TRENTON, NJ – Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill said she is “ready to get to work” after her decisive 13-point victory over Republican Jack Ciattarelli, becoming only the second woman ever elected governor of New Jersey and the first female Democrat to hold the office.
In an interview on Up Close with Bill Ritter, the former Navy helicopter pilot, federal prosecutor, and current congresswoman said her focus now is assembling her administration and addressing the affordability crisis that dominated her campaign.
Key Points
- Sherrill becomes New Jersey’s first female Democratic governor and second woman ever to hold the office.
- Pledges to freeze utility rate hikes and challenge federal tariff policies on day one.
- Promises to govern for all New Jersey residents, including those who did not vote for her.
Building a transition team and tackling federal challenges
“We’re already hard at work,” Sherrill said, confirming that her transition team has begun naming senior staff, including her incoming chief of staff and chief counsel. “We still have ongoing issues with the federal government — everything from SNAP funding delays to the air traffic controller shortage that’s hurting Newark Airport.”
She criticized the current administration in Washington for what she called “a failure to govern,” linking the federal shutdown to travel disruptions and rising costs nationwide. “The first order of business is for the president to open the government,” she said. “We’re seeing the ramifications every day.”
A decisive victory and message to Republicans
Sherrill’s win was one of the largest in recent state history, flipping multiple counties long considered Republican strongholds. “I moved every single one of New Jersey’s 21 counties to the left,” she said. “That’s a warning sign for Republicans that they need to start taking governing seriously and serving the people.”
Polls before Election Day had predicted a tighter race, but high turnout among early and mail voters widened her lead. “The energy and momentum were enormous,” she said. “We saw it in every corner of the state.”
Day-one agenda: affordability and economic fairness
Asked about her top priorities once in office, Sherrill said she will immediately freeze utility rate hikes and join other states in challenging federal tariffs. “This tariff program is basically an extortion racket where the president’s making billions, but New Jersey families are paying more,” she said.
She also pledged to roll out a Kids’ Online Safety Agenda to address youth mental health, expand power generation and energy storage to drive down costs, and launch a first-time homebuyers program to help families enter the housing market. “We’re going to work right away to drive down costs across New Jersey,” she said.
Reaching across political divides
To the 40 percent of voters who supported her opponent, Sherrill offered an invitation: “Tell me what it’s going to take to create success for your family. That’s what I want to do — make sure kids have great schools, families have opportunity, and this state delivers for the middle class.”
Defending New Jersey’s autonomy and rule of law
Sherrill said she would oppose any attempt by the federal government to deploy military or police forces in the state without legal authority. “Having military troops on the streets in a policing capacity is illegal,” she said. “If that happens, I’ll be in court right away.”
She also vowed to continue fighting for federal infrastructure funding, including for the Gateway Tunnel Project, calling the administration’s withdrawal of funds “unlawful.”
Reflecting on the campaign and looking ahead
Sherrill described the campaign as exhausting but transformative. “It was worth it because it really sets you up to govern,” she said. “You learn what’s keeping people up at night, what policies are working, and what’s not. That’s how you serve effectively.”
While she acknowledged the bittersweet reality of leaving Congress, Sherrill said she is eager to begin leading her home state. “It’s been an incredible honor to serve in Congress,” she said. “But I’m so excited to start governing here in New Jersey.”