Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill (D-Montclair)’s campaign to succeed Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill has been garnering support from prominent Essex County Democrats since day one, and today he added one more name to the list: State Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark).
“As an Essex County Commissioner, Brendan has been a phenomenal partner in delivering for our constituents. From his partnership with the Greenway Project, to fighting for the people of New Jersey by making our roads safer for pedestrians, to ensuring our drinking water is clean, and to protecting every child’s right to a quality public education,” Ruiz said in a statement. “I’ve seen firsthand how he brings local, county, state, and national leaders together to deliver real results for our communities and I know he’ll continue this great work in Washington.”
Ruiz is the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the State Senate, the highest-ranking woman in the legislature, and one of Trenton’s most reliably progressive legislators. Her Newark-based legislative district does not overlap with the 11th congressional district seat Gill is running for, though it does border it.
Ruiz also has close ties to another prominent Essex County Democrat, serving as deputy chief of staff for County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo. DiVincenzo’s chief of staff, Phil Alagia, endorsed Gill on the first day of his campaign.
Gill faces ten other Democrats in the race for Sherrill’s district, with the special Democratic primary likely to arrive early next year. Ruiz’s endorsement means that he now has the backing of Essex County’s entire Democratic State Senate delegation; John McKeon (D-West Orange), Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange), and Renee Burgess (D-Irvington) were all on his day-one endorsement list.
