Sweeney ad pledges no new taxes if he’s elected governor

Former State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is out with a new ad for his gubernatorial campaign that reiterates his pledge against any new taxes and highlights his proposal to give $400 tax rebates to New Jerseyans making less than $150,000.

The ad, “Enough is Enough,” will run on digital and streaming and is part of a seven-figure buy, per Sweeney’s campaign.

Script
News anchor: “Prices are still going up!”
Narrator: “Donald Trump is making groceries more expensive. Now, the politicians in Trenton want to raise taxes by a billion dollars. Steve Sweeney says, ‘Enough is enough.’ In the Senate, Sweeney ended the retirement tax. Sweeney supports a $400 tax rebate now to help middle-class families.”
Steve Sweeney: “As governor, I’ll make it easier for working people to live – and retire – here in New Jersey.”
Narrator: “Democrat Steve Sweeney puts working people first.”

Sweeney told New Jersey 101.5 last month that he wouldn’t support implementing new taxes or raising existing taxes: “By the way, no more taxes. Stop raising taxes and find solutions to cost,” he said. “Everyone is always looking how we can find more revenue to spend more. We need to spend less.” 

He unveiled his plan to send $400 checks to millions of New Jerseyans the day after making that pledge; he said the proposal would cost around $1 billion and is designed to “help working people in New Jersey” and combat the actions of the Trump administration.

Sweeney, who spent more than a decade as the powerful leader of the State Senate before losing re-election in a major upset in 2021, is one of six Democrats running to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy. Sweeney’s campaign has struck a more moderate tone than most of his opponents; he’s also the only one of the six to be from South Jersey, and he’s got endorsements and party support across his home region.