School Reform Group Hails Jersey Victories

A new city-based political action committee celebrated its first electoral victory yesterday — in a New Jersey primary race.

The Democrats for Education Reform gave money to a slate of six candidates backed by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, covering about a quarter of their campaign costs, a co-founder of the group said. At least four of them won, beating incumbent opponents.

The group aims to shape the Democratic Party's position on education, pushing openness to innovations like charter schools and merit-based teacher pay.

Its founders learned about the New Jersey victories at their Tuesday night launch party, the co-founder who hosted the event, Ravenel Boykin Curry IV, said. Mr. Curry sent an e-mail message to supporters yesterday morning notifying them of the wins.