Latest news with #MikieSherrill
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
NJ governor election: Sherrill, Ciattarelli share their visions on South Jersey issues
Voters in the June 10 primary have decided that the major party nominees for governor of New Jersey will be former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, D-NJ. The two nominees were asked this week about offshore wind power development, light-rail expansion and the agriculture industry. These are topics that may come up between now and the general election in November and are of special interest to South Jersey residents. More: Has South Jersey made this blue state more of a purple? Governor race may test the notion. The development of offshore wind turbine farms to produce 'renewable' electricity is in a state of suspension as of January, and its future is uncertain in the face of regulatory and court appeals from opponents and supporters. According to Ciattarelli's campaign, he opposes offshore wind projects and supports efforts to cancel them. Offshore wind: NJ's next governor will have offshore wind farms — and their opponents — to consider Sherrill has taken an opposing stance. She said that she wants the state to invest clean energy to lower prices for consumers. She added that U.S. President Donald Trump has made it difficult to pursue wind projects. 'As we move forward with our energy planning, we need to combat these federal attacks with improved state-level planning for projects to ensure that state permitting processes work quickly and efficiently," Sherrill said. 'We need to expand into other clean energy sources, and as governor, I am going to boost our state's solar capacity by using state properties to host solar projects, expanding access to community solar, and pressuring PJM, our regional grid operator, to plug clean energy into the grid. Solar is clean, cheap, and the key to lowering New Jerseyans' rising utility costs while protecting our environment.' Gov. Phil Murphy and members of his administration want to see some action this year on the Glassboro-Camden Line. The proposal for this line, which would be approximately 18 miles of passenger light rail service between the Glassboro and Camden communities, has been defeated repeatedly by voters in the communities along the route. 'South Jersey deserves more infrastructure investment. Period," Ciattarelli said. "The fact that South Jersey businesses today are forced to pay a tax that funds NJ Transit, yet have limited to zero access to NJ Transit, is just plain wrong. 'That said, many communities that the proposed line would run through have strongly opposed the line. As governor, I would not force these communities to accept a rail line they do not support.' NJ Transit: How GCL rail, other South Jersey public transit initiatives may hinge on governor's race Sherrill, meanwhile, said she's in full support of completing the Glassboro-Camden Line. "As I have traveled across South Jersey, I've heard from far too many residents that NJ TRANSIT means 'North Jersey Transit.' That must change," Sherrill said. "As governor, I will make sure that South Jersey always has a seat at the table as we work to build the Glassboro-Camden light rail and expand bus routes.' More: Winners declared in NJ primary for governor Agriculture in New Jersey is a $1-billion-plus per year industry. Funding for research and promotion programs is a regular concern for its proponents. Industry leaders have also said they're leery of new environmental regulations, such as the proposed NJ REAL regulation regarding flood mitigation. 'This (NJ REAL) proposal is regulatory overkill and is DOA if I am governor," Ciattarelli said. "The idea that residents along the shore should be forced into 'managed retreat' is a non-starter for me. I will pause enforcement of these rules and reopen discussions with affected communities, business leaders, and other stakeholders.' Ag issues: New Jersey farmers want to see these concerns tackled by a new governor Sherrill noted that New Jersey is known as the Garden State for a reason, pointing to its production of corn, tomatoes and blueberries and its nearly 10,000 farms. 'As governor, I will support farmers and farmland preservation to strengthen our agricultural industry. I'll do so by creating a new focus at the NJ Economic Development Authority on incentives and economic assistance to support farming," Sherrill said. Her response didn't touch on NJ REAL regulations, but focused on the need to increasing investments in agriculture. 'New Jersey needs to innovate to ensure that when farms are sold, the state has programs to incentivize new owners to maintain operations. I will also create new loan programs for new farmers, including those at urban farms," Sherrill said. 'With the federal rollbacks in research, development, and education funding, it's more important than ever that we support agriculture extension and research operations at Rutgers University. Each year in Congress, I have fought for federal funding to support Rutgers' programming in a range of different areas, and I will continue to strongly support the world-class programs run by Rutgers that are going to bolster our agricultural industry and our overall economy.' Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times. Have a tip? Support local journalism with a subscription. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Sherrill, Ciattarelli differ on offshore wind, light rail projects
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NJ governor election polls: What early surveys say about Sherrill-Ciattarelli
