Committee on Political Education (COPE)

Every year, the affiliated union organizations that comprise the New Jersey State AFL-CIO vote on which election candidates to endorse based on voting records and working family issues. The New Jersey labor movement has a proud history of supporting candidates who support working families. Working in partnership with the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s political department, the state’s central labor councils and affiliated local unions, the Committee on Political Education (COPE) makes every effort to educate union members and their families about these endorsements and why they were made.

Congressional Endorsements

Labor Candidate Endorsements

Trenton City Council Endorsements

Register to Vote

Vote By Mail

Code U

Election Timeline

Labor Walks

Endorsed  Congressional Candidates

*Incumbent

The list of endorsements for Congress is:

 

*Donald Norcross (D-01)
District 1 
 *Josh Gottheimer (D-05)
District 5
 *Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-09)
District 9
*Jeff Van Drew (R-02)
District 2		 *Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-06)
District 6		 *Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-10)
District 10
*Andy Kim (D-03)
District 3		 *Tom Malinowski (D-07)
District 7		 *Mikie Sherrill (D-11)
District 11
*Chris Smith (R-04)
District 4		 Robert Menendez (D-08)
District 8
 *Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12)
District 12

 

These Candidates support our values, including:

Retirement Security

Union-backed candidates will protect the retirement benefits you’ve worked hard to earn. That’s why Congress a pension rescue that the saved the pensions of more than 1 million workers and why we’ll fight against any attempt to privatize Social Security and risk your benefits.

Funding Public Education

We all want a good education for our children and our public schools are working hard to bring children up to speed after the pandemic. Your union supports candidates who will work with our public schools to make sure they have the funding and flexibility they need to keep our schools strong and with sufficient staff.

Worker’s Rights

Americans across the country are joining together to form unions because we know management only listens when we speak together with a strong voice. Your union has endorsed candidates who will defend the rights of working people and will ensure that you continue to have a voice on the job.

Defending Democracy

We’ve made it easier to vote in New Jersey in recent years without sacrificing any procedures that ensure our elections are secure. Our union endorsed candidates will make sure that all working people have access to the ballot and fight back against false claims of insecure or fraudulent elections.

Fighting for Public Workers

We’ve passed Postal Service reform that protects workers, ensures USPS is financially stable and guarantees six-day delivery. We need to make sure schools and local governments receive the funding they need because public service jobs are a pathway to the middle class. Your union has endorsed candidates who will protect these vital services.

Lowering Health Care Costs

After years of fighting for it in Congress, we’ve finally passed legislation to lower the costs of prescription drugs. The law also prevent prices spikes in health insurance coverage. Your union has endorsed candidates who will protect our health care and ensure that all Americans have access to the health care they need.

Investing in Public Transit

Last year we finally passed a much-needed bipartisan infrastructure law. This law will repair roads and bridges and invest in public transportation. Union-backed candidates also supported vital funding during the pandemic that kept transit employees on the job.

Expanding Apprenticeships

We all know that apprenticeships are a great way to learn a trade and earn money while you’re learning. Union-backed candidates have worked to modernize the Registered Apprenticeship Program and increase funding for registered apprenticeships and youth apprenticeships.

Supporting Prevailing Wage and PLAs

We all know that construction projects needs strong protections to ensure that workers are being paid fairly and working in safe conditions. That’s why union-backed candidates support strong prevailing wage laws and Project Labor Agreements that protect workers.

Fighting Higher Costs

Costs have gone up for many staples this year due to disrupted supply chains, overseas manufacturing, and corporate greed. But union-backed candidates have a plan to fight this by upgrading our infrastructure to strengthen our supply chains, bringing manufacturing jobs home, and raising wages for working people.

Raising Wages

As costs have risen, working people have had their incomes squeezed. That’s why union-backed candidates supporting increasing the minimum wage, strong prevailing wage laws, and equal pay for equal work. They will ensure that workers are paid a fair wage that they can live on.

Buy American/American Manufacturing

We need strong “Buy America” laws that will bolster homegrown manufacturing and ensure government projects use American-made iron, steel, construction materials and manufactured products. The candidates we’ve endorsed will make sure we have these laws and will work to bring manufacturing jobs home.

Saving Public Services

We worked with pro-labor election officials to prevent drastic cuts to essential public services by securing $350 billion in the American Rescue Plan that saved the jobs of America’s public service workers. We need to keep union-backed elected officials who understand the importance of public workers in office.

