Dr. Walead Abdrabouh will run for Atlantic County Democratic chairman when the party meets in June to pick a replacement for Michael Suleiman, who announced last year that he won’t seek re-election.
Atlantic Democrats are preparing for a potentially competitive year with Republicans defending the county clerkship and shrievalty, along with three county commissioner seats: two at-large and one in District 3.
Abdrabouh is currently the secretary of the county organization and a Democratic state committeeman. He is a past president of the Galloway Democratic Club.
Suleiman, the county chairman for the last ten years, is widely expected to challenge State Sen. Vincent Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) in 2027.
“I am running to expand voter engagement, recruit a new generation of leaders, and bring our party together around a shared vision,” said Abdrabouh.
Abdrabouh is the interim director for strategic enrollment management operations and technology at Stockton University. He spent thirteen years at Rutgers University before joining the Stockton staff in 2014.
Hollisha Bridgers, a former Atlantic City school board member and a school administrator, will run with Abdrabouh for vice chair.
“Our party is at its best when we lead with integrity, inclusion, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve. As vice chair, I look forward to strengthening engagement and ensuring everyone across our county is heard and valued,” Bridgers said. “This is a time that calls for transparency and a renewed commitment to engaging our local communities. Together, we are prepared to build on the strong foundation that has been laid and move our party forward with purpose and unity.”
Republicans hold an 8-1 majority on the Board of Commissioners.
Democrats are targeting the county after Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s 3-point victory over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in last year’s gubernatorial race. Atlantic Democrats also saw success in an Assembly race when Assemblywoman Maureen Rowan (D-Atlantic City) defeated former Assemblywoman Claire Swift (R-Margate).
Last year, Democrat Sherri Parmenter came within three points of unseating veteran Surrogate James Curcio, and Republican Art Schenker won an open at-large county commissioner race by just 271 votes countywide and a margin of less than three-tenths of one percent.
Sean Riggin, the director of public safety in Atlantic City, and a former chief of police in Pleasantville, is seeking the Democratic nomination for sheriff against Joseph “Tokyo Joe” O’Donoghue, who ousted incumbent Eric Scheffler in 2023. Riggin is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in 1996 as part of Operation Joint Endeavor.
County Clerk Joe Giralo flipped the county clerk seat in 2021 after Edward McGettigan declined to seek a fourth term.
Abdrabouh said he was “deeply grateful” for Suleiman’s leadership and promised to build on the groundwork he had laid.
“Because of his work, and the work of so many in our county party, Atlantic County Democrats are more organized, more inclusive, and better positioned to win,” he said.
