Rep. Mikie Sherrill became the second Democratic member of Congress to jump into the increasingly crowded 2025 race for New Jersey governor Monday.
Sherrill, who represents parts of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties in the House, is a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor who hopes to keep Drumthwacket in Democratic hands with current Gov. Phil Murphy ineligible to seek a third term.
“Let’s make life more affordable for hardworking New Jerseyans, from health care to groceries to child care,” Sherrill declared in her announcement video. “These challenges aren’t new and it’s time to confront them head-on.”
Sherrill, 52, is the sixth Democrat to join the race to succeed Murphy, following Rep. Josh Gottheimer, co-chair of the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus, who announced his candidacy Friday.
“I am running to be the lower taxes, lower costs governor,” Gottheimer said. “Life in Jersey has become too damn expensive.”
The other Democrats who have announced their candidacy are Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Stephen Sweeney.