Maryland’s Moore among Sherrill allies on the campaign trail

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) on Sunday welcomed Maryland Gov. Wes Moore for a weekend campaign swing, including a morning roundtable with Newark leaders about improving education and health outcomes for underserved communities in the Garden State.

Sherrill and Moore also met with veterans and launched a canvassing session on Sunday. Moore, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said Sherrill is well-equipped to confront President Donald Trump and secure resources for New Jerseyans who need them. Sherrill faces Republican former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli in next month’s gubernatorial election.

“Governors can show that there is a better way,” Moore told reporters. “There is a better way to provide the support for the people of our communities.”

Chigozie Onyema, a rising star in Jersey politics, hosted the roundtable at Akwaaba Gallery in Newark. Onyema will be elected to the state Assembly next month and represent the state’s 28th legislative district — he and Democratic Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark) face no Republican challengers for the seats.

The roundtable also featured Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who finished second in this summer’s Democratic primary for governor and endorsed Sherrill last month; Centenary University President Dale Caldwell, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor; state Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz; and Dominique Lee, the CEO of the BRICK Education Network.

The officials discussed strategies to build opportunities and remove obstacles for underserved communities and people of color. They pointed to statistics showing life expectancy is strongly correlated with the ZIP code of someone’s birth — or as Baraka described it, “luck of the draw.”

“In order to have a thriving community, we need to invest in the people, and the places, and the institutions that serve those communities every single day,” Onyema said. “And one way we do that is through comprehensive … cradle-to-career investments.”

The congresswoman said she’ll support programs specifically dedicated to reducing disparity and increasing investments in the communities that need them.

“We talk about what a great education system we have, but we all know that it is by ZIP code; that there are certain kids in our state that are being given opportunity like no other kid in America, and there are certain kids that have almost no opportunity,” Sherrill said. “And that’s something that Dr. Caldwell and I want to change.”

Democrats flock to Jersey

Moore was just one of several out-of-state Democrats to assist Sherrill’s campaign this weekend. Sherrill rallied with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Paramus on Saturday morning and protested with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin at a No Kings event in Montclair. Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) launched a canvas in Palisades Park, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) joined a No Kings demonstration in Princeton, and DNC Vice Chair Shasti Conrad canvassed in Willingboro.

The events continue in the coming days and weeks. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will co-host a virtual phonebank Monday, while Reps. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) are joining Sherrill for a get out the vote rally in Paterson next weekend. None of this, of course, includes the plethora of New Jersey Democrats who are involved in these events and others.

Ciattarelli’s campaign has also welcomed outside help. Last week, he rallied with former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and Axios reported President Donald Trump plans to host tele-rallies, addressing Ciattarelli supporters by phone. Trump’s predecessor, former President Barack Obama, endorsed Sherrill last week.

After Sunday’s roundtable, Baraka said visitors like Moore help drum up support and momentum for campaigns, but said it’s ultimately up to the Sherrill team to continue turning out voters.

“We’ve got to benefit off of that momentum,” Baraka said. “We’ve gotta take advantage of it.”