PRINCETON -- Assemblyman John Wisniewski's gubernatorial campaign was handed a surprise victory by a local Democratic group Sunday night, sending an early message to those who thought heavily favored Phil Murphy's nomination is a foregone conclusion. 

The Princeton Community Democratic Organization voted to endorse Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) over three of his rivals -- including Murphy, the former ambassador to Germany who has lined up lots of support from top Democrats and is considered the front runner to eventually replace Gov. Chris Christie. 

The endorsement by Princeton Democrats came after four candidates, which also included Jim Johnson and state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, spoke for nearly an hour.

Wisniewski took thinly veiled shots at Murphy and railed against the "party leaders" from around the state who "decided to anoint" a candidate.

5 things to know about Wisniewski

"The rank and file actually have a voice," Wisniewski said, without calling Murphy out by name. 

Murphy has already locked up major endorsements up and down the state -- including many elected officials representing Mercer County, where Princeton is located.

"It's a representation of democracy," Wisniewski said of the endorsement. "The party leaders do not want to have a debate."

Murphy didn't respond to Wisniewski's attacks. Instead, he said his campaign is about "running against failed special-interest politics" that has governed the state for too long.

Murphy used his time to pitch himself as a candidate who supports raising the minimum wage, ensuring equal pay for women and enacting further gun reforms in the state.

"The key for us is to focus on substance," Murphy said.

The endorsement of one municipality's political group doesn't fundamentally change the race. Also, the county still needs to hold its party convention, which is something Murphy's campaign was quick to point out.

"Although we have continued to be heartened by the overwhelming support Phil has received, this campaign has never taken anything for granted," Murphy campaign spokesman Derek Roseman said. "We will work hard to earn every single vote at the Mercer County Democratic convention and in Princeton on primary day."

But since it was the first time multiple Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls shared a stage for a candidate forum, it showed that perceived underdogs can appeal to voters if they have the ability to be heard.

Wisniewski vowed to push back against President Donald Trump by appointing an attorney general that will fight the new GOP president and promised to right some wrongs committed by Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey, such as his refusal to fund Planned Parenthood in the state.

And in a time when dissatisfaction among elected officials is rampant and voters have looked to outsiders when they head to the ballots, Wisniewski embraced his years in the Statehouse.

He argued the Garden State can't afford another "political outsider" as governor, saying New Jersey has endured 12 years of people who claimed to be outsiders and hurt the state. It was a shot at former Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and Christie.

Another one of the panel's New Jersey political newcomers was Johnson, a former U.S. Department of Treasury official under then-President Bill Clinton and federal prosecutor.

Johnson advocated for "real change" in Trenton.

"Real change requires real democracy," Johnson said. "In this state we need real change and real action."

Johnson may be a little-known figure in New Jersey politics. But according to his campaign filings, he's raised enough money to qualify for matching state funds in the primary. That means he'll also get an invitation to Democratic primary debates.

All four candidates railed against Trump and each vowed to appoint an attorney general that would challenge him in court.

Lesniak went as far to say some of Trump's policies are "un-American" and that he would be "pushing back every step of the way" is he was elected governor.

"I'll make New Jersey a sanctuary state," Lesniak said forcefully.

He was reacting to Trump's travel ban on seven majority-Muslim countries that has been blocked by the courts, as well as his threat to cut off any federal funding for cities across the nation that act as so-called sanctuary cities for unauthorized immigrants.

If Trump tried to cut funding for New Jersey, Lesniak said he would respond immediately.

"My attorney general would be in court the very next day," he said.

Hundreds attended the Princeton Community Democratic Organization's forum. Doors opened at 6:30 p.m. and the event space filled up within a half hour and organizers had to turn away dozens of people because of the lack of space, said Owen O'Donnell, president of the The Princeton Community Democratic Organization.

Since the November presidential election, O'Donnell said "more and more people have been showing up" to the group's meetings.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook.

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