The annual conference of the New Jersey League of Municipalities attracts thousands of people, from mayors to city clerks to zoning officers to aspiring governors. At the Atlantic City Convention Center, where the conference is taking place this week, political candidates past, present and future can also be found.

“There’s a lot of people that you don’t get a chance to see from a geographic standpoint because we’re all the way up north and they might be in South Jersey and this is a good opportunity for a couple of days just to get together, talk about the campaign and what we’re doing with Jersey City,” said Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, the first declared Democratic candidate for governor in 2025.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh echoed that sentiment. “Yes, it is an ideal opportunity for anyone who aspires to higher office to come and meet individuals from other municipalities,” Sayegh said.

State Sen. Mike Testa (R-Cumberland) was also at the conference. But as to whether he will be a candidate for higher office, he said, “I really need to sit down with the team and sit with party leadership to see if Mike Testa is someone that they’d even want to have as a statewide candidate at this point in time. I’m a party guy so I want to sit down with the leadership and see what direction they want to go in.”

But with Tammy Murphy running for U.S. Senate, chances are all eyes will be on her as she is likely to be at the conference on Thursday, when Gov. Phil Murphy, her husband, is scheduled to give a speech.