Super PAC backing Sherrill has raised $1.7 million

One Giant Leap PAC, a super PAC allied with Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), has raised almost $1.7 million since last October and is encouraging the three-term congresswoman to seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025.

The group began raising money last October, raising $303,500 in 2023 and bringing in $1,387,000 in 2024.

The super PAC has $1,393,523 cash-on-hand as of September 30.

One Giant Leap Action, a non-profit group, has raised an additional $200,000.

The largest donors to the super PAC are hedge fund manager Stephen Mandel, and his wife, Susan; they donated a combined $250,000. One Giant Leap also received $50,000 from The Bipartisan Network PAC.

Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and assistant U.S. Attorney, is seeking re-election to her 11th district congressional seat. She is widely expected to enter the governor’s race later this year.

Two veterans of New Jersey politics are running the super PAC: Jennifer Holdsworth, a former New Jersey Democratic State Committee political director and who ran Pete Buttigieg’s campaign for DNC chairman, is chairing One Giant Leap; and Mollie Binotto, who managed Sherrill’s first congressional campaign in 2018 and Gov. Phil Murphy’s re-election bid in 2021, is a senior advisor to the PAC. Anna Greenberg of GQR will be the super PAC’s pollster.

“At a time when reproductive rights are being ripped away from women at an alarming rate, it is vital we have strong Democratic governors across the country to help combat the draconian measures being implemented by MAGA Republicans,” said Binotto. “Mikie has been standing up for New Jerseyans, first as federal prosecutor and then in Congress. I hope she considers running for Governor because no one will fight harder for her state and its people than Mikie Sherrill. One Giant Leap believes Mikie will win not only the crowded primary in June of 2025, but she will go on to win the general in November.”

A poll conducted by Principled Veterans Fund in April showed Sherrill and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on top of a growing field of candidates for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

“Reproductive rights will be among the most important issues in this race for governor, in addition to issues like the cost of living and taxes. Sherrill holds a clear lead with abortion-motivated voters – which grows to a near majority after voters hear her biography,” said Greenberg. “She will also have an advantage as the only woman in the race and among the voters most concerned about protecting abortion rights.”

Coalition for Progress, a super PAC connected to another gubernatorial candidate, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, raised $164,334 during the third quarter and has $9,367,599 cash-on-hand.