Congressman Frank Pallone Endorses Mikie Sherrill For NJ Governor

MATAWAN, NJ — Congressman Frank Pallone, the senior Democrat of the New Jersey congressional delegation, endorsed North Jersey Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill in the New Jersey governor's race, which will be this November.

Pallone, a longstanding Democrat who represents Carteret down to Long Branch in Congress, cited what he says is Sherrill's "commitment to fighting for New Jersey against the threats from Trump and (Elon) Musk."

“Mikie is a proven leader who cares about average New Jerseyans and listens to the voters," said Pallone. "She has spent her career in service to the country as a Navy pilot, prosecutor and now a Congresswoman."

Sherrill was a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy, then an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Jersey. She is currently the Congresswoman who represents NJ's 11th District, which is suburban Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.

The primary will be in June and there is currently a heated primary battle in both parties, Republican and Democrat, for who will be each party's nominee to battle each other in November.

Candidates in the Democratic primary:

• Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
• Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop
• NJ 5 Congressman Josh Gottheimer
• NJ 11 Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill
• Former Montclair mayor and president of the NJ statewide teachers' union Sean Spiller
• Former NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney (he no longer holds political office)

Candidates in the Republican primary:

• Former NJ state assemblyman Ciattarelli, from Somerville. He ran twice before for New Jersey governor without success, but came quite close in the 2021 governor's race, losing to Murphy by a margin of three percentage points.
• Republican state Sen. Jon Bramnick said last year he would drop out of the race if Trump won re-election (he is a never-Trump Republican), but is still running.
• NJ101.5 radio host Bill Spadea
• Former state Sen. Ed Durr, "Ed the Trucker" from South Jersey
• A host of lesser-known names.

Two-term Gov. Phil Murphy cannot seek a third term. The primary election will be June 10 and the general election Nov. 4.

Pallone represents New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District, which includes the towns of Carteret, Woodbridge, Edison, Highland Park, Metuchen, New Brunswick, part of Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Sayreville, South Amboy, South Plainfield, Matawan, Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Bradley Beach, Deal, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Long Branch and West Long Branch, the northern part of Middletown (south Middletown is NJ 4/Rep. Chris Smith), Monmouth Beach, Neptune City and Neptune Township, Oceanport, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright and Union Beach.