U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11), the Democratic nominee for governor of New Jersey, said the youth vote will be key in deciding the governor’s race at an event with over 200 people at Surf City hosted by the Hudson County Young Democrats.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I know everyone’s tired of hearing ‘this is the most important elections of our lifetimes,’ but it’s true, because Republicans continue to put up candidates that are more chaotic and divisive than the last,” stated HCYD President Matt Hayden.
He further stated that Sherrill has proven to be a dedicated public servant, whether it be as a U.S. Navy pilot or serving in the House of Representatives, making her a good fit to be governor of the Garden State.
“It’s concerning to me that the Republican party can come in here into New Jersey and have their rule of law, which is the [President Donald] Trump rule of law: We cannot afford [to] have that to happen,” added Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) Chair Craig Guy, who is also the county executive.
“What Matt Hayden said, you know you hear so many times that this election is the dire straights: Well folks, think about New Jersey. Think about what can happen over the next four, eight years if we don’t elect Mikie Sherrill and we elect, or the state elects a Republican for governor. Just think of your everyday checkbook that will be impacted.”
Guy acknowledged that the issues in the race aren’t complicated, revolving around affordability, transportation, and having a reliable check against the Trump administration.
Sherrill is taking on former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who is now the three-time Republican nominee for governor in New Jersey, in the November 4th general election.
The most recent poll conducted for InsiderNJ about two weeks ago has Sherrill leading by six points, which would indicate a competitive race ahead in the fall.
“Right now, what we see is an attack on the opportunity that this country has always offered to people. So instead of a country, no matter who you are, or where you’re from, a country where it’s gonna be just set up for the very, very wealthy and who you know and how much money you can give to Donald Trump’s campaign,” the congresswoman said.
“And that’s not acceptable. That has never been acceptable in this state and that’s why we’re carving a different path forward in New Jersey. For each and every one of you. But in order to do it, we’re gonna need you at the table. We need to hear your voices. We need to hear your thoughts. We need your innovation, we need your drive, we need your vision, because I can’t do it without you.”
A smorgasbord of local Democratic officials attended the Jersey City event, including U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8), state Senators Angela McKnight (D-31) and Raj Mukherji (D-32), Assembly members Will Sampson, Barbara McCann Stamato (both D-31) and Gabriel Rodriguez (D-33), Hoboken council members Tiffanie Fisher, Mike Russo, Joe Quintero, and Emily Jabbour, Hudson County Commissioners Bill O’Dea (D-2), Jerry Walker (D-3), and Anthony Romano (D-5), Jersey City Councilmen James Solomon and Frank Gilmore, Democratic Assembly nominees Katie Brennan (D-32) and Larry Wainstein (D-33), Jersey City Board of Education President Noemi Velazquez, and Jersey City BOE VP Christopher Tisdale, among many others.