Self-described Blue Dog Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill secured the endorsement of the Hunterdon County Democratic Committee on Sunday, defeating Newark Mayor Ras Baraka in a second-ballot runoff.
The warmongering conservative Sherrill received 89 votes to Baraka’s 68, following a first ballot that narrowed the field from five candidates to the two finalists.
The convention marked the first significant test of strength for Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls in New Jersey’s 2025 primary race. Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and current U.S. representative, emphasized her commitment to defending democratic values and investing in housing and education during her remarks. “Democracy isn’t just about voting rights; it’s about a fair shot,” she told the crowd.
Baraka, a progressive candidate and the only mayor in the race, highlighted his record of transformative leadership in Newark, including initiatives like New Jersey’s first universal basic income pilot program and efforts to reduce homelessness and remove lead from water service lines. Despite his loss, Baraka expressed optimism about his ability to attract progressive votes outside his home base of Essex County. “It proves that we can get progressive votes in counties outside of Essex,” he said.
The first ballot results showed Sherrill leading with 81 votes, followed by Baraka with 65. Other candidates, including Rep. Josh Gottheimer (13 votes), New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller (11 votes), and former Senate President Steve Sweeney (7 votes), were eliminated.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who opted out of county conventions, did not participate in the vote but attended the event.
Sherrill’s victory grants her the official Hunterdon County Democratic slogan on the ballot, a symbolic advantage in the primary that lost its real value last year when a federal judge ruled that rigging ballots is unconstitutional.
Sherrill, a member of the House Armed Services Committee with a net worth above $10 million, reported owning defense-related stocks during 2020 but claims she has since divested herself of individual stock holdings and diversified by investing in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds.
Among the many military contractors whose corporate PAC contributed to Sherrill’s congressional campaigns are Lockheed Martin, which gave $11,000; Northrop Grumman, which donated $10,500; L3Harris Technologies, which sent $10,000; and Boeing, which forked over $9,500.
Hunterdon County Democratic Chair Tomasz “Tom” Malinowski— a former congressman who was also one of the “CIA Democrats” based on his service as Assistant Secretary of State—praised Sherrill and said she has grassroots appeal.
“I think it’s a significant measure of Congresswoman Sherrill’s strength in this race that she was able to pull this off,” said Malinowski, who was defeated after he failed to disclose about $1 million of stock trades in companies involved in the COVID-19 pandemic response as required by federal law.
“Democrats have become the party of war. Americans are tired of it,” said Matthew Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy. “In defending the militarist status quo, Democrats ceded the anti-war lane to Republicans.”
It is often said that Americans do not on foreign policy, but the climate crisis, immigration, Israel’s horrific assault on Gaza, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and US tensions with China are issues that register high on voters’ minds.
Sherrill’s conservative ideology and neoliberal economic stance are not understood by most Democratic activists.
Despite his loss, Baraka’s strong showing in Hunterdon, a county that is 91% white, underscores his ability to resonate with a broad spectrum of Democratic voters.
Baraka’s campaign has focused on progressive policies, including economic issues, expanding voting rights for young people, and addressing systemic inequities.
“We cannot combat extremism with moderation,” Baraka declared. “We have to meet this moment with vision, courage, and the will to create real change.”
The Piscataway Progressive Democratic Organization (PPDO), which endorsed Baraka ahead of the convention, praised his leadership and results-driven approach.
“Mayor Baraka has done exactly what he promised—he has turned Newark around and created real opportunities for people everywhere based on his values and his vision,” said PPDO President Staci Berger.
The endorsement also brought the support of Piscataway Councilwomen Laura Leibowitz and Sarah Rashid, who won their 2024 primary races as part of a Jewish-Muslim slate.
Their backing reflects Baraka’s appeal to diverse constituencies within the Democratic Party.
The Hunterdon County convention is the first of several key events in the Democratic primary race, which will culminate in the June 2025 election.
With Governor Phil Murphy term-limited, the contest has drawn a crowded field of candidates vying to lead the state.
Sherrill’s win positions her as a formidable contender, while Baraka’s performance signals his potential to mobilize progressive voters across the state.
As the race intensifies, both candidates will seek to build on their early successes and consolidate support ahead of the primary.
First Ballot Results:
Mikie Sherrill: 81
Ras Baraka: 65
Josh Gottheimer: 13
Sean Spiller: 11
Steve Sweeney: 7
Runoff Results:
Mikie Sherrill: 89
Ras Baraka: 68