Protecting Social Security and Medicare

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are programs that working people rely on. Union-backed candidates understand that these need to be protected and improved, not cut in order to facilitate tax cuts for the big corporations. Just this year, our allies in Congress capped spending on prescription drugs for Medicare recipient to $2,000 a year.

Right to Organize

The candidates we’ve endorsed are committed to defending our right to negotiate together for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. They will protect the right of New Jersey workers to organize in the workplace and collectively bargain.

Focusing on School Safety

Schools have had to increase their focus on school safety and student mental health in recent years. Union-backed candidates will ensure that these issues are a priority and receives the focus it needs to keep our schools safe.

Expanding Higher Education Options

Union-backed candidates will work to expand opportunities for students to go on to higher education by making college more affordable and increasing opportunities for community college and apprenticeship programs.

Ensuring Safety for Patients and Workers

In the health care system, patient care requires safe staffing levels. The candidates we’ve endorsed will ensure that health care facilities are hiring sufficient staff. And they supported sending Personal Protective Equipment for health care workers during the pandemic.

Prioritizing Workplace Safety

Union-backed candidates knows the importance of workplace safety and take it seriously. They will work to ensure that OSHA enforcement and funding is a priority, including new standards for unreasonably high temperatures. 

Expanding Transportation Options

New Jersey keeps growing and we need our transportation options to grow too. The Gateway Tunnel, airport expansions, and bus upgrades will significantly expand public transit options for New Jersey and union-backed candidates will work to ensure that these projects continue moving forward and receives the funding they need.

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Endorsed Labor Candidates

*Incumbent

Arranged by Union Affiliation:

Name  Union Office Sought
Vince Sera* AFSCME 1210 Brigantine Mayor
Dolores Witko AFSCME 1199J Closter Mayor
Atalaya Armstrong AFSCME 2285 Trenton Council
Crystal Feliciano AFSCME 2286 Trenton Council
Hailey Cruz AFT 857 Perth Amboy Council
     
Tony DePrince* AFT 4907 Magnolia Council
Cynthia Simon AFT 2222/1796 Wayne Board of Education
John F. Capo*  BAC 4  Totowa Council
Jason Allen* CWA 1033 Pemberton Committee
Taiwanda Terry-Wilson CWA 1033 Trenton Council
     
Lori Faye CWA 1038 Lumberton Committee
Mark Kruszczynski CWA 1036  North Plainfield Board of Education
Karol Ruiz CWA 1037 Dover Alderman
Tassie York* CWA 1037 Neptune Committee
Cathleen Lewis CWA 1037 Mercer County Commissioner
     
Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg CWA 1038 Trenton Council
Carlye Lamarca CWA 1038 Burlington Twp Board of Education
Nelson Carney, Jr.  CWA 1085 Salem County Commissioner
Joseph Hiles* CWA 1085 Woodstown Council
Charles Hassler IBEW 94 Salem County Commissioner
     
Thomas Sullivan, Jr.*  IBEW 164 Bergen County Commissioner
Bert Steinmann* IBEW 269 Ewing Mayor
Josh Smith IBEW 351 Galloway Board of Education
Ryan Doran* IBEW 351 Cherry Hill Fire Commissioner
Donald Norcross* IBEW 351 CD 1 U.S. House of Representatives
     
Mike Vizzard* IBEW 351 Commercial Township Committee
Kyle Miller IBEW 351 Woodbury Mayor
Kevin Egan* IBEW 456 New Brunswick City Council
Michael Riordan* IBEW 827 Brigantine Council
Thomas Lyon* IBT 676 Delran Council
     
Pat Lepore* IBT 802 Passaic County Commissioner
Donald Heverly Ironworkers 399 Williamstown Council
Walt Lenkowski Ironworkers 399 Lindenwald Council
Michael McGlynn* IUOE 68 Fairfield Council
Nick Civitan* IUOE 825 Frankford Council
     
Ed Kalinowski IUOE 825 Deptford Board of Education
Victoria Pacheco IUOE District 1, JNESO Keyport Mayor
Rob Lane, Jr.* IUPAT 694 Neptune Committee
David Bander* SEIU 1199NJ Plainsboro Committee
Roshan White* UA 24 Scotch Plains Council
     
Concetto Formica UBC 253 Franklin Boro Council
Kevin Goodsir UBC 253 West Milford Council
Ron Skirkanish UBC 254 Manville Council
Dane Lamcken* UBC 255 Estell Manor Council
Michael Porretta* UBC 255 Folsom Council
     
Andrew Bulakowski UBC 255 Cape May Commissioner
Matthew Cox* UBC 441 Dennis Township Committee
Matt Kane UFCW 152 Corbin City Mayor
Nereyda Curiel* UFCW 360 Haledon Council

 

Our Labor Values

All workers have the right to form and join unions.

