TRENTON, N.J. — Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a candidate for New Jersey governor, is calling on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to commit at least $10 million to the state’s 2025 gubernatorial race, arguing that the future of the party runs through New Jersey.
In a memo addressed to all DNC chair candidates, Sherrill warned that Democrats cannot take New Jersey for granted, citing a 10-point rightward shift in the state’s 2024 election results as a sign of Republican momentum.
“The DNC must show up in New Jersey because the next generation of the party cannot take anyone, anywhere — even in ‘blue’ areas — for granted,” she wrote, emphasizing that traditional levels of Democratic investment in the state, previously around $200,000 annually, would be insufficient.
Sherrill pointed to New Jersey’s political diversity, with urban, suburban, and rural communities, as a reason the state should serve as a testing ground for Democratic strategies nationwide. She urged the party to expand voter outreach efforts, invest in nontraditional media, and register more voters to counter Republican gains.
Framing the upcoming governor’s race as a critical test for Democrats, Sherrill positioned New Jersey as a battleground that could shape the party’s national future.