'Progressives' Pull Major Upset In Cherry Hill Election, Taking Party Control

CHERRY HILL, NJ — The Democratic Party in Cherry Hill is getting new leadership after South Jersey Progressive Democrats scored an upset Election Day victory.

The Progressive Democrats secured Tuesday's election to represent Cherry Hill on Camden County's Democratic Committee — a major gain for the organization that has long criticized party leadership in the region.

During the primaries, registered Democrats vote on their respective towns' representation in the party's county committee, which immensely influences party politics locally and county-wide

The county committee chooses candidates to appear on the ballot's Democratic line. Receiving the party's endorsement gives candidates a heavy advantage over primary challengers, if they're facing any. Since Camden County votes heavily blue, that support also gives candidates an immense leg up in the general elections.

In committee elections, the Camden County Democrats' selected candidates have typically run unopposed or scored easy victories against primary challengers. But Cherry Hill's recent election had a different result. The Progressive Democrats scored 5,432 votes, while the Camden County Democratic Committee's slate received 3,250 in the latest election tally, released Thursday.

"(Tuesday) night's win in Cherry Hill was a stunning achievement," Kate Delaney, president of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats, said in a statement. "In an election in which South Jersey Democratic voters generally did not vote for change, voters in Cherry Hill selected our slate for party office, finally giving progressives control of the Cherry Hill Democratic organization."

Cherry Hill — the county's largest municipality — is a Democratic stronghold, with the party holding the mayorship and all Township Council seats.

This year, four of the council's seven seats are up for election. The Democratic primary was uncompetitive, with four county committee-backed candidates on the ballot, including three running for re-election. And with no Republicans or independents filing to run, the Democratic ticket is slated for an easy victory in November's General Election.

• Read more: Cherry Hill's Township Council Election Set To Only Feature Democratic Candidates

Cherry Hill's party leadership selects candidates to appear on the ballot's Democratic Party line in municipal elections. They also fill vacancies in elected offices and carry 74 votes on the Camden County Democratic Committee, which has 522 members.

The Progressive Democrats ran three candidates in their Democratic committee ticket. The victory allows them to select members for the rest of the vacant positions. They are accepting new members now.

The group has called for greater transparency in Democratic Party operations in the region, taking particular aim at George Norcross's influence. The businessman built political clout through the Camden County Democrats and has long been considered the most powerful figure in New Jersey politics who doesn't hold elected office.

But the Cherry Hill victory gives the Progressive Democrats a greater foothold in local party politics. The group also represents Merchantville on the committee.

"One of the main tenets of South Jersey Progressive Democrats is transparency," the Progressive Democrats said. "We are deeply committed to participatory democracy. We want to see more people get involved in the Democratic Party and we want our party to reflect the diversity of our communities."