Assembly Democrats will meet to vote on their leadership Thursday, Speaker Sheila Oliver announced today
Assembly Democrats will meet to vote on their leadership Thursday, Speaker Sheila Oliver announced today. Assembly Democrats will meet to vote on their leadership Thursday, Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) announced today.
Oliver is running for reelection as speaker. Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) wants to become majority leader, while Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) hopes to take over Greenwald’s old post.
Prieto, who hoped to be speaker, reached a compromise last week in which most Hudson County Democrats would support Oliver in exchange for him getting the budget chairmanship.
“This is a team that will reflect our state’s great diversity and talent and will bring everyone together to ensure our middle-class and working poor are given a more affordable place to live and work,” said Oliver.
Current Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union) had been gauging support fro a run at Oliver’s post. If the current arrangement holds, he would be ousted from that position.
Cryan could not immediately be reached for comment on whether he will challenge Oliver.
Democrats are expected to keep majorities in both the state Senate and Assembly after Tuesday's elections, when all 120 seats in both houses are up but few are expected to change hands.
Related coverage:
• Assemblyman Prieto says he has votes to become next Budget Committee chairman
• Sheila Oliver pushes for another term as N.J. Assembly speaker in fiery speech