NEWARK, NJ — In a move drawing sharp criticism from Republicans, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill held a campaign event to officially accept the endorsement of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a vocal proponent of progressive policies and sanctuary protections for undocumented immigrants.
Mikie Sherrill is apparently on board with the situation facing most residents of Newark. High crime rates, violence, millions of dollars in waste and fraud, political corruption, and Newark’s status as a sanctuary city as she gladly accepted Baraka’s endorsement.
Newark, New Jersey serves as the poster child for all of the things many New Jerseyans feel are wrong with the state, including Baraka’s radical progressive, or ‘woke’ agenda.
The event, which took place Wednesday in Newark, was billed as a show of unity among Democratic leaders. Sherrill praised Baraka’s leadership and advocacy, embracing his support ahead of her re-election bid. The public display of solidarity, however, sparked immediate backlash from conservatives who say Baraka’s record places him at the extreme end of the Democratic spectrum.
Baraka, a longtime advocate for Newark’s designation as a sanctuary city, has pushed for New Jersey to maintain similar policies statewide. As a gubernatorial candidate, he proposed expanding legal aid to undocumented immigrants, issuing state IDs and professional licenses to individuals regardless of immigration status, and allowing schools to withhold students’ gender identity information from parents.
Baraka has also voiced support for defunding traditional police structures in favor of alternative community safety models—an issue that has remained politically volatile in the Garden State.
The Republican Governors Association wasted no time responding. “Whether it’s Zohran Mamdani in New York or Ras Baraka in Newark, Mikie Sherrill is perfectly willing to embrace the most disastrously liberal wing of her party and sell out New Jersey,” said RGA Rapid Response Director Kollin Crompton. “Sherrill is so unwilling to talk about real solutions that this is just another desperate attempt at keeping her campaign relevant as she panders to the most far-left wing of her party.”
The public alliance with Baraka is the latest in a series of progressive endorsements that Sherrill has leaned into as she courts voters ahead of a competitive election cycle. Opponents argue the endorsements reflect a political shift and a willingness to align with Democratic leaders who have championed controversial positions on immigration, education, and law enforcement.
Sherrill’s campaign has not directly addressed criticism over Baraka’s record, instead framing the endorsement as evidence of her growing coalition of urban and suburban support. Her team has emphasized a focus on economic development, healthcare, and infrastructure, while opponents continue to press her on her associations with national and state-level progressive figures.
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Key Points
- Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill accepted the endorsement of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka during a public campaign event
- Baraka’s record includes support for sanctuary cities, expanded rights for undocumented immigrants, and defunding traditional police models
- Republicans criticized the move as pandering to the far-left and out of step with New Jersey voters
Sherrill’s latest endorsement is stirring controversy by tying her campaign to one of New Jersey’s most progressive political figures.