Sherrill wins Sussex Democratic convention

Rep. Mikie Sherrill easily won the Sussex County Democratic convention this morning, winning 87% of the vote.

Sherrill received 113 votes, with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka getting nine votes and two going to former Senate President Steve Sweeney.  Six votes were abstentions or voided.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who represents part of Sussex in Congress, did not participate in today’s convention.  His son is celebrating his Bar Mitzvah this morning, an event that was scheduled long before the Sussex convention.  No votes were cast for former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, the president of the New Jersey Education Association.

None of the gubernatorial candidates attended today’s convention.

Sherrill represented part of Sussex County during her first two terms in Congress.

“We’re thrilled to be supporting Congresswoman Sherrill again,” said Sussex County Democratic Chair Zoe Heath.  “She’s represented Sussex before, and she knows how to fight for us.”

Sherrill credited grassroots Democrats with helping her flip New Jersey’s 11th district in 2018.

“That’s how we build broad coalitions in tough areas and get to work on issues that matter to our local communities,” Sherrill said.  “The only way to beat the Republicans in November is by showing up everywhere and taking every voter seriously — that’s how I’ve turned a red district blue and helped Democrats up and down the ballot win.”

Democrats also picked Eugene Grinberg to run for State Assembly in the heavily Republican 24th district.