EMILY’s List, a national group that supports Democratic women running for representative, endorsed New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill’s bid on Monday, hours after announcing her campaign.
EMILY’s List President Jessica Mackler highlighted Sherrill’s military service and time in Congress in a statement first shared with NBC News, and said the group hopes she will become the first Democratic woman to serve as governor in the Garden State.
“In the United States Navy and in Congress, Rep. Sherrill has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving our country and the people of New Jersey. His record of passing bipartisan legislation to lower health care costs, lower taxes for New Jersey residents and fight for our reproductive rights is clear. We are pleased to support Rep. Sherrill and elect New Jersey’s first Democratic female governor,” said Makler.
Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter commander and former federal prosecutor in a Republican-held seat in 2018, joins an already crowded Democratic field.
Last week, our fellow Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced his proposal Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop are also running for governor.
The race, one of two gubernatorial elections slated for 2025, is expected to draw a lot of attention and spending. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is term-limited and ineligible for re-election, leaving plenty of room for Democrats seeking to capture the governor’s mansion.
All eyes will be on this race and next year’s race to succeed Virginia Gov. Glenn Young, as this year’s off-elections are often seen as an indicator of how voters respond to the first year of a new presidential administration.
Sherrill is the first woman to compete in New Jersey. EMILY has a list too Rep. Abigail confirmed SpanbergerD-Va., who participated in the race for the governorship of Virginia.
The organization has previously supported both women’s congressional campaigns.