Early polling suggests that the general election for New Jersey governor has kicked off with Democrat Mikie Sherrill holding a slight — or possibly a not-so-slight — lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Two privately contracted voter surveys, both now made public, came to different results. Sherrill, a congresswoman, and Ciattarelli, the 2021 GOP gubernatorial candidate, both faced multiple opponents before winning their respective primaries June 10. One of the recent polls was carried out with 785 adults from May 28-30 by Survey USA. This poll was commissioned by members of a Democratic-leaning organization called Education Reform Now Advocacy. More: NJ governor election: Sherrill, Ciattarelli share their visions on South Jersey issues This poll had Sherrill with a 51% to 38% lead over Ciattarelli, with 12% of the sample group undecided. Respondents who expected to vote in the election numbered at 576 people. Approximately 65% told Survey USA that they believe young people will be a little worse off or a lot worse off financially than previous generations. Other questions were on what two issues elected officials should focus on to improve the future of young people: 64% answered reducing inflation and the cost of everyday expenses such as groceries. 32% chose reducing health care costs. 31% chose improving public schools. 25% chose making college more affordable. 21% chose stopping job outsourcing and automation of 'good paying" jobs. More: New Jersey farmers want to see these concerns tackled by a new governor The second poll was carried out with 600 adults June 11-12 by National Research Inc., which was hired by members of the Ciattarelli campaign. This poll, which was limited to likely November voters, found Sherrill ahead 45% to 42%. In an email to supporters, the Sherrill campaign noted that this lead falls within the poll's estimated margin of error of plus or minus 4% and can be seen as a statistical tie. As with the Survey USA poll, 12% of respondents said they were undecided. The National Research poll listed what it tagged as 'instructive signals' in the results while concluding that 'change' is a dominant theme: Ciattarelli led by 8 points among unaffiliated likely voters. Ciattarelli and Sherrill were in a tie for support from respondents who described themselves as working class or middle class. Sherrill led among upper middle-class and upper-class voters. Sherrill had a 1-point advantage among those respondents who had voted in the 2021 gubernatorial race. Ciattarelli led 72% to 14% among those who think the state is moving in the wrong direction, and by even a wider margin among those who agreed they wanted to 'shake up' state government. A question about Sherrill's personal wealth and its growth since her election to the U.S. House of Representatives reportedly drew 'incredibly' negative responses. Other Democratic primary candidates had erred in not emphasizing that topic, the company concluded. Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times. Have a tip?. Support local journalism with a subscription. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Polls give Sherrill lead over Ciattarelli, but margins not the same
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
In Virginia and New Jersey governor's races, Democrats reprise a 2018 roadmap for opposing Trump 2.0
Abigail Spanberger launched her Virginia gubernatorial campaign at her high school alma mater near Richmond. 'I grew up walking the halls of Tucker High School,' the former congresswoman says in her first ad since securing the Democratic nomination, as she walks past a bank of lockers. Later, she highlights her background as a CIA case officer and then as a 'tough-minded, get-things-done lawmaker' in Congress. A similar message is resonating in New Jersey, where Rep. Mikie Sherrill is also running for governor. Both women present themselves as Democrats capable of transcending the discord of Donald Trump's Washington. For national Democrats, who have deliberated for months on how to counter the former president's aggressive second administration, it's a reminder of what proved successful during Trump's first term. Spanberger and Sherrill were prominent figures in the 2018 wave of center-left Democrats who helped flip House control from Republicans, appealing to moderates, progressives, and even anti-Trump conservatives. Now, they lead statewide tickets in races that could offer Democrats a familiar path forward as they look toward next year's midterms. 'There are a lot of similarities in Democrats' current position and the 2018 campaigns,' said Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., who chaired his party's congressional campaign arm during Trump's first midterm election cycle. The 2018 Democratic freshman class gained a net 40 seats, with record numbers of women and numerous candidates with national security and business backgrounds. A similar effort yielded a net gain of six governorships. The party's 2018 winners also included outspoken progressives like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, elected in more liberal urban districts. But the balance of power shifted thanks to centrist candidates who carried the nation's suburbs and improved Democrats' performance in exurbs and even small-town, GOP-dominated areas. Among Spanberger's and Sherrill's freshman colleagues were Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst who won a suburban Detroit seat before her election to the Senate last November; Rep. Jason Crow, a former Army officer who represents suburban Denver; and Rep. Angie Craig, who flipped a GOP-held seat in greater Minneapolis and is now running for Senate. Crow is now co-chairman of candidate recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Similar résumés are appearing among new Democratic recruits. In Michigan, Bridget Brink, former US ambassador to Ukraine, launched her bid for Slotkin's old 7th Congressional District, emphasizing her international experience as a counterpoint to Trump. Luján noted that the common thread has been recruiting 'real