When you’re a Democrat looking for Democrats online, there’s only one place that’s guaranteed to turn up a crowd. Reddit.
The platform has become a bastion for the far left, radical agendas, and socialist ideology.
Sheena Collum, the long-serving mayor of South Orange and Steven Fulop’s pick for lieutenant governor, took to Reddit on Thursday evening to connect directly with New Jersey residents in a four-hour “Ask Me Anything” session, signaling a grassroots-style kickoff to her campaign role.
“I’m super jazzed!” Collum wrote in her initial post to the r/newjersey subreddit, inviting users to ask about state and local government, her experience, and the upcoming gubernatorial election. The live Q&A drew hundreds of comments, with questions ranging from New Jersey’s infrastructure to political philosophy.
Collum, who has led South Orange for a decade, emphasized a record of hands-on governance and distaste for government inefficiency. She described herself as a “pragmatic progressive” and positioned her background as independent from party establishments. “I deeply despise people who breach the public’s trust with corruption & nepotism,” she wrote. “Everything to me is about implementation.”
The digital town hall was part of Collum’s broader effort to introduce herself to voters statewide after being selected by Fulop as his running mate. Fulop, the mayor of Jersey City, has already declared his candidacy for governor and is campaigning as a reform-minded executive with municipal experience.
By late Thursday night, Collum returned to the Reddit thread to thank participants and suggest future events to build accessibility.
“I sent Steve a message that I hope we can continue these AMAs but also perhaps integrate some Facebook Live Town Halls with Q&A,” she wrote.
A digital introduction to a statewide audience
Born in Flemington, Collum shared personal anecdotes during the AMA, including her Korean and Irish heritage, her move to Alabama and Mississippi as a child, and her return to New Jersey for college at Seton Hall. She noted her entry into public service was inspired by a desire for more efficient governance, and that she sees herself as someone driven by practical results rather than political rhetoric.
She highlighted a self-taught understanding of golf to ensure inclusion in business settings, and humorously introduced her Maltipoo, Democracy, to Reddit users. “My mom has been using the internet nonstop since the announcement to send me campaign advice,” she added, noting the family excitement.
Collum also addressed questions about local governance challenges across New Jersey, offering insights to users seeking help for their own municipalities. Throughout the session, she maintained a conversational tone but avoided campaign-style promises, reiterating her focus on cost efficiency and direct resident engagement.
The AMA appeared to signal a coordinated effort between the Fulop campaign and Collum to present a transparent, responsive alternative to statewide voters, especially through non-traditional platforms.
Collum encouraged future engagement by pointing users to StevenFulop.com for upcoming meet-and-greets and offered her campaign email for direct questions. “I gave it a good go for 4 hours and hopefully covered a lot of ground,” she wrote in her closing post.