Collective Bargaining is a public good.

All workers should have the right to collectively bargain for their terms and conditions of employment.

All workers have the right to a safe and healthy work environment.

All employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace.

All workers should be paid a fair or “living” wage.

Our Labor Candidates have pledged to uphold all of these values.

 

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Elect 4 Union Sisters to Trenton City Council

 
Trenton City workers have been dealing with utter disrespect from City Council for years! The entire council is up for election this fall and we need to elect a city council that respects their workforce, respects collective bargaining, and respects public service.
 
Vote by mail in-person Monday-Friday by visiting the County Clerk’s office, located at 209 S. Broad Street between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
 

Protecting Workers’ Rights. These candidates are strong supporters of the right to organize, respect collective bargaining, and respect public service They know unions are a pathway to the middle class and they will support veteran’s preference for public sector work and prioritize workplace safety. They support project labor agreements and oppose privatization of city services.

Education, Opportunity, and Jobs. These candidates believe that everyone in Trenton deserve access to good public schools and good union jobs. They support smart economic development, skills training, and registered apprenticeships. They will work with existing businesses to grow our economy.

Many Communities, One City. The candidates know that the strength of Trenton lies in our diversity. They appreciate all the many communities of Trenton and will work to make sure everyone has clean and safe streets and that working families, seniors, and children get the support they need.

You can plan to vote early from October 29 – November 6 at any of the following locations within Mercer County: 

  1. TRENTON – Trenton Fire Department – 244 Perry St, Trenton NJ 08618
  2. HAMILTON – Colonial Fire Company – 801 Kuser Rd, Hamilton NJ 08619
  3. LAWRENCE – Mercer County Lawrence Library – 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence NJ 08648
  4. PENNINGTON – Pennington Fire Company – 120 Bromel Place, Pennington NJ 08534
  5. PRINCETON – Princeton Shopping Center – Unit# 260, 301 N Harrison St., Princeton NJ 08540 
  6. EAST WINDSOR – Mercer County Hickory Corner Library – 138 Hickory Corner Rd, East Windsor NJ 08520
  7. EWING – Mercer County Office Park – 1440 Parkside Ave, Ewing, NJ 08638

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Register to Vote

The deadline to register to vote in the 2022 General Election is October 18, 2022. For more information about registering to vote, click here

Online

You can register online. It’s easy and safe. To register online, you will need your date of birth and a driver’s license, a state non-driver Identification Card or your Social Security number. Online voter registration is available in English, Spanish, Korean, and Gujarati.

register online

 

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At Motor Vehicles

If you are eligible to vote in New Jersey, you may register to vote at a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission office while applying for/renewing a driver’s license or non-driver identification (ID) card.

learn more

Hand-Delivered

You can download the printable form, then fill it out and deliver it into your County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections for your county by Oct. 12. Voter registration forms are available in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Gujarati, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Hindi, European Portuguese and Arabic.

download form

Voting by Mail: Step by Step

A voter may vote-by-mail by completing the Application for Vote-By-Mail Ballot and returning the application to their County Clerk.

Important Deadlines:

November 1Deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by Mail for General Election

November 4Deadline for Application to Receive General Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters

November 7 – by 3:00 p.m.Deadline for In-Person Mail-In Ballot Applications for General Election

November 8General ElectionDeadline for Post Office Receipt of Mail-In Ballots from the General ElectionDeadline for In-Person Submission of General Election Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election

November 14Deadline for Receipt of Timely Mailed Postmarked Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election

Ballot Drop Box Locations:

A ballot drop box is a secure, locked structure operated by election officials where voters may deliver their ballots from the time they receive them in the mail up to the time polls close at 8 pm on Election Day. There will be at least 10 drop boxes located throughout each county, which will be available 24 hours a day. Drop boxes will be under surveillance by security cameras and collected daily by county election officials. To find the location of your nearest ballot drop box click the button below

 

Ballot drop boxes

 

 

 

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Three Ways to Vote

By Mail

Voting by mail is safe and convenient. You do it from the comfort of home and you can mail back your ballot.

