Rep. Mikie Sherrill has received the backing of nearly 150 Black faith leaders from across the New Jersey, consolidating a critical part of the state’s Democratic vote base as she enters the final two weeks of a tight gubernatorial campaign against Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
Sherrill had struggled to get support from New Jersey’s Black clergy since she defeated Newark Mayor Ras Baraka in the June Democratic primary, 34%-21%, in a six-candidate field. But she overcame a significant roadblock four days ago when she secured the endorsement of Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer, the pastor of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Trenton and the co-founder of Salvation and Social Justice.
“Based on what we know of Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli and what we’ve seen during this campaign season, it is very clear to us that there’s only one candidate that will address the issues concerning many African-Americans in the state and that is Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill,” the pastors said in a joint statement.
The coalition cited Ciattarelli’s alliance with President Donald Trump as a key reason for their decision to back Sherrill.
“If Jack is elected, President Trump will run Trenton and that would be absolutely unacceptable and tragic for New Jersey,” the group stated. “We trust that the Congresswoman will continue her fight in New Jersey, to make New Jersey more affordable, while Donald Trump and Jack Ciattarelli’s policies will drive up costs for all New Jerseyans.”
The list of endorsements includes: Rev. Ronald Slaughter, pastor of St. James AME Church in Newark; Rev. Dr. Calvin McKinney, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of North Jersey; Rev. Lester Taylor, senior pastor of Community Baptist Church in Englewood; and Rev. Dr. Kenneth D.R. Clayton, pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church in Paterson.
“We stand in solidarity as faith leaders committed to ensuring that the state of New Jersey continues to progress and not go backward,” they said. “Our communities cannot afford to have leadership that is insensitive and does not take seriously the needs of the families that give so much to this state.”
They said that Sherrill “has shown a record and commitment of service to this country and our state and for us that still matters because we are all Americans and we must fight for the soul of our nation and our state.”
Additional endorsements of Sherrill came from: Rev. Dr. Femi Adegbonmire; Rev. Dr. Colette M.B. Adams; Rev. Stephanie Armstead; Rev. James D. Barclay; Rev. Mack Brandon; Rev. Rashaun Booker; Rev. Dr. Pamela Boykin Jones; Rev. Dr. Deborah Blanks; Rev. Dr. W. Golden Carmon Sr.; Rev. Nicole Charles; Prophet Quamid Childs; Rev. Andrew Coley; Rev. Dr. William E. Coleman; Rev. Joshua Corbin; Rev. Sherwood Cross; Rev. Buell D. Curry; Rev. Carolyn Davis; Rev. Dr. William B. Davidson; Apostle Kelvin Delosangleles; Rev. Amos Dickerson; Rev. Dr. Denison; Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mitchum; Rev. Dr. Dorothy A. Patterson; Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Stapleton; Rev. Dr. Toyin Laoye; Rev. Dr. Randall M. Lassiter; Rev. Nathaniel Legay; Rev. Dr. Marilyn M. Harris; Pastor Brian Harris; Pastor John Harris; Chaplain Cynthia Harris; Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Hayes Jr.; Executive Pastor Eric