Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp has pulled in a big name to serve as his campaign manager in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district: Amiri “Middy” Baraka, the brother of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
Middy Baraka has been a top figure in Ras Baraka’s political rise, working as his brother’s chief of staff in Newark since he was first elected mayor in 2014. During Ras Baraka’s campaign for governor last year, Middy Baraka’s political consulting firm, Bottom Up Consulting, was a huge part of the campaign’s get-out-the-vote strategy (and its financial expenditures); the firm was then paid another huge sum by a super PAC supporting now-Gov. Mikie Sherrill in the general election.
Mapp is one of 17 Democrats seeking to succeed retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) in the 12th district, and one of three to hail from Plainfield, which makes up around 6% of the district’s Democratic primary electorate.
According to Mapp’s campaign, Middy Baraka “will oversee strategy, field and voter mobilization” across the 12th district.
“Congressional Candidate Mapp and the entire campaign team are excited to have Middy onboard. He understands the importance of organizing, communicating with voters, and building coalitions,” campaign spokesperson Sakina Cole said in a statement. “Under the leadership of Middy, we are sure to run a victorious campaign that is steadfast, aggressive, and rooted in the community needs of CD-12.”
