NEWARK, NJ — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Gottheimer has stirred controversy with the hiring of Tzvi Herman, a former Ocean County Republican political operative who switched parties after resigning from the Jackson Township Planning Board amid allegations of political influence peddling.
Herman, though never charged with any crime, stepped down under pressure following accusations from local Republican leaders that he used his position on the planning board to solicit political donations and support for Avi Schnall, now a New Jersey Assemblyman and the first Orthodox Jewish person elected to state office. Schnall has stated he was unaware of the allegations against Herman.
Despite his contentious exit from the Republican Party, Herman’s political influence appears intact. Gottheimer, seen as one of the most progressive candidates in the 2025 gubernatorial race, is relying on Herman to help bridge the gap between his platform and the traditionally conservative Orthodox Jewish community in Lakewood and surrounding areas.
“Tzvi is an enormously talented individual and knows how to run a campaign like no other,” Assemblyman Schnall said. “There are few in the state that know how to turn out voters like him.”
Gottheimer echoed this sentiment, praising Herman’s ability to engage voters. “I am incredibly grateful and honored to have Tzvi on our team. He will help our campaign reach thousands of voters in Lakewood and all across Jersey,” Gottheimer said. “Together, we’ll fight to protect the Jewish community from violence and antisemitism, lower taxes for Jersey families, generate more power and lower utility bills, and help communities like Lakewood build the infrastructure they need.”
However, Gottheimer’s progressive stances—particularly his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and abortion access—pose challenges in securing support from Lakewood’s conservative Orthodox community. Despite these ideological differences, Herman believes the community may prioritize economic issues over social policies.
Herman has been at odds with both Jackson and Lakewood rabbinical leaders in the past. His failed campaign to change Jackson Township’s form of government in 2023, aimed at weakening Republican control, saw him aligning with controversial figures, including leaders of the now-defunct Rise Up Ocean County group, which was widely condemned for promoting anti-Jewish rhetoric.
Gottheimer’s decision to bring Herman into his campaign signals a strategic effort to engage Orthodox Jewish voters, despite the community’s typical resistance to progressive policies. Herman is expected to facilitate Gottheimer’s outreach to influential religious leaders, yeshivas, and Orthodox business circles in Lakewood, Toms River, and Jackson.
In an interview, Herman expressed confidence that voters in these communities would overlook Gottheimer’s progressive positions, focusing instead on economic relief. Gottheimer, a vocal supporter of President Biden’s economic policies, has continued to promote “Bidenomics,” even amid criticism over rising costs for essential goods and services.
Gottheimer currently ranks fifth in the polls among candidates for New Jersey governor and has recently faced criticism for missing a vote on the Laken Riley Act, a bill aimed at deporting violent undocumented immigrants.
Herman has not publicly addressed the prior allegations that led to his resignation from the Jackson Township Planning Board.
Gottheimer’s hiring of Herman marks a calculated move to broaden his voter base in a community historically resistant to progressive politics.