Voting for Free Speech in the June 10, 2025 NJ Democratic Primary – As of May 14, 2025
NO WAY TO VOTE FOR FREE SPEECH IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Firstly lets get this out of the way. There is no way to vote for free speech in the Republican primary in NJ in 2025. Since the candidates are hitched to the Trump administration which is making a mockery of our rights as it carries out massive political repression against pro-Palestine advocates and other opponents of his party and carrying out a tremendously illegal, racist and fascist assault on immigrant, documented and undocumented and citizens in an illegal ICE war on “our own people,” this editor is not even going to bother evaluating the Republican primary.
NJ DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY GUBERNATORIAL RACE 2025: NO CLEAR FREE SPEECH CANDIDATE
There is no clear free speech candidate currently in the Democratic Primary for Governor in 2025. Gottheimer is all for a wholesale war against pro-Palestine advocacy in NJ and he proclaims as much regularly. Sherrill is on the record as supporting the fascist IHRA laws that would define support for Palestine as antisemitism. Fulop was for IHRA, then against it and his most recent statement is that he would not veto the IHRA bill if it were passed by the legislature. Sweeney was lead sponsor of a similar predecessor measure in the NJ Senate in 2019. Spiller refuses to say his position as far as this editor is aware. Baraka has been mostly quiet but has been quoted as having stated opposition to IHRA at a forum. However there has been no video made available of that forum and there is no written record so for the purposes of this guide, this editor is silent on the Gubernatorial primary. If you are going to vote in the primary for governor though – this editor states clearly that a vote for Gottheimer, Sherrill, Sweeney or Fulop is a vote AGAINST FREE SPEECH and a VOTE FOR FASCISM. IHRA should be a deal breaker for anyone prioritizing our rights to advocate for Palestine and against US – Israel genocide.
DISCLAIMER: THIS EDITOR DOES NOT VOTE IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRIMARIES
I do not support the Demcorat nor Republican parties and that goes all the way back to 1980 – over their support for bloody war over the entire planet. However I can tell you how you can vote for free speech in the NJ June 10 2025 Primary – the following are the recommendations by Legislative District. There are 26 vote actions recommended – for 24 of the Assembly positions that can impact the outcome of the IHRA debate. For more details on all 40 LD’s – you can click on these links:
Go to LD1 LD2 LD3 LD4 LD5 LD6 LD7 LD8 LD9 LD10
Go to LD11 LD12 LD13 LD14 LD15 LD16 LD17 LD18 LD19 LD20
Go to LD21 LD22 LD23 LD24 LD25 LD26 LD27 LD28 LD29 LD30
Go to LD31 LD32 LD33 LD34 LD35 LD36 LD37 LD38 LD39 LD40
FIGHTBACKBETTER ASSEMBLY FREE SPEECH VOTING RECOMMENDATIONS
WRITE-IN
Fightbackbetter has a no compromise position – if you know they support fascism regarding IHRA and Palestine advocacy you must not vote for them. We are recommending Writing in “Free Palestine”, “Free Gaza”, “No Genocide” or someone you know is for free speech and against IHRA but not on the ballot. If there is only one “good” candidate do not feel obligated to use the other vote to support someone against our freedoms.
UPDATES:
As more information is available this assessment will be updated. CAIR Action endorsements of IHRA codification opponent candidates has been incorporated into this guide.
FIGHTBACKBETTER PICKS – CLICK THE UNDERLINED LD# at left for more details on the dynamics of each LD.
LD1 You can support Brandon Saffold and Carolyn Rush who are both on record favoring free speech. They confirmed their opposition to IHRA cofidication in the CAIR Action NJ candidate survey.
LD2 No current recommendation – pressure all 4 candidates to divulge position
LD3 No current recommendation – pressure both candidates to divulge position
LD4 You can support Brian Everett who is on record favoring free speech via a tweet amd both he and Vonetta Hawkins confirmed IHRA opposition in the CAIR Action NJ survey. Both incumbents are on the IHRA so they should not be supported.
LD5 Skip Assembly or write-in – both candidates are incumbents and on the bill and should not be supported.
