Rep. Mikie Sherrill is running for governor of New Jersey
NEW JERSEY -- Another high-profile Democrat has thrown her hat into New Jersey's gubernatorial race.
Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill launched her candidacy on YouTube early Monday morning
She now joins a crowded field running in the primary.
"In the Navy, I was on a mission to protect our country. Now, I am announcing my candidacy for governor on a mission to get things done for New Jersey," Sherrill said.
Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot, said she's running for the Garden State's top job because she's concerned about freedoms under a Donald Trump presidency, including reproductive rights.
"We have heard that there are a lot of efforts in the Republican Party to implement a nationwide abortion ban," Sherrill said. "In other states in the nation, we have women dying in emergency rooms because doctors are refusing to perform abortions."
List of Democratic candidates for NJ governor grows
Sherrill's announcement comes after her latest 11th Congressional District win and after fellow Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer said he's running for governor as well.
"As governor, I will bring down your property and income taxes," Gottheimer said.
Gottheimer is supported by the Democratic chair of Bergen County, which has more than 70 towns.
Other Democrats running include Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who released a statement saying Sherrill is backed by political bosses and that his campaign is different, adding, "I can't believe someone can actually run a reelection campaign like she did, telling people she wants to fight in Congress against Trump and then bail the following week."
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is also in the race in a state where Trump only lost to Vice President Kamala Harris by five points.
"I don't think the Republicans did better. I just think we did worse. We didn't organize like we should. We didn't go into the community. We didn't lean on our values," Baraka said. "Getting people access to the middle class, reducing our health care costs, reducing our housing cost, making sure the wealthy pay their fair share."
NJEA President Sean Spiller is a lesser-known Democrat running.
"As an educator, somebody who is out there each and every day fighting for our students our families' needs, somebody who gets it as a union leader, who has worked under Chris Christie, knows how to fight back," Spiller said.
South Jersey former state Senate President Stephen Sweeney is also running as a Democrat. His campaign said he's not commenting.
The candidates will have to fight hard as they campaign this year for the governor's race in 2025.
Republicans in the mix for New Jersey's top job
State Sen. Jon Bramnick and Jack Ciattarelli, who came close to beating Gov. Phil Murphy in the last election, are running in the Republican primary, as is radio host Bill Spadea.
"With the right Republican, we can win, but that's a Republican that appeals to swing voters," Bramnick said.
Spadea, a staunch Trump supporter, boasts 1 million radio listeners. He told CBS News New York that Democrats have a failed message.
"All they want to talk about is abortion because they can't talk about affordability. They can't talk about public safety," Spadea said. "The prices have skyrocketed. The streets have gotten less safe, and we have no fix for our education spending plan."
