Sherrill has key Monmouth Democratic volunteers building county organization

Some prominent grassroots Monmouth County activists are lining up behind Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s likely run for governor in a likely-lineless primary, including supporters of Andy Kim and Tammy Murphy in the Senate primary earlier this year.

Freehold Township Democratic Municipal Chair Meg Thomann, who played a key role in helping Kim organize his victory at the Monmouth County Democratic convention in February, is helping to build an organization for Sherrill.  So is Democratic State Committeewoman Tricia Maguire, who worked for Murphy.

The Monmouth County’s first-in-the-state convention emerged as the Iowa Caucus of the 2024 U.S. Senate race.   Kim’s outsized 57%-39% victory was a big deal.

The convention results validated a straw poll conducted in December that showed Kim with a significant lead in Monmouth County.  Kim won that vote 29-13 (52.7% to 23.6%) against Murphy, with another 13 saying they were undecided.

Now, with the prospect of another straw poll looming — party leaders have not decided if they’ll do one again — it makes early activity in the county important as Monmouth Democrats mull their role in picking the next gubernatorial nominee.

In addition to Thomann and Maguire, Sherrill is also getting help from Deana Gunn, the Matawan Democratic municipal chair and the county Democratic vice chair.  Gunn didn’t take sides in the Kim vs. Murphy race.

Last month, Sherrill was in Howell to headline a fundraiser for their local slate. The Democratic municipal chairman, John McCabe, is the brother of Middlesex County Democratic Chairman Kevin McCabe.

If Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop chooses to participate in the convention, which will probably award a ballot slogan, he has the backing of Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik and Matawan Mayor Joe Altomonte, a Jersey City firefighter.  Marlboro has 68 county committee seats and is a major player at a contested convention.

Another candidate, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, is getting help from activist Felicia Simmons, a former two-term school board member in Asbury Park.

Monmouth County makes up 5.6% of the registered Democrats statewide, the 8th largest in the state and roughly the same as Burlington.