Former President Barack Obama visited Newark on Saturday to stump for Mikie Sherrill, declaring the Democratic nominee for New Jersey governor is the level-headed leader the state needs and that Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli is a “suck-up” to GOP leaders.
“You have a candidate worth being excited about,” Obama said before a crowd at Essex County College Gymnasium in Newark, where he and Sherrill headlined a get-out-the-vote rally.
Obama arrived in the Garden State just three days before voters will decide a closely contested race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy, a term-limited Democrat who has led the state since 2018.
Both campaigns are locked in a sprint to boost turnout in what has become one of the most closely watched races in the country.
This year’s New Jersey governor’s race is one of only two in the nation, alongside Virginia.
Obama praised Sherrill’s work as a Navy helicopter pilot, former federal prosecutor and congresswoman all while raising four kids.
“I get tired just thinking about it,” he said. “It makes her the kind of leader who knows the mission, who knows who she’s supposed to serve.”
Hundreds packed the gym as Democratic supporters cheered for one of the party’s biggest stars.
“I’m committed to fighting anyone when it comes to fighting for New Jersey,” said Sherrill. “As I stand here, I feel nothing but courage.”
Sherrill reconfirmed she will be declaring a state of emergency on her first day in office to cut back on the cost of living.
Obama told the crowd he understood why people, including New Jerseyans, voted for the Republican Party during the last election, citing “frustration” in the economy.
He said he’s not convinced the country is in better shape under the Trump Administration.
“The good news is: There is something you can do about it, New Jersey,” Obama said to the sea of supporters. The crowd was on their feet the entire time for the former president, who spoke for about 40 minutes.
Top state Democrats warmed up the crowd, led by U.S. Senator Cory Booker and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
Senator Cory Booker told the crowd the democratic party has an ”extraordinary” candidate for this race, someone he described as having strong ideals.
Booker added this was a “rare” moment for New Jersey to “defend” the state against the Trump Administration by electing Sherrill.
Polls have consistently shown Sherrill ahead in the blue-leaning state, but by single-digit margins. A Friday poll from AtlasIntel — among the most accurate pollsters in the country — showed the race was nearly a dead heat, with Sherrill very narrowly ahead of Ciattarelli at 50.2% to 49.3%.
Obama endorsed Sherrill in a video ad last week, praising her record as a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor.
“Mikie’s integrity, grit, and commitment to service are what we need right now in our leaders,” Obama said in a social media post. “Mikie Sherrill is the right choice for your next governor.”
Ciattarelli has leaned heavily on President Donald Trump‘s backing throughout the campaign.
Trump endorsed him in the spring and held a telephone rally for him last week, blasting Sherrill and calling the race “very important” for his agenda.
The president mocked Sherrill’s “unusual name” during the call and urged Republicans to “send a message” by flipping New Jersey red.
Obama’s involvement has amplified national attention on the race, which comes just a year after his return to the White House.
Ciattarelli’s alliance with Trump could be decisive — or risky — in a state where Democrats hold a registration advantage but affordability concerns dominate voter priorities. The contest has featured record spending, sharp attacks and intense efforts to court independents and suburban voters.
Republicans have downplayed Obama’s visit, saying it’s a sign Democrats are nervous about the race.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin told NJ Advance Media on Friday that what Obama’s visit shows is Democrats aren’t “going to take anything for granted” despite Sherrill being up in the polls.
“We’re not going to believe the polls,” Martin said in a phone interview. “There’s no one who can speak to the stakes of this election like Barack Obama. And so I’m grateful that he’s coming in. I think it will give a huge boost in the arm to all the activists and the volunteers who’ve been working so hard in the trenches for many months now to just keep their foot on the gas and do the work they need to put us over the finish line on Tuesday.”
The last time Obama stumped for a New Jersey gubernatorial candidate was in 2021, when he headlined a Newark rally for Murphy’s re-election bid against Ciattarelli.
At that event, Obama praised Murphy’s pandemic leadership and framed the race as a choice between progress and regression.
Murphy ultimately won by just 51.22% to 48%, a margin of about 84,000 votes out of more than 2.6 million cast — one of the closest gubernatorial races in decades.
Ciattarelli, meanwhile, appeared at a town hall broadcast live Wednesday night on Fox News with host Sean Hannity in Point Pleasant. Hannity pointed out polls that show a close race.
“I came up here because this is a huge political earthquake,” Hannity told the crowd before the taping, according to a report by the New Jersey Monitor. “It will rock the nation.”
Ciattarelli said: “All I can tell you is when I go around the state, the energy is electric.”
NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.
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