Sweeney slams Sherrill for SpaceX contributions

Mikie Sherrill took over $30,000 in campaign contributions from Elon Musk’s SpaceX political action committee while she was running for Congress and now one of her opponents in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Steve Sweeney, wants her to give it back.

Sweeney’s trigger was a fundraising email from Sherrill this morning, alleging that Musk “will try to buy the New Jersey governor’s race for Republicans.”

“Sherrill took tens of thousands from Elon Musk and used his money, and then she turns around and asks the public to donate to her to stop him? She can’t have it both ways,” Sweeney said.

The former Senate President hammed Sherrill for taking money from Musk, “the same guy who wants to gut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, hurting New Jersey’s families, seniors, and the disabled community.”

“(It’s) not only incredibly disingenuous and misleading, but an insult to Democrats everywhere,” Sweeney stated.  “You can’t make this shit up.”

Sherrill has said she would not return the Musk-related money because it was to her congressional race and has already been spent; she had $184,065 remaining in her federal campaign account at the end of last year.

“Mikie has never taken a dollar from Elon Musk and SpaceX has not donated to her gubernatorial campaign,” said Sean Higgins, a spokesman for the Sherrill campaign.

Higgins doubled down on Sherrill’s opposition to Musk.

“Make no mistake, Elon Musk is an unelected Trump mercenary who is threatening American lives and safety,” he said.

And Higgins punched back at Sweeney, the state’s longest-serving legislative leader.

“Career politicians who eagerly partnered with Chris Christie to gut New Jerseyans’ retirement benefits and block gun safety measures should avoid lecturing anyone else about what it takes to stand strong against Trump and Musk,” explained Higgins. “Steve Sweeney’s very long political career is a story of caving and compromising on Democratic values, even reproductive rights.”

Despite the campaign contributions to Sherrill, then a member of the House Science, Space and Technology – and chair of the Investigations and Oversight Committee – has bashed Musk’s plan to privatize Amtrak, opposing tax breaks for billionaires – she slammed a Republican plan that failed to “reign in Elon Musk” – and signed on to a court fight to stop Musk from shutting down the Consumer Financial Protection Board.

“I refuse to sit back as Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies try to dismantle the Constitution of the United States,” Sherrill said last month.

Another candidate for governor, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), also took SpaceX PAC money — about $2,500 — and gave the money away.

Sweeney recently called on Gov. Phil Murphy and the legislature to repeal a 2015 law that offered special treatment to another Musk company, Tesla, by allowing direct sales to consumer by bypassing auto dealerships.

“In light of what Elon Musk is doing in Washington to hurt working people, his special treatment in New Jersey law should be ended,” he said.  “New Jerseyans deserve a level playing field that ensures that all automakers, including Tesla, follow the same rules as everyone else.”

Sweeney voted for that bill, which passed the Senate, 29-2, and was signed by Christie.  Then-Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-Somerville) also voted for the bill.