Newark Mayor Ras Baraka publicly criticized Representative Mikie Sherrill on Friday in a sharply worded opinion piece that questioned her political consistency, campaign funding sources, and commitment to progressive Democratic policies.
Responding to Sherrill’s recent editorial calling for a new Democratic “get-tough playbook” to confront former President Donald Trump’s agenda, Baraka asked, “Where are the new plays?” In the editorial, he said Sherrill’s approach relies on outdated tactics that fail to deliver substantive results on healthcare, housing, and immigration reform.
“We are not going to advance the Democratic Party’s progressive ideals of equity and fairness with tough talk, rallies and wishful thinking,” Baraka wrote, adding, “Mostly, we are going to do it with action.”
Baraka pointed to Newark’s implementation of a reference-based healthcare pricing plan projected to save $80 million while covering 3,000 city employees. He contrasted that with Sherrill’s refusal to support Medicare for All and highlighted her acceptance of over $1.5 million in donations from pharmaceutical and healthcare industry sources.
The mayor also highlighted Newark’s efforts on affordable housing, including 6,600 new units in progress and a $20 million fund for community projects. He argued these policies directly address housing insecurity and questioned Sherrill’s opposition to measures restricting hedge fund purchases of single-family homes.
Baraka contrasts local governance with federal fundraising ties
In his critique, Baraka claimed that Sherrill accepted $2.6 million in donations from Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs and BlackRock while positioning herself as an ally of the working class. He emphasized his own background as a Newark homeowner and teacher as evidence of his lived experience in working-class communities.
He also raised concerns about Sherrill’s immigration policy stances, noting her opposition to restricting the use of U.S. military personnel in immigration enforcement. Baraka defended Newark’s sanctuary city status and recalled his administration’s actions to prevent ICE operations that violated local codes.
Baraka closed the editorial by reaffirming his support for using legislative leverage against Trump-era policies, but warned that Democrats should not cede congressional seats. “She can’t lead that fight from Trenton,” he wrote, referencing Sherrill’s decision to run for governor. “So why give up a seat, especially when Republicans shockingly won her Passaic County district and made significant inroads in Morris?”
Baraka concluded by outlining policy initiatives he believes should define the Democratic agenda, including affordable housing planning commissions, shared services to control property taxes, and an inclusionary budgeting process at the state level.