New Jersey has seen significant progressive gains in the last two cycles, with strong grassroots work from our members and allies. In 2017, Phil Murphy won the Governor’s race resoundingly on a progressive platform, after which we have won key policies like financial aid for Dreamers, drivers licenses and occupational licenses for undocumented New Jerseyans, a landmark sanctuary state directive, universal legal representation pilot for detained immigrants, divestment from private immigration jails, and a $15 minimum wage. In 2018, we helped flip three key Congressional seats that were instrumental to Democrats reclaiming the House of Representatives. In 2020, we made 30,000 calls and 110,000 text messages to voters of color in key swing districts in CD-7 and CD-3 to protect the house seats we helped flip in the previous cycle. MRA in NJ members also made tens of thousands of calls to Pennsylvania voters with MRA in PA to urge voters to support Biden.

Governor Murphy has been a close ally of MRA in NJ and winning his reelection in 2021 will be crucial. We are also focused on key legislative races.

The work in 2021 will allow us to prepare for some defensive fights at the congressional level (we helped Democrats win control of 3 House seats in 2018, which they have held since).

We will also help defend the seats that we flipped in 2018 and continue accountability work to ensure our representatives support pro-immigrant and pro-worker policies.

We will also conduct strategic voter registration drives and assist in candidate recruitment to build a progressive pipeline.