Your mail-in ballot must be postmarked by 8 p.m. November 8, delivered in person to your county Board of Elections by 8 p.m. November 8, or placed in a designated ballot drop box by 8 p.m. November 8.

You CANNOT deliver your mail-in ballot to a polling place.

Ballot drop boxes your county officials

 

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in Person via Early Voting

Every county will provide registered voters with the option to vote early by machine in the 2022 General Election.

Each of the 21 counties has designated in-person early voting locations that will be open Saturday, October 29, through Sunday, November 6. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

No appointment is necessary.

what is Early voting? Early voting locations

in Person on Election Day

The November 8 New Jersey General Election will offer in-person voting by machine from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for all registered voters who have not voted early or submitted a Vote-by-Mail ballot.

If you have received a Vote-by-Mail ballot but have not voted, you may vote only by paper provisional ballot at your polling place.

Polling places may have changed.


find my polling place NJ Voter portal

2022 New Jersey Election Timeline

Sept. 5 – Labor Day
Sept. 6 – Candidate petition deadline for November non-partisan election (subject to change)
Sept. 24 – VBM ballots mailed: general election voting begins
October 18 – Voter registration deadline: general election
Oct. 29-Nov. 6 – Early voting: general election
November 1 – VMB application deadline by-mail: general election
November 7 – VBM application deadline in-person: general election
November 8 – Election Day: general election
November 14 – VBM ballot must be received by county to be counted
November 21 – County Board of Elections meetings
December 6 – Election Day: non-partisan run-off & school bond

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Labor Walks

Elections Have Consequences!

You have the power to decide the outcome of each and every election in New Jersey! Much is at stake! Control of the US House of Representatives may be decided in New Jersey. Additionally, 49 rank-and-file union member are running for various elected offices across our state.  Voting begins in just 12 days when 100,000 union members and nearly 1 million voters are sent their ballot on September 24th. We expect nearly 1/3 of all votes will be cast before Election Day! Volunteers are needed earlier than previous years to conduct member-to-member labor walks all across New Jersey.

Every affiliated union is encouraged provide volunteers to each Central Labor Council between 9:00 – 12:00 noon beginning on the date listed below and every Saturday through Election Day. Please contact the CLC President or Labor 2022 Coordinator with any questions. Working together, we will win together!

Atlantic/Cape May CLC-  Begins 9/24

Location TBD

Roy Foster (609) 704-8351

Bergen CLC- Begins 9/17

IBEW 164

205 Robin Road, Paramus

Michael Schneider (201) 803-6461

Burlington CLC- Begins 9/24

CWA 1036

26 High Street, Mount Holly

Adam Liebtag (609) 530-0060

Essex/West Hudson CLC- Begins 10/8

RWDSU 108

1576 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood

Marie Paul Florestal (908) 283-0600

Hudson CLC- Begins 10/8

Seafarers

104 Broadway, Jersey City

Barry Kushnir (201) 344-7353

Mercer CLC- Begins 9/24

IBEW 269

670 Whitehead Road, Trenton

Michael Maloney (732) 792-0999 ext. 118

Middlesex/Somerset CLC- Begins 9/24

IBEW 456

1295 Livingston Ave., North Brunswick

Wayne Martiak (908) 415-8594

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Monmouth/Ocean CLC- Begins 9/17

IBEW 400

3301 Highway 138, Wall

Wyatt Earp (732) 773-9480

Northwest CLC- Begins 9/24

IBEW 102

50 Parsippany Road, Parsippany

Dan Sebban (732) 336-1134

Passaic CLC- Begins 9/24

IBEW 1158

1149 Bloomfield Ave, Clifton

Tom Kelly (201) 250-6111

Southern CLC

Camden County- Begins 9/24

Garden State Pavilion

2240-15 Route 70 West, Cherry Hill

Helen Ireland (609) 634-8113

Cumberland County- Begins 9/24

1600 North High Street, Millville

Al Laubsch (609) 579-6122

Gloucester County- Begins 9/24

27 S. Broad Street, Woodbury

Helen Ireland (609) 634-8113

Union CLC- Begins 9/17

SMART / SMWIA 22

106 South Avenue West, Cranford

Roc White (973) 521-7058

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