Rallying for Victory: New Jersey Democrats Unite for the Road to Victory Dinner

Celebrating our unity in Essex County as we build momentum for early voting (Oct 25 – Nov 2) and Election Day on Nov 4.

 Wednesday night, we lit the spark of a movement. At our “Road to Victory” dinner in Essex County, Democratic candidates from across New Jersey gathered to stand shoulder to shoulder and recommit to fairness, opportunity, and community-driven progress. With the eyes of our state—and the country—on the upcoming gubernatorial race, we’re not just showing up. We’re turning up.

View the gallery images here.

Key Takeaways

• We celebrated our Democratic candidates and built tangible momentum ahead of the election.

• Essex County is mobilizing—whether by mail, early voting (Oct 25 – Nov 2), or voting on Nov 4.

• Every local race matters: when we lift up community leaders, we lift up our state.

• Our GOTV (Get Out The Vote) initiative is in full swing—this is our moment to take local action for statewide impact.

Democrats in New Jersey are ready to defend our values and seize the opportunity before us.

We gathered. We celebrated. And now we take action.

At the “Road to Victory” dinner, Democratic candidates from Essex County and beyond shared the stage, sharing stories of why they fight — for working families, for affordable housing, for strong public schools, and for a state where everyone has a chance. From Newark’s neighborhoods to the tree-lined suburbs, the message was clear: when we come together, we win together.

Senator M. Teresa Ruiz said it best, “I don’t know what else I can share with you to get you knocking on doors, to get you on the phone to be sure that you elect our Lt. Governor and our Governor, but the Legislative body that will work hand in hand to be sure that we are making a commitment to our districts...”

The gubernatorial race in New Jersey is in the national spotlight; our base is ready to close the deal. We’ve seen the headlines: this is not business as usual. The national media is watching. But more importantly, our neighbors are watching. Our children are watching. Our communities are counting on us.

We know the opposition will show up. They will try to sow complacency, rely on low turnout, or hope our voters don’t cross the finish line. But we have a different vision. We’re not sitting back. We’re marching forward. WE ARE ESSEX COUNTY, STRONG!

Our Chairman, LeRoy J. Jones, Jr., delivered a powerful and unifying message, reminding everyone in the room who we are fighting for. As he put it, “...People all around this county, they are clearly looking for an opportunity to say this is a good government, this is a good state government, we have a good candidate that we can count on, that we can rely on, that we can believe in, that we can see a tomorrow in, and that’s Mikie Sherrill….”

Here’s how we win:

• Vote early, vote secure. Early in-person voting runs October 25 through November 2 — that window gives each one of us the chance to avoid last-minute crowds, make our voices heard early, and protect our ballot.

• Use every option. You can vote by mail, vote early, or vote in person on Election Day, November 4. That flexibility gives us power.

• Support your local Democratic candidates. This race isn’t just about the top ticket. It’s about mayors, town councils, school boards, state legislative seats — every down-ballot race matters. When we pull the lever for principled leadership, we raise the floor for our values. VOTE LINE B, ALL THE WAY!

• Show up for GOTV. Door-knocking, phone-banking, text banking, community canvassing — our party is turning these into action. The “Road to Victory” dinner was a kick-off. Now, every one of us has a role to play in Essex County and across New Jersey.

• Stay energized and get others involved. Talk to your neighbors, engage your friends, recruit someone new to the cause. Talk to five people, share a social media post. Our strength is our community.

  
  

  Let’s be clear: there are two visions for New Jersey. One where working people struggle under high costs and a lack of opportunity. Another where our state leads—where public schools thrive, communities are safe, healthcare is affordable, and broad prosperity is not a promise just for some. As Democrats, we believe in the latter. We believe in lifting people up, not leaving people behind.

  
  

  Opponents may argue they’ll bring change. That’s fair. But the kind of change we’re fighting for is built on inclusion, equity, and hard work—not empty slogans or division. We’ll respect their right to argue, and we’ll respond with our action.

  
  

  Because now is the time. Right here in Essex County, we are building the energy. The dinner was electric. But the work doesn’t stop when the plates are cleared. It's just beginning. Between October 25 and November 4, every phone call, every text, every door knocked opens the path to victory.

Unity Call

We stand at the threshold of something big. The “Road to Victory” dinner was our warm-up. Now we hit the road. Essex County Democrats, this is our moment. Our state, our communities, and our future are in our hands. Vote early, vote smart, vote proud. Bring your neighbors. Bring your family. Bring your conviction.

👉 Visit EssexDems.org to find your polling location, sign up to volunteer, become a poll worker, or call someone who hasn’t voted yet. 

👉 The ballot box opens for early voting on October 25- November 2. Mark your calendar for Nov 4 if you’re voting in person. 

👉 Support local candidates up and down the ticket — every race matters.

Stay engaged. Stay inspired. And let’s win this together.

Vote line B for:

Mikie Sherrill - Governor

Dr.Dale Caldwell - Lt. Governor

Rosy Bagolie - General Assembly 27th Legislative District

Alixon Collazos-Gill- General Assembly  27th Legislative District

Cleopatra Tucker- General Assembly 28th Legislative District

Chigozie Onyema- General Assembly 28th Legislative District

Eliana Pintor-Marin- General Assembly 29th Legislative District

Shanique Speight- General Assembly 29th Legislative District

Carmen Morales- General Assembly 34th Legislative District

Michael Venezia- General Assembly 34th Legislative District

Jeff Gates- General Assembly 40th Legislative District

Chris Durkin- Essex County Clerk

Jenny Mundell- Bloomfield Mayor

Jill Fischman- Bloomfield At-Large Council

Monica Charris Tabares- Bloomfield At-Large Council

Rosalee González Bloomfield Ward Council

Gerald Cardillo- Caldwell Council

Jonathan Sagalow- Caldwell Council

Ted R. Green- East Orange- Mayor

Christopher James- First Ward Council

Christopher Awe- Second Ward Council

Bergson Leneus- Third Ward Council

Tameika Garrett-Ward- Fourth Ward Council

Alicia Holman- Fifth Ward Council

Annette Romano- Millburn Township Committee

Michael Cohen- Millburn Township Committee

Jane Collins-Colding- Maplewood Township Committee

Stephhen Weinstein- North Caldwell-Council

Stephen Papageorge- North Caldwell-Council

Marcelino "Moose" Trillo- Roseland Council

Frank Firavanti- Roseland Council

Next week's post will explore how early-voting logistics are being implemented in every Essex County municipality and how you can lead a neighborhood outreach team to make sure nobody is left behind.

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