The Shulman for Congress campaign held a 9:00 a.m. telephone press conference where New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed Dennis Shulman over Republican Rep. Scott Garrett in the race for the NJ-5 House seat. The campaign has been getting a lot of attention lately as poll show a tightening race and the potential for a wave election means Shulman has a real chance to win an upset.
Bloomberg is pretty popular in North Jersey, and the district is entirely in the New York media and employment markets. This endorsement could make a close race significantly closer, though it is likely not a game changer.
Bloomberg is currently registered as an independent after being elected twice the Mayor of New York as a Republican. Prior to running for Mayor Bloomberg had been a Democrat. He maintains that his politics are about getting the job done and enacting the right policies, and not about the party he belongs to.
Blue Jersey is covering the press conference and will have an update soon.
Shulman was endorsed by Blue Jersey for our challengers list on ActBlue, as were Linda Stender (NJ-7) and John Adler (NJ-3).
Updated: From the presser, Bloomberg says he endorsed Shulman because of his positions on guns and the economy, and for Shulman's ability to work with people of all partisan and non-partisan sides.