Anger at the Monmouth County Democratic Convention
WALL TOWNSHIP - Mikie Sherrill was angry, so angry that she discarded her planned speech at Saturday's Monmouth County Democratic convention to make a larger point.
"We believe you don't take an oath to MAGA, you take an oath to the Constitution," she said.
Sherrill, a Navy veteran and CD-11 House member, was reacting to the Friday firing of Admiral Lisa Franchetti as Navy chief. She was one of a number of top military officials, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Q. Brown, dismissed by the Trump Administration. There had been comments that the Administration saw Franchetti as a "DEI hire."
Sherrill said she spent much time Friday night digesting and discussing the news with admirals and other Navy officials.
The convention was about endorsing a gubernatorial candidate. Sherrill said she planned to talk about housing, a proliferation of warehouse construction and flood relief, but the military firings prompted her to go in another direction.
"I am so damn pissed off," she bluntly told the convention.
What's happening in D.C. makes this year's gubernatorial election even more important. Sherrill said it is vital for New Jersey to preserve the values it has.
Voting by county committee members will continue until 4 p.m., so the results will not be known for some time.
Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, said that if voters want change, he's their man.
"Folks up and down the state are looking for leadership," he said, adding that he wants to "re-imagine New Jersey."
Sean Spiller, the president of the state teachers' union, said his background as an immigrant and a teacher makes him the best candidate to relate to average people.
"Elect one of us," was how he put it.
The Monmouth convention, like one in Mercer a few days ago, was also about who was not there.
Of the six candidates in the race, the aforementioned three were the only ones there - sort of.
Candidate Steve Fulop was in the parking lot handing out a letter condemning some of the conventions as being stacked in favor of one candidate. He did not take part in the selection process.
Eventually, Fulop came inside the meeting venue - a union hall on Route 138 - and watched from the cheap seats, or rather the back of the room.
Steve Sweeney was not there, nor was he mentioned.
But the sixth candidate, Josh Gottheimer, did get some attention. A Monmouth party official said Gottheimer had denounced the convention as a "charade." The official objected to that characterization, noting that voting is by secret ballot and that last year, Monmouth Democrats endorsed Andy Kim for Senate, as opposed to the establishment candidate, Tammy Murphy.
The Gottheimer campaign issued the following statement:
"Since I launched my campaign, I've traveled to every county across the state, talking to folks in diners about how Jersey is too damn expensive and how my 'tax cut plan' will help solve our affordability crisis. I'm launching the next phase of my 'Jersey Diner Tour' - focused on tax cuts and lower costs. There is no better way to understand the challenges our families are facing and to solve their problems, than to hear directly from them. As for upcoming conventions, my rule is simple: I'm not walking into any diners where I know I'm going to get whacked. - where the fix is in. I'm grateful to our Democratic committee members and I'll continue to sit down with them and voters across our great state."
Stop watching Faux News NJ schools are ranked #1 in the Country. We go back and forth with Massachusetts for the 1 or 2 spot.
Didn't she just take an Oath of Office to be a Congresswoman? She's nothing but a political opportunist and they're the WORST KIND!
Can we please go red already - we really need someone to care about the people in our great state of New Jersey
It is time for a change. Highest property taxes in the country, poor academic standing in our schools, trash on every exit on the parkway and turnpike. Just disgusting. Time for a Republican to clean up this mess.
Ras Baraka is the only candidate with a compelling vision and a proven track record as an executive - Newark has lower crime, more housing, and an influx of new business. We need a new direction for the Democrats and New Jersey, and Baraka can deliver that with real change and practical solutions.
How can we follow the money when the State Democratic Party controlling the State enact laws signed by the current governor to make it harder to do until it's too late.
Sherrill took an oath - an oath to serve as a congressperson. I think running for one seat and then 13 days later announce for another seat tells me every I need to know about her. She can’t be trusted. She is an opportunist. Plus her record is conservative and she took money from Musk. Tell me again why she is the dems darling? I don’t get it
Christy the mighty republican did nothing to help us for 8 years.he ballanced the budget by cutting services every year .schools, pensions, seniors.he got rid of ancor program
Don't buy a single word out of Josh's mouth. He's paid by AIPAC to represent "Isreal", not New Jersey.
When democrats start caring more about Americans than illegals I meant newcomers but does anyone really want to solve deportations no because if labor department goes after businesses that hire illegals then they will self deport themselves since 95percent are here only to work
Why on Earth would real Democrats throw away the nomination on a self-described Blue Dog Democrat (aka Republican lite) when they could select a genuine progressive with executive experience? The Norcross minion who helped Republican Governor Chris Christie and Donald Trump’s favorite Democrat in in Congress should also be disqualified!
NJ DumocRats never mention lowering property taxes and ending the school bus mandate. Newark pays $55M in school busses each rider pays a busses company $12k a year. How do they justify forcing this kind of taxation where only a hand full of students can rise the bus. NJ funds yashivas privat exclusive schools with NJ property taxes $400M a year. But the DRats talk about nonsence and raise taxes at will thanks to Morphy so nothing gov. He cares about NYC $9 surcharge and hired a lawfirm for $100M to sue NYC. How is this in the best intresy of NJ residents?
The families in crisis are not eating out, nor will they benefit from tax cuts. You are talking middle class. We CAN NOT fix the economy from the middle. When we care fir those on the margins we solve everything else inadvertently.
Please please no more democrats, vote GOP
Jersey Vote Red we have had enough of the Democratic Party of Tax and Spend. It’s time for a change.
Dig into each candidate's campaign dollars. Follow the money. The truth lies in those dollars...and the talking points...of those donations. Experience in government, is not important...people fr9m all walks of life...can be successful. It takes a willfulness to learn, ask and research everything, honesty and BRAVERY. There will be people who will not support every decision made, but as long as it's honest and not based on special.interests, favors and perks...now is the time... People are sick.of these games. Corporate greed and even small time politicians are given favor. So people, must trust you.
Mike Sherrill is the right choice for Governor. Her experience in wacky milieu of Washington as a Congessperson gives her a competitive advantage in her campaign
Mike Sherrill is the right choice for Governor. She knows how Washington works and that gives her a advantage in her campaign. competitive
Are you F’n kidding?? Our state has a reputation of being a wholly owed subsidiary of la Cosa Nostra. Comander Sherrill will put the lie to that ideation! An honest person with a proud history of leadership and bravery, she is the one candidate that can handle the forces that used to control our state and bring us out of the trall of the orange monster.
That may be true but he needs to pick qualified people and not get rid of the people that were so qualified and did such a good job to begin with
What did Elon Musk give her campaign? Cite the source.
Sherrill still has to answer for why she has kept Elon Musk co. money that was given to her campaign. The bosses like her but her credibility is in question.
As the commander in chief under the Constitution, Trump has the right and duty to pick his leadership team to lead the military.