A major property service workers union has thrown its weight behind a slate of candidates up and down the ballot in Hudson County, endorsing three sitting U.S. House members and five Democratic nominees running for county commissioner ahead of the November 3 general election. The backing from 32BJ SEIU covers incumbents Rob Menendez, Nellie Pou and LaMonica McIver, each seeking a new two-year term, along with commissioner candidates Bill O'Dea, Pam Johnson, Ron Bautista, Fanny Cedeño and Alex Valdez.
The union's endorsements, reported by Hudson County View, also extend beyond the county line to Cory Booker, who is seeking re-election to the U.S. Senate. 32BJ SEIU represents property service workers including cleaners, security officers, concierges, airport workers and school food staff, a membership base that gives the union a direct stake in the fight for stronger wages and workplace protections across the state.
Five Commissioner Seats, One Contested Primary
On the county level, the union's picks line up with the five Democratic nominees who are already set to appear on the fall ballot: O'Dea in District 2, Johnson in District 3, Bautista in District 4, Cedeño in District 6, and Valdez in District 9. Of those, only Valdez had to fight through a contested primary, which, according to New Jersey Globe, was the sole contested primary race for the entire Hudson County Board of Commissioners this cycle.
Valdez secured the District 9 nomination with 1,880 votes, or 43.81 percent of the vote, per the hudsonreporter.com election results. O'Dea, Johnson, Bautista and Cedeño all won their nominations uncontested, with the primary tally showing O'Dea took 4,206 votes in District 2 and Johnson took 3,980 in District 3, the same results note.
A Unity Slate Months in the Making
The 32BJ endorsements echo a broader coalition effort that formed earlier this year, when Hudson County Democratic leaders rallied behind what New Jersey Globe described as a unity slate of six incumbent and three newcomer commissioner candidates for the June primary. That coalition backed O'Dea in District 2 and Cedeño in District 6, the same report states, while also supporting Johnson for the open District 3 seat and Valdez for the open District 9 seat.
District 3, where Johnson is running, mostly covers Jersey City's Wards A and F along with a few blocks of Ward B, according to a separate Hudson County View report on her campaign launch. Turnout for the June primary was thin across the county, with hudsonreporter.com reporting that fewer than 12 percent of eligible Hudson County voters cast a ballot that day.
What the Union Says It Wants From Its Picks
32BJ SEIU has framed its endorsements around a consistent set of demands for the candidates it backs. In comments tied to its broader slate of New Jersey endorsements, the union said it wants leaders who support advancing the interests of working families, strengthening local economies, and ensuring communities remain affordable and inclusive, according to insidernj.com.
The union struck a similar note when it first endorsed Menendez, Pou and McIver earlier in the year, telling New Jersey Globe that workers “deserve leaders who understand their realities and are ready to fight for good jobs, affordable housing, and dignity on the job.” With Election Day set for November 3, the ballot will include one U.S. Senate seat, three U.S. House seats and all nine Hudson County commissioner districts, according to hudsonreporter.com.
