is at stake in this election, and as a former prosecutor, is uniquely qualified to prosecute the case against Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and their extremist Project 2025,” the congresswoman said.
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U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, an astronaut from West Orange, endorsed Harris last weekend, adding that his wife – former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords – is also a supporter.
“I couldn’t be more confident that Vice President Kamala Harris is the right person to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country into the future,” Kelly wrote.
New Jersey Sen. Teresa Ruiz (NJ-29) put out a strong endorsement for Harris, writing that “the future is female” and the U.S. will be a better place to live under her leadership.
“In 2016, just post-partum, I thought my newborn daughter would witness the first female president,” Ruiz recalled, referencing that year’s presidential battle between Trump and Hillary Clinton.
“Instead, our country was led by an individual who takes pride in attacking our reproductive rights and body autonomy,” Ruiz said.
LeRoy Jones Jr., who chairs the Essex County Democratic Committee, said voters should “elect Democrats up and down the ballot this November” – starting with Kamala Harris for president if she is selected as the nominee. And Sen. Booker could be an excellent vice presidential option, he added.
“In President Biden’s own estimation, Vice President Harris has been a tremendous partner in the fight to put America back on the right track and if she successfully obtains the party nomination then we need to organize behind her and do the work to deliver New Jersey,” Jones said.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who is running for New Jersey governor in 2025, opined that Harris is a “far better human” than Trump – and will make an “infinitely better” president.
“Our sole focus must be on supporting Harris, defeating Trump and saving this country,” Baraka insisted.
Another Essex County mayor, Ted Green of East Orange, said the idea of Harris as president sparks a “renewed sense of optimism and hope.”
“The experience, commitment, and leadership of Vice President Harris, along with the potential for her to assume the highest office, provide us with a compelling vision of our nation’s future,” Green said.
“At the local level, it’s crucial that we support a president capable of advocating effectively on critical issues impacting the residents of East Orange, such as affordable housing, workforce development, immigration, and healthcare, while also addressing humanitarian issues such as climate change, civil unrest, and global poverty,” Green added.
Newark councilwoman LaMonica McIver – who recently claimed victory in a special primary election to replace the late U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. – said Harris has her full support.
“Vice President Kamala Harris is more than prepared to unite and move this country forward,” McIver wrote.
In West Orange, councilwoman Tammy Williams said Harris has shown time and again that she is “prepared to lead with integrity, intelligence, and a deep commitment to justice and equality.”
Williams added that with just over 100 days remaining until the 2024 election, an open delegate process could undermine the stability and unity of the Democratic Party.
“We must present a cohesive front, and unequivocally endorse Vice President Harris as our candidate,” Williams urged.
Some local progressive advocacy groups have also endorsed Harris for president, including Montclair-based BlueWaveNJ, which wrote that she is “uniquely positioned to unite the party.”
Garden State Equality, which operated for years out of Montclair, said that Harris’ track record and “unwavering commitment to LGBTQ+ rights” make her the ideal candidate to lead the nation forward.
While many Democrats and progressives are urging near-unconditional support for Harris, others say they have more questions about her stances on hot-button national issues such as the Israel-Gaza war.
Lawrence Hamm, a longtime Essex County activist who recently ran for U.S. Senate as a Democrat in New Jersey, said he is asking Harris to call for an immediate ceasefire in the war, alleging that “there is blood on the hands” of the Biden administration and every member of Congress, the House and the Senate who has supported and voted for U.S. military aid to Israel.
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