Joe Cohn, a civil rights attorney and Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district, launched his first digital ad today focusing on his work protecting democracy and the right to free speech.

The ad, titled “Something to Say” and shot in Bordentown, is Cohn’s opening salvo in the four-way primary for the seat Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) is leaving behind to run for U.S. Senate. Cohn also launched his campaign’s official social media accounts today, a little over a month after entering the race.

​​“The rights and freedoms that underpin our democracy are under assault,” Cohn said in a statement. “As a civil rights attorney I’ve spent my career fighting extremism and standing up for the rights of all Americans to have a voice. With so much at stake, it’s more important than ever that New Jersey has principled, effective representation in Washington.”

This Saturday, Cohn and his three Democratic opponents – Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel), Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Delran), and small businesswoman Sarah Schoengood – are set to compete for party support at the Burlington County Democratic convention. Since Burlington makes up a significant majority of the 3rd district’s Democratic primary voters, the convention will be an important milestone.

But there’s a possibility that Cohn and Schoengood will be locked out of competing entirely, if a deal to put both Conaway and Murphy on the county line without a vote comes to fruition. Conaway already has the Democratic party endorsement in Monmouth County, which makes up a smaller portion of the 3rd district; Cohn did not file in time to compete at the Monmouth convention.

It remains to be seen whether Cohn intends to continue his campaign off-the-line if he’s unable to get party support anywhere in the district. Typically, off-the-line candidates are heavy underdogs in primaries; Conaway and Murphy, though, haven’t raised much money yet, so Cohn could theoretically make it a real race if he proves to be a strong fundraiser.

SCRIPT
Cohn: “As a civil rights attorney, I’ve spent my career fighting for the rights of Americans to have a voice. And I know New Jersey’s got something to say.”
Man 1: “I know I do. We’re facing the biggest threat ever to our democracy.”
Man 2: “Like polarization and political violence.”
Woman 1: “And Donald Trump.”
Cohn: “And I know that we can find common ground, preserving the rights that are the foundation of our democracy, because I’ve done it. Anyone who knows me knows that I’ll talk to anyone – Democrat, Republican, or independent – to get the job done.”
Woman 2: “Like ensuring all of us have access to a good education and a living wage?”
Cohn: “Absolutely. And I’m not afraid to go toe-to-toe with extremists.”
Woman 3: “To protect abortion rights?”
Cohn: “Exactly, like when I worked to defeat bills that would have banned speech about reproductive rights in red states. Because when your rights or voices are on the line, I won’t stop fighting. I’m Joe Cohn, and that’s why I’m running for Congress.”