TRENTON, NJ — In a sharply worded op-ed published Sunday, Rep. Mikie Sherrill urged Democrats to abandon traditional political tactics and adopt a more confrontational approach to governance and campaigning in order to counter former President Donald Trump’s policies and influence in Washington.
“We need to make government work for people, no matter what it takes to do that,” Sherrill wrote, warning that the stakes of the 2025 gubernatorial race in New Jersey are heightened by what she described as the “chaos and cruelty” of Trump’s second term.
Sherrill, a declared candidate in the Democratic primary for governor, used the op-ed to call on her party to “play hardball,” criticize internal Democratic compromises on federal funding negotiations, and emphasize the need for bold state-level action. She also took aim at Trump’s alliance with Elon Musk, referencing efforts to cut Medicaid, raise tariffs, and roll back environmental regulations. “Trump is quite literally crashing our economy,” she said.
The congresswoman proposed a proactive agenda for New Jersey that includes boosting clean energy investments, countering federal tariff policies through international cooperation, and expanding state healthcare protections in the face of threatened Medicaid cuts. She also called for aggressive legal action by state attorneys general to push back against federal overreach and online harms to children.
Governors seen as frontline defense against Trump-era policies
In positioning herself as a candidate ready to “disrupt norms and institutions” for the sake of tangible progress, Sherrill’s message signals a broader ideological shift among some Democrats seeking to redefine executive leadership at the state level. She specifically cited broken transit, housing affordability, and high energy costs as areas where Democratic-led states must show results.
While she acknowledged internal frustrations with Senate Democrats for what she characterized as strategic missteps, Sherrill emphasized that real power lies in governance. “We have to be the party providing opportunity and getting stuff done,” she wrote, asserting that Democratic governors must prove their ability to deliver amidst what she called the dysfunction of a Musk-influenced Trump administration.
Sherrill’s op-ed comes as she faces increased scrutiny and rivalry within the Democratic primary, following pointed attacks from Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who recently accused her of entitlement and lack of policy substance.
As the primary campaign escalates, Sherrill is betting on a message of institutional reform and executive assertiveness to define her candidacy and distinguish herself in a crowded field.
Sherrill says New Jersey can lead the way in resisting Trump’s second term — and she’s ready to rewrite the Democratic playbook to do it.
