Laura Bustamante, a former chief of staff to Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon, has joined the campaign of Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Andy Kim, the congressman in New Jersey’s 3rd District.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am excited to welcome Laura to our team to help restore integrity and trust to New Jersey,” Kim began in a statement.
“We’re building a movement to make sure that people have a voice and to help Democrats up and down the ballot win this November. Laura’s experience will be a critical part of making sure we succeed.”
Bustamante has experience in political campaigns throughout the Garden State, including U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11), Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, and Dover Alderwomen Karol Ruiz.
She also recently worked with the Union County Democratic Committee to help organize and improve Latino voter turnout and also served as the vice president at Tonio Burgos & Associates (TBA) New Jersey.
“I’m honored at the opportunity to work with Congressman Kim during such a critical time in our democracy,” she noted.
“New Jersey needs more leaders like Congressman Kim to fight for our values with transparency and authenticity, and I am excited to join the team and help usher in a new era of New Jersey politics.”
Solomon has been a political ally of Kim during this election cycle, hosting a meet and greet with Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, then a Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th District, at the Jersey City Theatre Center in February.
The following month, the downtown councilman, a potential mayoral candidate, also joined Bhalla in filing an amicus brief supporting Kim’s federal lawsuit to end country organizational lines.
Kim will face off with Republican Senate nominee Curtis Bashaw in the November 5th general election to replace U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).
Menendez filed to seek re-election as an independent, but that seems unlikely now given that a federal grand jury convicted him of all 16 counts at a bribery trial on Tuesday.