Essex will shoulder the lion’s share for Sherrill for Congress, but the surrounding counties in the 11th District will also perform, Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman Leroy Jones told InsiderNJ as his candidate for Congress, retired helicopter pilot Mikie Sherrill, heads toward a Primary night win.

“Tamara is certainly a talented candidate, I don’t want to take anything away from her,” Jones said of Sherrill rival Tama Harris.

“They were all interesting and good candidates,” the chairman added, giving a nod to the other off-the-line Democratic combatants.

But Sherrill rises above the landscape like a colossus, in Jones’ view.

“Mikie Sherrill is an exceptional candidate, with an extraordinary resume, but what separates her from the pack is she’s grounded,” Jones said. “She connects fabulously with people. Mikie is going to be an exceptional congresswoman who will over time be a very strong voice for women.”

Sherrill bigfooted several establishment Democratic males who envisioned themselves carrying the mantle of the party in the #Me2 movement, but then she became the face of the establishment of sorts with the party lines coalesced in her favor and a wave of rivals led by Harris pounding to get into the machine.

Can Jones help heal the rift when the primary war is over, and help spearhead a bigger effort for the fall?

“Oh, I think so,” the chairman said. “I think this is a tremendous opportunity for the party in terms of growth and reach into other counties where we haven’t had a presence. This is a new day for Essex Democrats as we move our Democratic agenda west.

“I’m always the eternal optimist,” he added, speaking directly to Harris’ chances of olive branching with the establishment after a semi-hard fought campaign.

He wouldn’t comment yet on whether she would resurface as an LD26 candidate and a 2019 opponent, possibly, if Democrats have their way in CD11, of a 2018 Sherrill-vanquished Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-26).

“This was Tamara’s first foray to Essex County and politics in general, and I’m sure there were lessons learned, and I’m eager to talk to her to have reality checks,” Jones said.