Camden, NJ – A weekend canvassing effort for gubernatorial hopeful Mikie Sherrill is igniting backlash online, as critics point to a photo circulating on X showing a nearly all-white group of campaign volunteers canvassing in Camden County—an area with a large Hispanic and Black population.
According to cenus data, Camden County’s white population is just 53%.
“Need proof that @MikieSherrill ’s campaign has no energy? In blue Camden she could barely get together a dozen supporters, & who are they? Pro-illegal, defund the police extremists who want to raise our utility bills even higher by banning clean natural gas. I hope she keeps canvassing with this crowd,” said her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli.
The image, posted by progressive activist Kate Delany, shows around a dozen volunteers smiling and holding clipboards as they gear up to knock doors in the solidly Democratic region. But instead of generating enthusiasm, the post has sparked fierce criticism, especially from Republican voices who accuse Sherrill’s campaign of being out of touch with local communities.
Camden County GOP committeeman Josh Twyford reposted the image with a scathing caption, mocking the team as a “bunch of wealthy white folks telling the majority black cities what’s good for them,” and labeling the volunteers as “pro-illegal, defund the police extremists.”
The online dust-up is part of a broader narrative taking shape around Sherrill’s early campaign efforts. While supporters like Delany praised the turnout and diversity of support, detractors seized on the visual optics to argue that the campaign is failing to energize its base in key South Jersey strongholds.
According to census data, Camden City is over 73% non-white, with a significant Black and Hispanic population. Critics argue the image underscores a disconnect between campaign leadership and the voters they aim to reach. Sherrill, a congresswoman from North Jersey, has yet to formally address the social media fallout, though her campaign reposted Delany’s thank-you tweet without comment.
It is not known if these progressive warriors working for Mikie Sherrill ventured into Camden city proper.
The controversy also comes as Democrats across New Jersey are facing growing scrutiny from both progressives and conservatives over issues ranging from energy policies to law enforcement.
