Saying she brings new leadership and a fresh perspective, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill announced her intention to run for governor, Monday morning through a video message.
Sherrill enters an already crowded Democratic field, but she does so with name recognition and a story that make some feel she as likely to come out on top as any of the declared candidates (Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, former State Sen. President Steve Sweeney and Congressman Josh Gottheimer, who entered the race last Friday).
Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy helicopter aircraft commander, former federal prosecutor, a now fourth-term Congresswoman and a mom of four, listed four key goals on her launch video:
- build more housing,
- grow the economy,
- lower costs for families,
- defend freedoms.
She described her campaign his way, during her video:
“We’ve been through a lot these past couple of years,” she said. “There’ve been crises in this country, all over the world, and here in New Jersey. And after this election, we know people are more divided than ever on how to move forward.
“I’m Mikie Sherrill. As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a former Navy helicopter aircraft commander, here’s something I learned early on: In a crisis, the worst thing you can do is freeze. You have to choose to lead, to follow, or get out of the way. So we can either stand aside, or we can get to work on New Jersey’s future. And I know which one I pick.”
Sherrill said in N.J., we don’t whine, we work.
“We’ve always been unafraid to do the big things — because we’re inventors and innovators and builders,” she said. “And we work with our minds and our hands.
“So, let’s be the state that builds more housing, let’s fix the economy, let’s make life more affordable for hardworking New Jerseyans, from health care to groceries to childcare. These challenges aren’t new and it’s time to confront them head on.
“We can also be the state that sets the gold standard for protecting rights and freedoms, and we know they’ll be under attack from Donald Trump’s Washington.
“Because in New Jersey, we love our country, we’re proud of our state, and we value our freedoms. We’ll defend them with everything we’ve got.”
