RANDOLPH - A passionate Mikie Sherrill lashed out at two of the Republican gubernatorial candidates Friday night, just before she was overwhelmingly endorsed by Morris County Democrats.

"I've seen people like Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea and they are fighting tooth and nail to be the biggest yes man for Donald Trump and his unelected, billionaire friend Elon Musk," Sherrill said just before she got 77 percent of the vote. Ras Baraka was a distant second with 18 percent.

Sherrill, whose congressional district is centered in Morris, said the two GOP candidates have said nothing about potential cuts to Medicaid for children, clean energy and - quoting the Wall Street Journal - the "dumbest trade war" with Canada.

"Again and again and again, they are saying nothing as our rights and freedoms are being trampled on," she said.

Sherrill appears to be the frontrunner for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. She has won most of the county conventions and is doing well in what has been limited polling.

Speaking to the Morris Democratic convention at County College of Morris, Sherrill's tone was far more strident than usual and at times, even fiery.

She lashed out at "cowards" in Washington who are afraid to stand up to Trump.  And she had a message for them:

"Stay out of New Jersey."

That message delivered, Sherrill said she would be a governor who would concentrate on building needed housing, making health care more affordable and expanding clean and inexpensive energy.

Speaking in more political terms, she said that the November election will be a reckoning that will be felt across the state and nation.

The Morris locale also allowed the congresswoman to reminisce about the start of her political career back in 2018.

She said people suggested she run in CD-7, and not CD-11, where the incumbent was Rodney Frelinghuysen, an aristocratic figure with family roots dating back to the American Revolution.

But she said she "could feel what was going on" in Morris.

Opposition to Trump's first term, and by extension Frelinghuysen, prompted weekly protests outside the congressman's Morristown office. The demonstrations, which began over the congressman's refusal to hold a town hall, soon acquired a name - Fridays with Frelinghuysen. It didn't exactly roll off the tongue, but you got the point.

Now we know the history.

Frelinghuysen retired and Sherrill won the seat and has easily won reelection three times.

There was a message here too.

Sherrill said that unlike her, half the field of Democratic gubernatorial candidates has not had a tough Republican opponent. One presumes that grouping would include Steve Fulop, Sean Spiller and Baraka.

Amid the rhetoric, tonight's event ended with a sentimental touch.

Thinking back to 2018 - and perhaps thinking about what lies ahead - Sherrill said:

"This is where it all started. This is where everyone saw that spark."

Most of the audience stood and cheered.

Mikie Sherrill released the following statement today after winning the Morris County Democratic Convention:

“Since my first race in 2018, Morris has always had my back, and they showed up big again tonight — I’m so proud to have the support of Morris County Democrats in this campaign for governor. Together, we’ve built up our party, flipped seats, and shown the power of strong Democratic leadership in our towns. And that didn’t happen overnight. We’ve proven to the doubters that if you show up, make the case to voters, and build a broad coalition, Democrats can win anywhere. We’re going to do that again in 2025, because we know that New Jersey cannot afford Jack Ciattarelli or Bill Spadea in Trenton. We’re not going to let them bring Trump and Musk’s chaos and destruction to New Jersey, because we have the team and the experience to fight back and chart a different path forward.”

Morris is Sherrill’s sixth convention win, following victories in Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Sussex, and Middlesex. She was the top vote getter in Ocean County, earning twice as many votes as her nearest competitor.

Morris County Democratic Committee Overwhelmingly Endorses  Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill for Governor!

MORRISTOWN - The Morris County Democratic Committee is excited to announce that its members have overwhelmingly voted to endorse Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill for governor at the conclusion of its annual nominating convention on Friday.

“We are thrilled to endorse Rep. Mikie Sherrill for governor. She has been dedicated to public service nearly her entire life and has a proven track record of leadership as a congresswoman representing a large portion of Morris County, since her election in 2018,” said Morris County Chairwoman Amalia Duarte. “We have seen firsthand her work ethic and ability to get things done here in Morris County. We know she will bring that same dedication to New Jersey as a governor to get things done across the entire state.”

A total of 524 eligible delegates voted using an online, secret ballot, representing a 84% turnout. Rep. Mikie Sherrill received 385 votes, 77% of the total. Mayor Ras Baraka received 88 votes, 18%; Sean Spiller received 20 votes, or 4%, and Steve Sweeney received 8 votes, 1%. There were 23 abstentions. And, candidates Mayor Steve Fulop and Rep. Josh Gottheimer declined to participate in the convention.

Morris County tried a new approach this year. Online, secret voting started on Wednesday morning, three days in advance of the convention, to provide the greatest opportunity for delegates to participate. Voting ended on Friday, when the speaking program at the convention was completed.

“Our new ‘early voting’ option was a big success! It gave members additional time to make a decision and allowed us to announce the endorsement winner at the convention, just like the other county conventions,” said Chairwoman Duarte.

There were a total 626 eligible voters: county committee members, elected officials, municipal chairs, caucus leaders, state committee members and the executive board. [NOTE: If an individual holds more than one position (ex: elected official and municipal chair), they are only eligible for one vote.]

Morris County Democrats run an open and transparent endorsement process that started in January. Chairwoman Duarte, in partnership with Sussex County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Zoe Heath hosted public Town Hall forums for all six candidates running for governor at the County College of Morris. They asked questions submitted by members in advance, and the events were videotaped for distribution, so everyone had an opportunity to hear from the candidates.

Chairwoman Duarte also refrained from endorsing a candidate in advance of the county convention.

Morris County Democrats endorsed the following candidates for state Assembly:

• LD-21 - Andrew Macurdy and Vinnie Kearney
• LD-24 - Eugene Grinberg
• LD-26 - Michael Mancusco and Walter Mielarczyk

The Morris County Commissioner candidates endorsed were:

• Max Blum, the Chief of Staff for Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill
• Marie DeVenezia, a Boonton Town Councilwoman serving in her fourth term
• Jocelyn Mathiesan, Chatham Borough Council President in her second term

Finally, the county elected the following for terms on the State Democratic Committee:

• Caitlin “Kate” Barry
• Christine Clarke
• Baramdai “Alicia” Sharma
• Jonathan Sackett, a two-term Rockaway Councilman
• Henry Mielarczyk
• C. McCourt