Share and Follow
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill has become the focus of criticism from a recently established external group through a mailer targeting her political stance. Meanwhile, in Hudson County, a Republican candidate for sheriff is actively campaigning by driving trucks through neighborhoods, urging residents to cast their votes for the Republican ticket.
A negative mailer, paid for by an entity calling itself the Garden State Fund, began circulating this week saying that Sherrill “Did not act on progressive solutions.” The mailer displays three red “X” bullet points accusing her of a “Sicker New Jersey,” a “Sicker Planet,” and “Continued Genocide,” and arguing she opposed Medicare for All, rejected the Green New Deal, and “funded apartheid Israel genocide of the Palestinian people” based on a budget vote.
According to a report by Politico, the Garden State Fund PAC, which seems to have ties to Republican interests, is responsible for the mailer. Due to New Jersey’s regulations on independent expenditure disclosures, details about donors will remain undisclosed until after the election.
The mailer, as noted by Politico, appears to exploit the residual opposition Sherrill encountered during the Democratic primary from progressive factions that had initially backed Ras Baraka, who was the runner-up in that race.
In a separate political maneuver, Elvis Alvarez, the Republican candidate for sheriff in Hudson County, took to Facebook to announce, “Our trucks are out about throughout the county!! More to come through your neighborhood. Vote column B!! Nov. 4th.”
A promotional video shared on Alvarez’s campaign Facebook page showcases a large advertisement towed by a U-Haul. The display features images of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and Democratic Socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, accompanied by a bold message declaring, “SAY ‘NO’ TO SOCIALISM” and urging voters to “VOTE COLUMN B.”
The side of the display features a picture of Jack Ciattarelli with the phrase “Time for a Change” at the top. Next to Ciattarelli, it reads “Column B,” and underneath are the ballot designations: “1B Jack Ciattarelli for Governor,” “2B State Assembly,” “3B State Assembly,” and “4B Elvis Alvarez for Sheriff.”
Alvarez, like Ciattarelli, has recently received endorsements from Democrats, with Hudson County Democrat elected officials publicly backing his sheriff bid, and he has also secured support from Early Vote Action’s Scott Presler, who urged residents to back him. Presler said, “Mister Alvarez is a retired officer that is running to become your next Sheriff for Hudson County, if you want law and order, if you want to make sure that we are providing safer streets then please vote for Elvis Alvarez for sheriff for Hudson County.”
CBS noted that some Democrats believe Sherrill’s campaign has failed to deliver a clear economic argument and has avoided focusing on everyday cost-of-living concerns.