Sweeney wins Atlantic County convention (New Jersey Globe)

Sweeney wins Atlantic County convention

The former Senate president won the Burlington convention Saturday

By Zach Blackburn, March 02 2025 5:55 pm

Former Senate President Steve Sweeney won the Atlantic County Democratic convention Sunday, giving the former legislator his second convention win in his campaign to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy.

Sweeney won after two ballots of ranked-choice voting. On the first ballot, Sweeney received 81 votes (47.4%), Newark Mayor Ras Baraka received 38 votes, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller received 29 votes, and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) received 23 votes. In the second round, after Sherrill’s elimination, Sweeney received 90 votes (52%), Baraka received 46, and Spiller received 37.

The Sunday afternoon convention was held at the Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City. Sweeney won the Burlington County convention just one day earlier.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop did not compete in the convention. Fulop is skipping all county conventions. 

In his speech to delegates, Sweeney touted his status as the only South Jersey candidate in the Democratic primary.

“You are my friends, you’re my neighbors,” the former legislator said. “This is our chance to win this thing. It’s been 35 years since the last person from southern New Jersey was governor. I can’t lose this if you stick with me.”

Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman, who endorsed Sweeney in December 2023, acknowledged the county conventions don’t have quite as much influence in a primary without the line, but he argued holding the convention ensured the voices of Atlantic County Democrats would be heard.

“There are 54,000 Democrats in Atlantic County,” he said. “They’ve entrusted everyone in this room to lead our party, and we should be proud of that.”

Sherrill, who was eliminated in the first round of ranked-choice voting, has won four county conventions. Baraka has finished 2nd in all six county conventions.