Joe Biden. | Al Drago/Getty Images With Booker out, New Jersey officials start leaning toward Biden

State Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) on Thursday endorsed Joe Biden for president, the latest in a series of state and federal New Jersey elected officials to back the former vice president after U.S. Sen. Cory Booker dropped out of the race last week.

Rice (D-Essex), a 34-year incumbent from Newark, is chairman of New Jersey’s Legislative Black Caucus.


“Today, as an extension of my commitment to those I serve, I announce my support of Joe Biden for president of the United States,” Rice said in a statement. “I do so with full confidence that he will stand up for all of us, and that he will especially champion the advancement of people of color. Since civil rights first brought him into public service, Joe Biden has never shied from calling out and tackling systemic racism. His vision for America is one based on equal opportunity for all — which is why I’m proud to endorse Joe Biden for president.”

Though Rice is often at odds with New Jersey’s Democratic bosses, his endorsement, along with that of several other elected officials, is a sign that the state is fertile ground for Biden, who for decades represented Delaware in the Senate — within commuting distance from some South Jersey towns.

“I stand united with those especially wounded by the current administration, black and brown citizens who’ve been neglected, abandoned and jeopardized by the nomination of right-wing judges and oppressive legislation,” Rice said.

The overwhelming majority of New Jersey elected officials backed Booker’s presidential bid. After he dropped out, Gov. Phil Murphy indicated that he didn’t plan to endorse anyone else soon, which left local Democratic leaders free to back their candidates of choice with less pressure from the top. But so far, the only high profile endorsements have gone to Biden.

Rice follows Democratic U.S. Reps. Tom Malinowski and Donald Payne and state Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) in backing Biden.

Senate President Steve Sweeney, who represents the area of South Jersey that’s near Delaware, hasn’t yet endorsed Biden but recently hinted to New Jersey Globe that he might.

New Jersey’s June 2nd primary is one of the last in the country, though the presidential race could remain competitive until then. Prior to that, presidential candidates can earn favorable ballot positioning by winning the “line” awarded by the county political parties — something endorsements by local officials can help.

Other presidential candidates have New Jersey connections.

On the day Booker announced his departure from the race, Democratic consultant Michael Muller — who has long run New Jersey’s state legislative campaigns and has close ties to the South Jersey Democratic machine — signed on as Michael Bloomberg’s state campaign director. Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz endorsed Bernie Sanders in March, whose campaign also hired former New Jersey Working Families Alliance Executive Director Analilia Mejia.

And Jennifer Holdsworth, a former political director for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, is an adviser and fundraiser for Pete Buttigieg and ran his 2017 campaign to chair the Democratic National Committee. Buttigieg held a fundraiser in New Jersey even when Booker was still in the race.