Hayes; Pastor Melvyn Hayden III; Rev. Dr. Milton L. Hendricks; Rev. Kenneth Herman; Rev. Dr. Marella Holmes; Dr. Devon Horton; Pastor Maureen Gerald; Rev. Antonio Gandy; Pastor Eyesha Marable; Rev. Dr. Odinga Maddox II; Rev. Douglas L. Williams III; Rev. Dr. Douglas Maven; Rev. Catina Blackmon Jackson; Rev. Dr. Vincent Jackson; Rev. Gregory Jackson; Rev. Paul P. Martin, Esq.; Rev. John Martin; Pastor Michael Ogunleye; Rev. Dr. John D. Givens; Rev. Dr. Jonnel R. Green; Rev. Dr. Bernadet Glover; Rev. Vincent Glover; Rev. Dr. Charles A. Curtis; Rev. John W. Newsome Sr.; Pastor Valencia B. Norman; Pastor Kyle Sanders; Pastor Temaris Moore; Pastor Felton Rowe; Pastor Darnel Wise; Pastor John Taylor; Rev. Charles Wilkins; Rev. Dr. Chris Spivey; Rev. Michael Spivey; Rev. Dr. Nicolle D. Jean-Simon; Rev. Reginald McRae; Rev. Dr. Kirk Morton; Rev. Dr. R. Fulton Hargrove II; Rev. Gloria Lyde Smith; Pastor Bobby Fowler; Pastor Henry Redmond; Rev. Charles Wilson; Rev. Williams Lawson; Rev. Dr. A. Craig Dunn; Dr. James A. Dunkins; Rev. Lucette Durham; Rev. Mary Giles; Bishop William T. Cahoon; Bishop C.H. Evans; Pastor Jean E. Maurice; Pastor Danica Frink; Pastor Amir Khan; Pastor Ernest Skip Wormley; Pastor Howard M. Jenkins Jr.; Pastor David Cox; Rev. Dr. Pamela Boykin Jones; Rev. Dr. Kenneth D.R. Clayton; Rev. Dr. R. Fulton Hargrove II; Rev. Dr. Vincent Jackson; Rev. Dr. Pamela Boykin Jones; Pastor Danica Frink; Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Stapleton; Rev. Dr. Toyin Laoye; Rev. Dr. Kirk Morton; Rev. Dr. R. Fulton Hargrove II; Rev. Gloria Lyde Smith; Pastor Bobby Fowler; Pastor Henry Redmond; Rev. Charles Wilson; Rev. Williams Lawson; Rev. Dr. A. Craig Dunn; Dr. James A. Dunkins; Rev. Lucette Durham; Rev. Mary Giles; Bishop William T. Cahoon; Bishop C.H. Evans; Pastor Jean E. Maurice; Rev. Diana M. Ortiz Bracy; Rev. Dr. Colette M.B. Adams; Rev. Dr. Olivia Stanard; Minister Yvonne A. Watts; Rev. Douglas L. Williams III; Apostle Benita Patterson; Apostle Allen Patterson; Pastor Jayseth Calhoun; Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mitchum; Rev. Dr. Marella Holmes; Rev. Dr. Melvin E. Wilson; Pastor Dr. Alfred Johnson III; Rev. Dennis E. Hughes; Rev. Charles Wilkins; Pastor Lois Key Alexander; Pastor Earl Jenkins; Rev. Gregory Jackson; Rev. Dr. Vincent Jackson; Rev. Dr. Kirk Morton; Rev. Paul P. Martin, Esq.; Rev. Michael Spivey; Rev. Dr. Chris Spivey; Pastor William Burnett; Bishop William T. Cahoon; Bishop C.H. Evans; Dr. Dennis Peterman; Pastor Henry Redmond; Rev. Dr. Pamela Boykin Jones; Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mitchum; Rev. Dr. Douglas Maven; Rev. Dr. Marella Holmes; Rev. Dr. Milton L. Hendricks; Rev. Marion McLaurin; Rev. John W. Newsome Sr.; Rev. James Thomas; Rev. Toni Owens; Rev. Andrew Coley; Chaplain Mario Lavender Sr.; Rev. Vincent Glover; Rev. Richard F. Norris II; Rev. Dr. Bernadet Glover; Rev. Barry Graham; Rev. Robyn Perkins; Rev. Gloria Shack; Rev. Kayron Jordan; Rev. Bishop Allen Warren; Rev. Carolyn Davis; Rev. Dr. John Page; Rev. Joann Pearson Collins; Bishop Charles R. Lyles; Apostle Eric McCoy; Rev. Collins A. Days Sr.; Pastor Thelma Witherspoon; Overseer Donald Rowell; Bishop Robert F. Hargrove Sr.; Rev. Bill Rutherford; Dr. Mary Thompson; Rev. Dr. William B. Davidson; Rev. James C. Clark; Dr. Sybil Finney; Rev. Dr. Charles A. Curtis; Rev. Arnold Fox.
The endorsements were assembled by One Giant Leap, a super PAC supporting Sherrill.
