Sherrill wins Mercer Democratic convention with 55%

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) won the Mercer County Democratic convention tonight with a first ballot win, defeating Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, 224-133, a 55%-33% victory.   New Jersey Education Association President and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller finished third with 47 votes (12%).

That makes her the endorsed candidate of the county Democratic organization in her bid to become the next governor of New Jersey.

Three other candidates — Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), and former Senate President Steve Sweeney — declined to participate in the Mercer convention.

Sherrill had the backing of Janice Mironov, the Mercer County Democratic chair and East Windsor mayor, along with County Executive Dan Benson and Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin. A large group of legislators, county and local elected officials, and Democratic municipal chairs, had also backed her. Baraka was endorsed by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, two county commissioners, and some municipal officials.

“Mercer Democrats voted for a different kind of leadership tonight and I’m so honored to have their support,” Sherrill said in a statement. “This is a campaign we’re building together — and I’m going to take our message to every corner of the state, keep building our momentum, and earn support from voters who are on the ground fighting for a better future in their communities.”

This is the second Democratic convention of the year: Sherrill defeated Baraka in a runoff in Hunterdon.

During her speech at the convention, Sherrill touted her history as a public servant, including her time as a Navy helicopter pilot. The congresswoman said the state should invest in housing to decrease costs and not allow partisan politics to affect state operations.

She also took a swipe at Trenton Water Works, the troubled water utility controlled by Trenton officials. State reports issued last month said control of the water utility should be wrested from the city and instead be operated as a regional authority.

“I’m going to make sure that everybody in the state has clean drinking water and you don’t have to rely on Trenton Water Works,” she said, prompting a handful of groans from the crowd.