Democrat,

Vote by Mail (VBM) ballots have officially begun their journey to your mailboxes! This year, more than ever, it's essential to be on top of your voting plan and know the various ways to make your voice heard and voting by mail has proven to be a safe and effective way to participate in our democratic process. It offers the flexibility to cast your ballot at your convenience while still ensuring the integrity of your vote. There are three convenient ways to return your VBM ballot:

1. Mail: Make sure your ballot is postmarked before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day (November 7). No postage required!

2. Secure Ballot Drop Box: You can drop off your completed ballot at one of your county's secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. These drop boxes are conveniently located throughout the state.. Find nearby locations here: https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/vote-secure-drop-boxes.shtml.

3. Board of Elections Office: If you prefer, you have the option to deliver your ballot in person to your county's Board of Elections Office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Your county election officials will be ready to assist you and ensure your vote is counted.

Additionally, you can visit Vote.NJ.Gov to track your ballot, find the nearest ballot drop box location, and stay informed about important election updates. We encourage you to embrace the convenience of Vote by Mail this year and stay tuned to NJDSC’s Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more information and updates on this year's election.

This week Governor Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced the establishment of the first-in-the-nation Office of Climate Change Education within the NJDOE to further climate literacy and environmental awareness among students and educators across the state and to prepare students for the future jobs created by the green economy.

“In the midst of some of the worst climate related events that our country has ever faced, New Jersey is taking a proactive stance in combating climate change, and education is the foundation of our efforts,” said Governor Murphy. “Through this initiative, we are not only fostering environmental consciousness but also preparing our youth to innovate, lead, and shape effective solutions for a greener world.”

This announcement builds on President Biden’s announcement last week of a New-Deal style, American Climate Corps – a major green jobs training program that will put more than 20,000 young people on career pathways in the growing fields of clean energy, conservation and climate resilience. It will focus on equity and environmental justice – prioritizing communities traditionally left behind and projects that help meet the Administration’s Justice40 goal. Participants will work conserving and restoring our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, deploying clean energy, implementing energy efficient technologies, and advancing environmental justice, all while creating pathways to high-quality, good-paying clean energy and climate resilience jobs in the public and private sectors after they complete their paid training program.

This is a perfect example of our state and federal Democratic leaders working in tandem to address the needs of our nation in a modernized and efficient manner, demonstrating their commitment to fostering progress and unity across all levels of government. We know that we need to take decisive action in addressing the climate crisis and these types of initiatives will transcend generations, ensuring a sustainable and habitable planet for our children and their children. By collaborating at both the state and federal levels, our Democratic leaders are not only acknowledging the urgency of the climate crisis but also setting a powerful precedent for further legislative cooperation.

The New Jersey Democratic State Committee will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a weekly spotlight of trailblazing Hispanic/Latino leaders throughout the state. This week we are proud to shine a spotlight on NJDSC’s Latino Caucus member, and former NJDSC Women’s Caucus chair, Laura Matos.

Laura Matos is a seasoned professional with an extensive career in politics, government, public affairs, and strategic communications. She maintains an in-depth understanding of government processes and their intersections with the private sector, along with the importance of public education and advocacy efforts in affecting policy change.

Lauraworked in the New Jersey Governor’s Office for eight years for Governors McGreevey, Codey, and Corzine, working in various roles with oversight of a vast array of public policy issues across the Executive Branch. Laura is consistently named on New Jersey Globe’s annual Power List and InsiderNJ’s annual “Insider 100” and was named one of ROI-NJ’s Influencers 2022 and 2023 Top 40 Women in Business and has been on their annual Power List since 2021.

Laura is the chair of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission and served on the 2017 Transportation and Infrastructure Transition Advisory Committee, Governor Phil Murphy’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council, the New Jersey Complete Count Commission and most recently as a Democratic Member of the New Jersey Legislative Apportionment Commission. Laura serves on the Board of Latina Civic Action and as President of the Board of Latina Civic PAC, as well as on the Advisory Board of the Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy. She previously served as President of LUPEPAC and on the board of PlanSmartNJ.

Earlier this week President Joe Biden made history when he walked the picket line alongside dedicated members of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) at a General Motors factory near Detroit, becoming the first U.S. president to join a labor union on strike.

His presence sent a powerful message of solidarity and support for the rights of American workers. In an era marked by economic challenges and shifting labor dynamics, this gesture reinforced President Biden and his administration's dedication to working families and the critical role labor unions play in shaping a just and equitable society.

New Jersey is a proud union state where Democratic tirelessly advocate for labor rights and workers' welfare. We understand the importance of a strong union presence in ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and economic security for all. President Biden's support for unions reflects the shared values that all hold and encourages us to continue to work diligently to strengthen the presence of unions in our state so that working families can prosper. While NJ and US House Republicans continue to threaten the livelihoods of working families everywhere, NJ Democrats and our Democratic delegation in Washington continue to put families first.

Republicans are forcing families to brace for two extremes: a government shutdown that would devastate working people in New Jersey or extreme cuts that would raise costs and slash funding for child care, schools, and law enforcement, and more. A GOP government shutdown would have devastating consequences on our state but for Republicans the people of New Jersey’s lives and families are just tools in their political stunts. Service members could be forced to work without pay, services from the Social Security Administration to support our seniors could be delayed, disability payments for America’s veterans could be halted, some essential inspections that ensure food safety and water quality could be delayed - and they don’t even seem to care.

— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.

P.S. Join the NJDSC Black Caucus and NJ Young Dems Black Caucus for a meet and greet event celebrating the legacy of Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver next Thursday, October 5th, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Bar Vanquish, 218B Market Street, Newark, NJ. Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter and I will be there as well to honor the Lieutenant Governor and meet with engaged Democrats from across the state. You can register here!