State Sen. Loretta Weinberg is expected to succeed her, although Buono was offered to share the majority leader position with Weinberg
Barbara Buono will leaver her post as Senate Majority Leader.TRENTON — Embattled state Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) this morning announced she will not seek reelection to her leadership post in a letter to fellow senators that nevertheless had a defiant tone.
Buono – who has clashed with Senate President Stephen Sweeney, particularly over public sector benefits – wrote that she "never thought a title more was important than a set of principles."
"Majority Leader is a position that demands concessions be made – concessions I am unwilling to make when I do not believe that they are right for this state and this party," she said.
Buono did not have the support of enough members of her caucus to remain in the position. State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) is expected to succeed her, although Buono was offered to share the majority leader position with Weinberg.
Democrats and Republicans from both the state Senate and Assembly are meeting this morning to reorganize.
"The idea of creating a co-majority Leader is both bad politics and bad policy," wrote Buono. "It would be a terrible precedent to set, diminishing the position. One cannot help but note that this only came up when the first woman held the job."
Related coverage:
• N.J. Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono could be removed from her post
• Sheila Oliver announces N.J. Assembly Democrats to vote on party leadership Thursday