In the lead-up to Election Day, New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Mikie Sherrill is leaving no stone unturned, campaigning with Democratic Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Wes Moore of Maryland, both of whom are viewed as potential 2028 presidential contenders.
As the Sherrill campaign prepares for prominent campaign collaborations, former President Barack Obama gave his endorsement to Sherrill’s gubernatorial bid on Friday.
“This November presents us with a chance to forge a new path forward — to reject the chaos in Washington and reduce costs in New Jersey — and I am extremely grateful for President Obama’s support and endorsement in this race,” Sherrill stated, acknowledging Obama’s efforts on healthcare amid the government shutdown as congressional Democrats aim to extend healthcare premiums that are set to expire this year.
Sherrill is scheduled to rally with Whitmer in Paramus, New Jersey, on Saturday morning. Later, she will team up with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin for a “No Kings” rally in Montclair — one of hundreds planned across the country in opposition to President Donald Trump’s extensive, second-term agenda.
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On Sunday, Sherrill will host a policy discussion with Moore and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Baraka was among the Democratic candidates who vied for the New Jersey gubernatorial nomination earlier in the year.
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Baraka garnered national attention during his campaign when he was arrested for trespassing at Delaney Hall, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Newark, while protesting earlier this year. He later faced accusations of cultivating hostile work environments for women.
Following the policy discussion on Sunday, Sherrill and Moore will campaign in Newark before she attends an Oktoberfest celebration in Hamilton later that day.
A Fox News poll released Thursday indicated that Sherill is ahead of her Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli by 5 points among likely New Jersey voters (50-45%), a decrease from an 8-point lead in late September (50-42%). As the contest to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited in the Garden State this year, Sherrill’s lead has narrowed over Ciattarelli, falling within the poll’s margin of error.
New Jersey is one of only two states holding statewide elections in the U.S. this year and will be closely watched as an indicator ahead of highly contested midterm elections expected next year.
The battle for the Garden State’s top office has grown increasingly bitter between Sherrill and Ciattarelli in the final weeks leading up to Election Day. And even though Trump’s name isn’t on the ballot, he’s had a significant influence on the New Jersey gubernatorial race.
During last week’s second and final debate, Sherrill asserted that her GOP opponent had “shown no indication of opposing this president. In fact, the president himself labeled Jack 100% MAGA, and he has consistently demonstrated that.”
When asked if he identified with the MAGA movement, Ciattarelli responded that he was “part of a New Jersey movement.”
When questioned about his assessment of the president’s performance thus far during his second term, Ciattarelli stated, “I would definitely give the president an A. I believe he’s correct in everything he’s doing.”
“I believe that tells us everything we need to know about who Jack Ciattarelli is supporting. I give him an F right now,” Sherrill replied, highlighting New Jersey’s high cost of living.
While Democrats have historically dominated federal and state legislative elections in the left-leaning New Jersey, Republicans are highly competitive in gubernatorial races, having won five of the last ten elections.
And Trump made considerable gains in New Jersey during last year’s presidential election, losing the state by just 6 percentage points, an improvement from his 16-point deficit four years prior.
Sherrill’s news conference took place the day after multiple sources confirmed to Fox News that Trump would be holding tele-rallies with Ciattarelli.
In what is anticipated to be an election with low voter turnout, Trump’s endorsement could prove critical for Ciattarelli, who is making his third attempt at the governorship after narrowly losing to Murphy four years ago.