LD6 You can vote for free speech and against IHRA fascism by supporting Becky Holloway and Kevin Ryan. They confirmed opposition to IHRA in their response to the CAIR-Action NJ candidate survey. Incumbent Greenwald is on the IHRA and candidate Kane is fanatic IHRA supporter instrumental in imposing the fascist narrative at the Camden County level, so they should not be supported.
LD7 There is one way to vote FOR free speech here. Incumbent Singh has confirmed in CAIR-NJ Action candidate survey opposition to IHRA codification. You can also vote against the IHRA bill with a vote for challenger Holliday though his specific position is not known currently. But with incumbent Murphy known as a supporter of the fascist repressive IHRA measures – votes for Singh and Holliday is the best way to oppose IHRA in LD7 in the June 10 Dem primary.
LD8 Candidate Eddie Freeman has confirmed in CAIR-NJ Action candidate survey opposition to IHRA codification so a vote for Freeman is a vote to defend our free speech. The positions on the other 2 Democrat party primary contenders are currently unknown so they should be encouraged to divulge their position.
LD9 The positions of the other 2 Democrat party primary contenders is currently unknown. All 3 candidates should be encouraged to divulge their position.
LD10 The the positions on the 3 Democrat party primary contenders is currently unknown so we have no vote suggestion. All 3 candidates should be encouraged to divulge their position.
LD11 Vote against Peterpaul who is a sponsor of the fascist IHRA bill. Pressure Donlon to divulge position. FightBackBetter recommends a write in of “Free Palestine” for one of the votes and to decide upon Donlon based on her decision or not to divulge her stance.
LD12 Freshta Taeb can be counted on to oppose IHRA and can be supported. Decide upon Dineen based on his decision or not to divulge her stance.
LD13 The two Democratic challengers positions are unknown at this time – no recommendations aside from pressuring them to divulge their positions.
LD14 Recommend two write-ins or non-votes – both Democrats are on the bill as supporters of fascism. Write in Free Palestine and Free Gaza or skip the Assembly vote in LD 14. Oppose DeAngelo and McCoy who both oppose our protected free speech rights.
LD15 Both Democrats are on the bill and there are no republican challengers. Write in Free Palestine and Free Gaza or skip the Assembly vote in LD 15. Oppose Reynold-Jackson and Verrelli who both oppose our protected free speech rights.
LD16 You can vote FOR our free speech rights by voting for Desouky. Definitely do NOT vote for Drulis and Freiman who attempted to put a felony charge on me for raising this issue with them. Your second vote can be a write in for Free Palestine. A vote fo Drulis or Freiman is a vote for fascism.
LD17 Candidate Loretta Rivers has confirmed in CAIR-NJ Action candidate survey opposition to IHRA codification so a vote for Rivers is a vote to defend our free speech. Incumbent Egan is supporter of the fascist bill. Voting for Rivers and Danielsen while pressuring Danielsen to reveal his position is the best free speech move in the June 10 Dem primary.
LD18 The two incumbents seeking re-election are both supporters of the fascist IHRA bill and should be opposed. We are unaware of the position of challenger Binetti. You can vote AGAINST fascism by voting for Binetti and writing in “Free Palestine” for the 2nd vote. Binnetti should be pressured to disclose his position.
LD19 Vote against Lopez and Coughlin. Lopez is on the bill and Coughlin is speaker of Assembly and the ultimate decider if this bill ihts the floor. He should be aware that unless he opposes the bill he will not be supported. While Burwell’s position is currently unclear – FightBackBetter suggests considering support for her as a means to oppose Lopez and perhaps a second write-in vote for “Free Palestine”
LD20 There are 4 Democratic Party candidates but their positions are unknown. FightBackBetter suggests pressure on all 4 to divulge opinion. We have no vote recommendation.
LD21 Only two candidates, their positions unknown. No recommendation on voting from FightBackBetter.
LD22 Recommending at least one write in of “Free Palestine” to oppose one of two candidates Carter who supports the fascist bill. No recommendation on Kennedy. No true contest as only two in race so skipping the Assembly votes is an option.
LD23 Only two Democrat assembly candidates, one whose position is unknown. Candidate Guy Citron has confirmed in CAIR-NJ Action candidate survey opposition to IHRA codification so a vote for Citron is a vote to defend our free speech.
LD24 Only two Democrat assembly candidates whose positions are unknown. No recommendation.
LD25 Only two Democrat assembly candidates whose positions are unknown. No recommendation.
