Danielle O’Byrne will be Gill’s NJ-11 campaign manager

Danielle O’Byrne, a veteran of multiple New Jersey gubernatorial campaigns, will serve as Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill (D-Montclair)’s campaign manager as he fights to win the 11th congressional district seat Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill is leaving behind.

Earlier this year, O’Byrne was the deputy campaign manager on Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s campaign for governor, which resulted in a strong second-place Democratic primary finish against Sherrill. O’Byrne has also worked for Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), another 2025 gubernatorial candidate, and for Gov. Phil Murphy’s 2021 re-election campaign.

Outside of New Jersey, O’Byrne worked for Joe Biden’s and Kamala Harris’s presidential campaigns in 2020 and 2024, and for Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens during her competitive 2022 primary against a fellow Democratic House member. 

“Danielle is a first-class campaign professional with the experience, energy, and strategic vision to help us run a campaign built to win,” Gill said in a statement. “She has led on the ground, in finance, and at the highest levels of strategy, and most importantly, a New Jersey native who has been on the ground helping Democrats win up and down the ticket and across our state. I’m thrilled to have her on board as we build a movement for the people of the 11th district.”

Gill is one of seven Democrats – and counting – vying to succeed Sherrill in the 11th district, a Democratic-leaning district that is set to hold a special election sometime next year.