Due to a winter storm projected to slam New Jersey tomorrow, the Hunterdon County Democratic convention – originally scheduled for tomorrow, February 22 – has been pushed back by a week to Sunday, March 1.
That means, among other things, that the Democrats running in the highly competitive primary for the 7th congressional district will have to wait one more week before making their case to Hunterdon committeemembers, whose endorsement will be closely watched.
Hunterdon Democratic chair Michael Drulis said in a message to the county’s Democratic delegates that candidates who have already successfully registered to compete at the convention will remain registered, and other candidates will also have the ability to submit new letters of intent.
“While it is uncertain as to what time the storm will hit and to what magnitude of weather will impact our County, there is consensus among the Officers and Executive Committee that holding a meeting tomorrow with the threat of bad weather looming could put participants in harm’s way and/or limit participation and create an imbalance within the voting body,” Drulis wrote.
Five 7th district Democrats, vying for the opportunity to defeat Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), were slated to compete at tomorrow’s convention: Megan O’Rourke, Brian Varela, Michael Roth, Tina Shah, and Rebecca Bennett. A sixth, Beth Adubato, had not planned on attending due to a family matter, but that could change now that the convention has been rescheduled.
Hunterdon Democrats are still set to be the first county party to hold a convention in the 7th district; the next convention after them won’t come until Sussex County on March 14.
Also on tap for Hunterdon Democrats is the race for U.S. Senate – Senator Cory Booker and two underdog challengers filed to compete – and nominations for county commissioner and county clerk.
