News

PARAMUS, NJ – Senator Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus), Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn), and Assemblyman Christopher Tully (D-Bergenfield) tapped Reed Elman – a political operative with digital, media, and fundraising experience – as campaign manager for their re-election bids in the 38th Legislative District.

The decision to hire Elman, a seasoned political strategist with national experience and a record of winning tough races, underscores the seriousness with which the Democratic incumbents are approaching the race. 

In 2021, Republicans came within striking distance of winning LD 38, with fewer than 4,000 votes separating Lagana from his GOP opponent. The 52.9%-47.1% victory was a closer-than-expected result in the Bergen County seat, solidifying the district as a top priority for Democrats to retain in November. Respectively, Swain and Tully finished just 3,449 and 2,667 votes ahead of their closest GOP challenger in 2021. 

Senator Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus):

“I am incredibly excited to welcome Reed to our team as campaign manager. His record of winning tough races will be critical as we prepare for what could be our most competitive re-election bid yet. Under his leadership, we will keep LD 38 in Democratic hands in November.”

Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn):

“Hiring Reed – a rising star with national experience and digital expertise – demonstrates our commitment to running a cutting-edge campaign. I could not be more thrilled to hit the ground running with Reed at the helm.”

Assemblyman Christopher Tully (D-Bergenfield):

“As a former political staffer, I know first-hand what it takes to succeed as a campaign manager. Reed will be an invaluable asset as we work to connect with voters and ensure that, on Election Day, voters send our LD 38 team back to Trenton to keep doing their work.”

Reed Elman, Campaign Manager (LD-38):

“I am honored to have the confidence of Sen. Lagana, Assemblywoman Swain, and Assemblyman Tully. I’m proud to work for a team with a record of delivering results for their constituents. Together, we’ll win this race and send them back to Trenton.”

About Reed Elman:

Reed Elman is the campaign manager for Senator Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus), Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn), and Assemblyman Christopher Tully (D-Bergenfield). 

Most recently, Elman was the Sunbelt digital director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), where he advised Frontline and Red to Blue congressional campaigns across the country in what became the best first-term midterm performance for a Democratic president since 1962. He was responsible for coordinating digital and media strategy for congressional campaigns in 12 states, including Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina. 

Prior to joining the DCCC, Elman was a political consultant at Rising Tide Interactive and HG Creative, where he was responsible for managing innovative digital, media, and fundraising strategies for presidential, congressional, PAC, labor, nonprofit, and other campaigns. His previous experience includes time at TargetSmart, a leading provider of data and polling to Democratic campaigns, and fundraising roles on congressional campaigns in Maryland and California. 

Elman received his M.A. in Media & Strategic Political Communication and B.A. in Political Communication from the George Washington University's School of Media & Public Affairs. 

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Media:

Senator Joseph Lagana: Photo.

Assemblywoman Lisa Swain: Photo.

Assemblyman Christopher Tully: Photo.

Reed Elman: Photo.