people – regular folks with incredible credentials and an ability to hold a real conversation with people around economic issues … around the kitchen table and campaign in any area.' So even as New Jersey's Sherrill labels her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, a 'Trump lackey' and Spanberger vows in a fundraising email to defeat 'Trump's agenda at the ballot box,' their broader appeal hinges on different arguments. Sherrill has emphasized her biography: Naval Academy graduate, Navy Sea King helicopter pilot, federal prosecutor, and mother of four. Her blue and gold yard signs feature a helicopter hovering above her name. She also promises an 'Affordability Agenda' to address voters' economic anxieties. Spanberger, part of the Problem Solvers Caucus during her time on Capitol Hill, stresses her deal-making centrism, pledges to address economic disparities, and has promised to campaign in every Virginia congressional district, including those where Trump has dominated. 'It's not the job of the governor of Virginia to cater to President Trump,' Spanberger said in a primary campaign speech. 'It's not the job of the governor of Virginia to cater to a political party.' In an Associated Press interview, Spanberger even criticized President Joe Biden for posturing by promising to eliminate student debt – something he couldn't achieve solely through presidential action. 'Don't make promises you can't keep,' she said. She also bristled when asked to define her political position, instead saying she sets goals by asking, 'How do I impact the most people in the fastest way possible?' Jared Leopold, a Democratic strategist who worked for the Democratic Governors Association during the 2018 cycle, noted that Spanberger and Sherrill avoid the internal party struggle among progressives, liberals, and moderates. 'Most voters aren't really thinking about things along a simple left-right political spectrum, especially in statewide races,' Leopold said. 'People are looking for politicians who they think understand them and can get things done to help them.' He cited another 2018 Democratic standout: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Now a potential 2028 presidential contender, Whitmer gained national attention as a state legislator who spoke out about abortion rights and her experience of being raped as a college student. But she became a force in the governor's race with what Leopold called a 'brilliant and simple slogan: 'Fix the damn roads!'' Democrats acknowledge that candidates' military and national security experience helps neutralize Republican attacks painting all Democrats as too liberal or out of touch. 'These credentials for how they've served the country – they're just sharing who they are,' Luján said. Leopold added, 'It certainly gives a different definition of what the Democratic Party is to some voters.' In Virginia, Republican nominee and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who, like Spanberger, would be the first woman to serve as the state's top elected official, is trying to link the Democratic nominee to her national party. Earle-Sears's social media frequently shares pictures of Spanberger and Biden together. She accuses Spanberger of effectively rubber-stamping Biden's legislative agenda while in Congress. 'Part of the challenge,' Spanberger counters, 'is that either my opponent or people who might be running anywhere who don't necessarily have things to run on are going to try and distract.' Spanberger, Sherrill, and similar Democrats hope that most voters will see through the GOP attacks and appreciate their own branding efforts, like Fred Martucci, a retired glazier who voted early in Trenton, New Jersey. The seventy-five-year-old expressed a strong dislike for Trump. Regarding Sherrill, he said, 'She was a Navy helicopter pilot. You can't be a dummy – she's sharp.'
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
In Virginia and New Jersey governor's races, Democrats reprise a 2018 roadmap for opposing Trump 2.0
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (AP) — Abigail Spanberger opened her general election bid for Virginia governor Wednesday using her high school alma mater near Richmond. 'I grew up walking the halls of Tucker High School,' the former congresswoman says as she walks past a bank of lockers in her first ad since securing the Democratic nomination. Later, she notes her experience as a CIA case officer, then in the halls of Congress as a tough-minded, get-things-done lawmaker. The same kind of message is echoing in New Jersey from Rep. Mikie Sherrill, as she also makes a bid for governor. Both women are selling themselves as Democrats who can rise above the rancor of Donald Trump's Washington. For national Democrats who have spent months debating how to counter the president's aggressive second administration, it's a reminder of what worked for the party during Trump's first term. Spanberger and Sherrill were headliners in the 2018 roster of center-left Democrats who helped flip House control from Republicans with balanced appeals to moderates, progressives and even anti-Trump conservatives. Now, they're leading statewide tickets in races that could offer Democrats a back-to-the-future path forward as they look toward next year's midterms. 