LD26 Only two Democrat assembly candidates whose positions are unknown. No recommendation.
LD27 The two Dem incumbents seeking re-election Bagolie and Collazos-Gill are both supporters of the fascist IHRA bill. Their challengers position is unknown. So there is no way to clearly support free speech but you can oppose fascism by rejecting the known supporters of it – the recommendation is thus to vote for Rohit Dave and Blake Michael – they should also be encouraged to divulge their stance.
LD28 Incumbent Garnet Hall is a co-sponsor of the fascist bill and should be opposed. Candidate Chigozie Onyema has confirmed in CAIR-NJ Action candidate survey opposition to IHRA codification so a vote for Onyema is a vote to defend our free speech. The other candidate Cleopatra Tucker’s position is unknown. The recommendation is thus to vote for Chigozie Onyema and Cleopatra Tucker – Tucker should also be encouraged to divulge her stance.
LD29 Only two Democrat assembly candidates whose positions are unknown. No recommendation.
LD30 Only two Democrat assembly candidates and Schnall is strong backer of the fascist IHRA bill so should be opposed. Recommending at least one write in for “Free Palestine” and to withhold the vote from Schnall.
LD31 There are 4 candidates including two incumbents and of the incumbents, Sampson, should be opposed for being on the fascist IHRA bill. Candidates McCann Stamato (incumbent) and Jacqueline Weimmer have confirmed in CAIR-NJ Action candidate survey opposition to IHRA codification so supporting them in the June 10 primary is the recommended option.
LD32 This race has 6 candidates. One is an incumbent Jessica Ramirez who WAS on the bill but quietly removed her name. Katie Brennan paired with Ravi Bhalla has told this editor she opposes IHRA. Three candidates, Ramirez, Brennan and Yousef Saleh have confirmed in CAIR-NJ Action candidate survey opposition to IHRA codification. Thus, there are 4 candidates, that support free speech: Ramirez, Brennan, Bhalla and Saleh. For now the recommendation is that LD32 voters pick two of those 4.
LD33 There are 4 candidates, including two incumbents, one of whom Gabe Rodriguez is ON the fascist IHRA bill and should be opposed. Of the other 3 they should be urged to divulge their position before deciding.
LD34 There are 4 candidates , Incumbents who are not on the bill, Michael Venezia and Carmen T. Morales have confirmed in CAIR-NJ Action candidate survey opposition to IHRA codification. Voting for their nomination is recommended to protect our free speech rights. The others should be urged to disclose their positions.
LD35 It is believed that Palestinian American Assembly member Abdelaziz can be counted on to oppose IHRA fascist bill and should be supported. The other 3 candidates should be pressured to disclose their stances and that the decision be held until they do.
LD35 also has a senate candidate and Benjie Wimberley should NOT be supported – write in “Free Palestine”. He was actually one of the fascist IHRA bill’s lead sponsors before he was moved over to the NJ Senate to take the seat vacated by Pou when she was elected to Congress.
LD36 Both incumbents are on the bill including Gary Schaer a lead sponsor of the bill. If anything – write in “Free Palestine” and “Free Gaza” to the two positions. A vote for Schare or Calabrese is a vote for fascist repression.
LD37 This race has 6 candidates – 5 of whom are very solid supporters of the fascist IHRA proposed legislation. One of the candidates is an incumbent, is Muslim and is not on the bill. Her on the record position is unknown but voting for her, Shama Haider – is recommended and use write in to say “Free Palestine” with your second vote.
LD38 The two incumbents running for re-election are currently co-sponsors of the fascist IHRA bill. While the two challengers positions are unknown at this time – it is recommended to vote for them to vote AGAINST fascism: Donald Bonomo and Damali Robinson. They should also be urged to disclose their stances.
LD39 There are 4 Democratic Party candidates and currently the position of 3 are unknown. Donna C. Abene has confirmed in the CAIR-NJ Action candidate survey her opposition to IHRA codification so voting for her in the June 10 Dem primary helps protect our free speech. It is suggested to continue to pressure the other 3 to divulge their stance.
LD40 Only two Democrat assembly candidates whose positions are unknown. No recommendation.
If you have updates to candidate positions, feedback to these suggestions or see any flawed analysis – please use this form to offer feedback:
