GOP State Senator-Elect Faces Backlash Over Islamophobic Tweets

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — Less than 24 hours after his shocking win over State Senate President Steve Sweeney, Edward Durr is facing backlash for an anti-Islamic tweet posted two years ago.

One advocacy group called for Durr to apologize for comments he made online two years ago. Durr issued an apology Friday morning.

“I’m a passionate guy and I sometimes say things in the heat of the moment,” Durr said in the statement. “If I said things in the past that hurt anybody’s feelings, I sincerely apologize.”

Durr has since deleted his social media accounts, according to nj.com.

In the tweet sent out in September 2019, Durr said, “Mohammad was a pedophile! Islam is a false religion! Only fools follow muslim teachings! It is a cult of hate!”

The tweet resurfaced on Thursday, shortly after The Associated Press projected Durr would upset the longtime Senate president. Durr, a truck driver who said even he didn’t think he had a chance of unseating Sweeney, was projected as the winner with 33,022 votes to Sweeney’s 30,927 votes. Read more here: Trucker With $153 Campaign Unseats NJ Senate President

After the tweet surfaced, two groups that advocate for Muslim rights called on Durr to resign.

“Anti-Muslim smears like the kind Mr. Durr posted on his Twitter account have been directly responsible for hate and violence against American Muslims,” Muslim Advocates Communications Director Eric Naing said. “The hateful words and false conspiracy theories spread by Durr should have no place in society, let alone the New Jersey State Senate. Mr. Durr must either sincerely apologize and disavow his hateful and dangerous social media posts or resign.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations also called on Durr to renounce his statements or resign, according to The Washington Post.

“I support everybody’s right to worship in any manner they choose and to worship the God of their choice,” Durr said in his prepared statement. “I support all people and I support everybody’s rights. That’s what I am here to do, work for the people and support their rights.”

Durr was elected to represent New Jersey’s 3rd Legislative District, which includes the towns of Alloway, Bridgeton, Carneys Point, Clayton, Deerfield, East Greenwich, Elk, Elmer, Elsinboro, Franklin (Gloucester), Glassboro, Greenwich (Gloucester), Logan, Lower Alloways Creek, Mannington, National Park, Newfield, Oldmans, Paulsboro, Penns Grove, Pennsville, Pilesgrove, Pittsgrove, Quinton, Salem, South Harrison, Swedesboro, Upper Deerfield, Upper Pittsgrove, West Deptford, Woodbury Heights, Woodstown and Woolwich, in Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem counties. Read more here: Senate President Sweeney Trails Challenger: Unofficial Results

Durr describes himself as a constitutional conservative, and his campaign focused on lowering property taxes and making New Jersey more business-friendly.

On Thursday afternoon, Sweeney issued a statement that he would not concede defeat until all votes had been counted. It is unknown how many vote-by-mail and provisional ballots remain to be counted.

As of Friday morning, the Assembly races in the district had still not been called, but the Democratic incumbents trailed their Republican challengers. Those totals can be seen below:

3rd Legislative District Assembly Race 159/159 precincts reporting:

• Beth Sawyer: 33,161
• Bethanne McCarthy Patrick: 33,004
• John Burzichelli: 30,398
• Adam Taliaferro: 29,940