'There are a lot of similarities' in Democrats' current position and the 2018 campaigns, said Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., who, as a House member, chaired his party's congressional campaign arm during Trump's first midterm election cycle. The 2018 Democratic freshman class yielded a net gain of 40 seats with a lineup that featured record numbers of women and plenty of candidates with national security and business backgrounds. A similar effort yielded a net gain of six governors. The party's 2018 winners also included outspoken progressives like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, elected in more liberal, urban districts. But the balance of power shifted on the backs of centrist candidates who carried the nation's suburbs and improved Democrats' performance in exurbs and even small-town, GOP-dominated areas. Among Spanberger's and Sherrill's freshman colleagues were Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, another former CIA analyst, who won a suburban Detroit seat before her elevation to the Senate last November; Rep. Jason Crow, a former Army officer, who represents suburban Denver; and Rep. Angie Craig, who flipped a GOP-held seat in greater Minneapolis and now is running for Senate. Crow is now co-chairman of candidate recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Similar resumes are popping up among new Democratic recruits. In Michigan, for example, Bridget Brink, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, announced her bid for Slotkin's old 7th Congressional District on Wednesday by leaning into her international experience as a counter to Trump. Luján said the common thread has been recruiting 'real people, regular folks' with 'incredible credentials' and an ability to hold 'a real conversation with people around economic issues … around the kitchen table' and campaign in any area. So even as New Jersey's Sherrill calls her Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli a 'Trump lackey' and Spanberger pledges in a fundraising email to 'defeat Trump's agenda at the ballot box,' their wider appeal depends on different arguments. Sherrill has from the start touted her biography: a Naval Academy graduate, Navy Sea King helicopter pilot, federal prosecutor and mother of four. Her blue and gold yard signs have a chopper hovering above her name. She is also promising an 'Affordability Agenda' to address voters' economic concerns. Spanberger, part of the Problem Solvers Caucus when she was on Capitol Hill, leans into her deal-making centrism, promises to confront economic gaps and has pledged to campaign in every Virginia congressional district, including where Trump has dominated. 'It's not the job of the governor of Virginia to cater to President Trump,' Spanberger said in one of her final primary campaign speeches. 'It's not the job of the governor of Virginia to cater to a political party.' In an Associated Press interview earlier this spring, Spanberger even criticized former President Joe Biden for 'posturing' by promising to eliminate student debt — something he could not accomplish by presidential action alone. 'Don't make promises you can't keep,' she said. She also bristled when asked to describe her place on the political spectrum. She instead said she set goals by asking, 'How do I impact the most people in the fastest way possible?' Jared Leopold, a Democratic strategist who worked as a senior staffer for the Democratic Governors Association during the 2018 cycle, said it's notable that Spanberger and Sherrill avoid getting mired in the internal party tussle among progressives, liberals and moderates. 'Most voters aren't really thinking about things along a simple left-right political spectrum,' especially in statewide races, Leopold said. 'People are looking for politicians who they think understand them and can get things done to help them.' He pointed to another 2018 Democratic standout: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Now a potential 2028 presidential candidate, Whitmer first gained national attention as a state legislator who spoke out about abortion rights and her experience of being raped as a college student. But she became a juggernaut in the governor's race with what Leopold called a 'brilliant and simple' slogan: 'Fix the damn roads!' Of course, Democrats do not dispute that a candidate's military and national security experiences help neutralize routine Republican attacks of all Democrats as too liberal or out of touch. 'These credentials for how they've served the country — they're just sharing who they are,' Luján said. Said Leopold: 'It certainly gives a different definition of what the Democratic Party is to some voters.' In Virginia, Republican nominee and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who like Spanberger would become the first woman to serve in the state's top elected office, is trying to tie the Democratic nominee to her national party. Earle-Sears' social media accounts frequently share pictures of Spanberger and Biden hugging and wearing masks. She accuses Spanberger of effectively rubber-stamping Biden's legislative agenda while in Congress. 'Part of the challenge,' Spanberger retorts, 'is that either my opponent or people who might be running anywhere, who don't necessarily have things to run on, are going to try and distract.' Spanberger, Sherrill and Democrats like them hope that most voters assess the GOP attacks and their own branding efforts like Fred Martucci, a retired glazier who voted early in Trenton, New Jersey. The 75-year-old expressed a visceral distaste for Trump. As for what impresses him about Sherrill, he said: 'She was a Navy helicopter pilot. You can't be a dummy — she's sharp.' ___ Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. ___ Barrow reported from Atlanta, Catalini from Trenton, New Jersey.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
These centrist women on a group chat are leading Democrats in 2025
They jumped into politics in President Donald Trump's first term. They ascended to Congress with similar resumes. They text all the time in a group chat. Now Abigail Spanberger, Mikie Sherrill and Elissa Slotkin are all playing leading roles for the Democratic Party — a trio of centrist women with national security backgrounds who helped retake the House in 2018 and this year hope to steer their beleaguered party back toward winning.
