TRENTON, NJ – With weeks left before New Jersey voters head to the polls, supporters of Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) are voicing frustration over what they call “doomerism” — defeatist talk spreading across online political forums that they say could hurt her reelection chances.
A widely upvoted post on the r/NJPolitics subreddit urged users to stop declaring the race lost to Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli, warning that pessimistic commentary discourages voter turnout.
“People who hear that races are foregone conclusions don’t vote,” the author wrote. “Every time you post about how messed up Mikie is, you probably just lost her a few votes.”
The thread quickly drew thousands of responses, many echoing the call for optimism and voter action. One commenter said the discussion motivated them to cast their ballot early, while another reported volunteering to phone bank weekly.
Online discourse turns to voter motivation
The discussion higlighted growing concern among Democrats about voter enthusiasm in competitive districts. Several users referenced the 2016 presidential election as a cautionary tale against complacency, urging Sherrill supporters to “fight and hope until the very end.”
It’s like 2024 all over again for the Democrats.
Others speculated that negative posts may be deliberate attempts to suppress turnout.
“Who do you think is behind that ‘doomerism’? Shittarelli shills,” one user wrote, alleging coordinated online messaging.
Encouragement to act, not panic
Amid the heated debate, many commenters shared resources for mail-in voting and ballot tracking, stressing participation over despair.
The conversation reflected a grassroots attempt to shift the online tone from resignation to engagement as the Sherrill–Ciattarelli race tightens.