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A candidate for the Democratic nomination for Dover alderman believes he can separate his personal views on abortion from his actions as an elected official.

Marcos Tapia, Sr. lost his seat in the 2021 primary by six votes after Gov. Phil Murphy endorsed his three running mates but skipped over him because of a Facebook post highlighting his pro-life position.

As a Catholic, I believe life begins at conception. As a politician, I would never seek to legislate that belief, said Tapia. The indisputable fact is that reproductive rights are a constitutional right. This is not something I would ever seek to undermine as a public official. Not now, not ever.

Tapis is seeking a return to local government this year, challenging incumbent Carlos Valencia in the Democratic primary.

Morris Democrats are still reeling over a controversy last fall when some activists pulled support of a county commissioner candidate after finding out that he was a pro-life activist who had never disclosed their views to him.

Now Tapia, who said his Facebook was careless and an error in judgment, is positioning himself as a Joe Biden Democrat on the abortion issue.

I recognize that the health complications of a pregnant woman and that of the being growing in her womb may justify the need for an abortion, he said. This is a decision that should be left to the woman, her doctor, and her family. No government official should be involved in this delicate matter.

Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute of New Jersey Politics at Rider University, said there is room in the Democratic Party for candidates who disagree on issues.

Theres no question the party with the bigger, broader tent wins; the question is whether any candidate can have credibility within both the pro-life and pro-choice camps at the same time, Rasmussen said. Voters interested in abortion can listen to his rationale and reach their own decisions. But I doubt whether the presence of a single pro-life candidate will dampen enthusiasm for the entire ticket.

As Morris County Democratic Chairman Chip Robinson weights whether to award the line to candidates backed by Dover Democratic Municipal Chairman Edward Correa or to Tapia and his running mate, Karol Ruiz, the assistant deputy state public defender, hell need to decide whether support for a local candidate whose views on abortion are not the same as other Democrats is in the greater good of the party.

You could certainly see it constraining the county organizations fund-raising ability, Rasmussen said. Ultimately the members need to balance that with funding the best candidates willing to run.

Some Democrats in the New Jersey Legislature are personally pro-life. Several abstained on a vote earlier this year to codify Roe v. Wade into State law and State Sen. Fred Madden (D-Washington), the Gloucester County Democratic Chairman, voted no.

I just dont know that theres a single, disqualifying issue, Rasmussen said. Pro-choicers arent satisfied with the moderate legislative majority, but I dont know that it has cost them. Its a balance. And ultimately, I think you fall on the side of the bigger tent.

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Pro-life Democrat says personal views won't interfere with government role if he wins - New Jersey Globe | New Jersey Politics