Gill’s first TV ads come out swinging against Malinowski

Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill (D-Montclair) is out with his first two TV ads of the special Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th congressional district, and neither pulls any punches against one of Gill’s main opponents, former Rep. Tom Malinowski.

In one spot, a resident of Malinowski’s former congressional district says Malinowski “sold us out,” referencing a House Ethics Committee inquiry into Malinowski’s stock trading disclosures and the congressman’s subsequent loss to Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield). (Malinowski represented the 7th congressional district from 2019 until his defeat in 2022, and moved into the 11th district late last year.)

The other spot focuses more on Gill himself and features the commissioner’s wife, Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill (D-Montclair), who talks about their mixed-race daughter’s fear that ICE would be coming to deport her. Still, the ad features a line accusing Malinowski of “cash[ing] in instead of stopping Trump.”

The two ads will be supported by a six-figure TV advertising buy in the New York City media market.

In the two months since the race for the 11th district was properly kicked off by Mikie Sherrill’s gubernatorial victory, there’s been plenty of sniping among the candidates, with Gill and Malinowski being the two most frequent targets. Gill’s new ads, though, are the first time any of the 11 Democrats running for the seat have put substantial resources behind attacking one of their competitors.

And there may be good reason to go after Malinowski. The former congressman has raised more than $1 million for his campaign – many of his opponents (Gill among them) haven’t announced any of their own fundraising totals, but that’s likely enough to put him at the front of the pack – and, according to an internal poll he released in December, has the highest name recognition of anyone in the field.

Malinowski’s own ads, which he’s been running on digital platforms since December, have had a more positive bent thus far, highlighting the congressman’s battles against Donald Trump and corruption during his first stint in Congress.

Gill’s and Malinowski’s ads also have something in common: both end with a reminder that one of the state’s powerful Democrats has endorsed them (Gov. Phil Murphy for Gill, Senator Andy Kim for Malinowski).

There’s not much time left for either candidate, or anyone else, to make their message heard; many voters have already cast their vote-by-mail ballots ahead of the February 5 primary, and early in-person voting will begin in just two weeks.

‘He Left’ script
Warren County resident: “I voted for Tom Malinowski, but he sold us out. Hid millions in stock trades, got investigated, handed control to MAGA. Now, instead of fighting Trump, Malinowski’s fighting Democrats because he only cares about himself.”

‘Unleash’ script
Alixon Collazos-Gill: “Our daughter came home terrified: kids at school said ICE was going to deport her. It’s heartbreaking knowing her fear is what Trump wants.”
Brendan Gill: “I won’t stand for it – not for my kids, not for anyone. I’m Brendan Gill, and I approve this message because I’m done with MAGA targeting Jersey – and with Tom Malinowski, who cashed in instead of stopping Trump. I’ll fight like hell to lower costs, protect our rights and democracy.”
Alixon: “For our family…”
Brendan: “…and yours.”