No fewer than three declared or potential congressional candidates have won re-election in the solidly Democratic 7th legislative district, with State Sen. Troy Singleton (D-Delran), Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Delran), and Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel) all easily securing new terms, the New Jersey Globe projects.

Singleton defeated former Burlington City Mayor James Fazzone, a former Democrat who became a Republican in 2015, while Conaway and Murphy beat Republicans Eileen Bleistine and Douglas Dillon.

But Murphy is already eyeing the exits: last month, she launched her campaign last month for the 3rd congressional district, a Democratic-leaning district that three-term Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) is vacating next year to run for U.S. Senate. (The 3rd district was once one of the nation’s most competitive – Kim won his first term 50%-49% against a Republican incumbent – but was redrawn to be far bluer during last cycle’s redistricting process.)

Conaway has also expressed strong interest in a congressional campaign, saying that he is “very likely to move forward” with a run for the district, but he hasn’t officially entered the race yet. Singleton, too, has said he’s considering running for Congress, though he’s been less definitive about it than either Murphy or Conaway.

Now that all three legislators have won re-election to the 7th legislative district, which includes a variety of diverse towns along the Delaware River in Burlington County, the contest for Kim’s House seat can truly begin.

Original Article