SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — There will be a Senate showdown for New Jersey’s Third Legislative District primary in June. Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer is looking to unseat Sen. Ed Durr.
Durr and Sawyer rode a red wave together when they knocked off the Senate president and the incumbent Democratic assemblyman in 2021. Now, Sawyer says she doesn’t think Durr can win in a general election because of controversial social media posts, including one telling a woman to “close her legs” in a keyboard dispute over abortion rights.
“You want to get people fired up? Be disrespectful to a woman,” Sawyer said. “It’s why I don’t think he’ll survive a general election. He’s got too much negative stuff on his Facebook.”
And Sawyer blamed Durr for Republicans losing the county commissioner race last year.
Durr knew this challenge was coming and says he’s not too focused on it, and he doesn’t think the online posts matter anymore.
“I think we’ve gotten beyond that. I think I’ve proven that was in my past, and I think I’ve represented the district in a proper fashion as a senator should.”
Durr won the support of Republicans in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, and he will have the coveted party line on primary ballots.
Sawyer says Durr has simply been ineffective at getting his legislation passed, and the district needs someone who gets things done rather than introducing bills with no chance of passing in a state like New Jersey, where Democrats are firmly in control.
“He put out a bill, the 'Don’t Say Gay' bill, and he did not tell anybody in my office that he was putting that bill out. And it caused quite a division in my office,” Sawyer said. “It’s one of the leading reasons why we separated offices because I do have some gay staff members.”
Durr said he’s proud to have the support of party leaders, and he is confident he can win against anyone in November.
“I’ll be honest. I think I have shown to be more of a conservative than the assemblywoman, so you know, I again feel that I represent my district, the people, well. I’m, for lack of a better term, a man of the people.”
Early voting for the primary begins June 2, and Election Day is June 6. More information here.
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