Sherrill gains support of grassroots group that works red counties

Door-to-Door Democracy, a grassroots group of about 200 volunteers seeking to engage voters in red New Jersey counties, has endorsed Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2025.

The group was founded in 2022 to contact voters through postcards, phone calls, and door knocks. It is seeking to expand its efforts statewide next year.

“Strong Democratic governors will be our first line of defense against Donald Trump and attempts to roll back rights and prosperity in New Jersey,” said the group’s chair, Leslie Huhn.  “Not only is Mikie Sherrill a great candidate and public servant, but she will fight hard to protect New Jersey.

When Sherrill first ran for office six years ago, New Jersey’s 11th district had been represented by a Republican congressman for 34 years and included parts of two staunchly Republican counties: Morris and Sussex. Sherrill won 55% of the vote in Morris and 46% in Sussex.

“From her first campaign when she flipped a Republican seat in 2018, Mikie has inspired a groundswell of grassroots support, and then got to work to deliver for residents — and this election will be no different,” said Huhn, a former Sussex County Democratic chair.

Hardyston Democratic Vice Chair Joan Jacobsen, a trustee of Door-to-Door Democracy, said that “no challenge is too big for Mikie.”

“He track record of building coalitions to win in traditionally Republican turf in Morris, Sussex, and western Essex Counties shows she is the strongest Democratic candidate to win in 2025,” stated Jacobsen.  “She earns our votes by focusing on improving things and building things, and will work to make our state more affordable so every person can get ahead.”

The political career of another Democratic candidate, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), has similar beginnings: he ousted seven-term Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) in a district that included parts of Sussex and Warren counties in 2016; Donald Trump was carrying the same district that year.