Donald Trump came within six points of defeating Kamala Harris in New Jersey in 2024, the closest margin in more than 30 years. That performance has Republicans salivating about possibly taking the governor’s mansion in 2025. Republicans have recruited top GOP operatives and are preparing to spend big through dark money groups.
If Democrats are serious about pushing back the Trump Administration as they gut Medicaid, cut education funding, and target New Jersey families, we need a fighter. We need a candidate who has demonstrated they can actually win contested elections and then deliver on their agenda. That leader is Mikie Sherrill.
Woodland Park, NJ — April 24, 2025 — Editorial board meeting with Rep. Mikie Sherrill who is running for governor in the Democratic primary.
Sherrill can win NJ
I’ve organized and communicated for campaigns all across the country, and I can tell you Sherrill is a special candidate. Yes, she has a strong resume as a congresswoman, federal prosecutor, and mother-of-four, but her background has very little to do with why I’m backing Sherrill. Sherrill is different because of how she campaigns and the coalitions she builds to win. She’s done it for years.
I grew up in Morris County. For decades we were represented by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, part of a political dynasty that included senators, governors and even a vice-presidential running mate to Henry Clay. I attended Frelinghuysen Middle School, which is about a 10-minute drive from the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. You get the picture.
In 2018, Rodney Frelinghuysen was at the height of his power. He was the House Appropriations Chair, one of the most powerful Republicans in the entire country. That year, Sherrill decided to challenge Frelinghuysen, despite many advising her not to run in the district. She was told the race was unwinnable. You hopefully know the rest of the story: Sherrill won in 2018 with the largest red-to-blue flip in the country.
But over the next three elections, Sherrill accomplished something that no other candidate in this governor’s race has done. Sherrill has consistently energized progressives (that’s me), activated the Democratic base (a must) and reached out to independents and swing voters to build as broad a coalition as possible (critical). That’s a trifecta you often don’t see in a candidate — but it’s absolutely the winning formula in November.
Emily’s List, a national group focused on electing pro-choice women, released an early analysis in 2025 showing that Sherrill consistently outperforms her Democratic colleagues, despite running in more contested races. She regularly outperforms the top of the ticket, getting more votes from her district than Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024. That’s also true for Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Andy Kim, and Gov. Phil Murphy when they’re on the ballot.
Sherrill is good at winning elections because she reaches out to all three voting segments, the progressives, the base, and swing voters. Energizing one or two of those segments won’t be enough. If Democrats are serious about winning in November, we need a candidate who has a track record of building campaigns that reaches all three.
Mikie Sherrill: As Trump co-opts Big Tech, governors must protect kids and democracy. I will.
Jack Ciattarelli: We must fix New Jersey. Here’s my plan.
What has Mikie Sherrill accomplished?
But beyond winning elections, we should also consider Sherrill’s job performance and legislative history.
The Center for Effective Lawmaking at the University of Virginia ranks members of Congress each year on how effective they are at their jobs. From 2021-2022, Sherrill was ranked the most effective House lawmaker from New Jersey. That ranking should be no surprise. A candidate focused on the broad coalition that got her elected will become a lawmaker focused on results for everyone.
Sherrill is exactly the kind of politician New Jerseyans say they want. She campaigns by bringing everyone into a big tent, wins elections, and then delivers. She also charts her own path, refusing to back Nancy Pelosi for speaker and then calling on Joe Biden to step down from the presidential ticket. That takes courage.
The stakes in this election are high. The Trump Administration will continue to target New Jersey and our next governor must be ready to push back. All the Democratic candidates have put forward great ideas on how to lower housing costs, health care costs, and energy costs. We are united in what needs to be done, but we need a candidate who has a track record of delivering.
Leadership is about what you do and how you do it. Sherrill is ranked the most effective lawmaker from New Jersey. When she campaigns, she builds broad coalitions and outperforms her peers. It’s no wonder that Republicans are specifically concerned about Sherrill — they know a real competitor when they see one. Democrats should pick the strongest candidate to compete in November. That leader is Mikie Sherrill.
Jack Miller is a Montclair resident and former political appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mikie Sherrill is the leader New Jersey needs | Opinion
