Democratic New Jersey governor hopeful, Mikie Sherrill, has been asked once again whether she will back socialist Zoran Mamdani’s run for mayor, despite her earlier interest in him.
“Well, I’m running in New York, so I’m not supporting him in New York,” Sherrill told PIX11 News on Friday.
Just two days after the NYC mayoral primary, Sherrill expressed optimism about his plan for “efficient government,” indicating she might support him if certain conditions were met.
New York Democrats, along with others in the Tri-State Area, have been grappling with Mamdani’s surprising win over Governor Andrew Cuomo last month and the implications of his leftist agenda.
Top party leaders, including Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer, are presently withholding support for Mamdani.
In the meantime, Republicans have taken advantage of this hesitation, looking to use Mamdani’s unexpected win to boost their own chances in the upcoming elections.
Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey, highlighted Sherrill’s previous support for Mamdani in a June 26 interview.
“So, Mikie Sherrill initially backed Zoran Mamdani, calling his radical ideas ‘interesting.’ Now she’s acting like she hasn’t heard of him?” Ciattarelli tweeted, referencing her evasive responses about Mamdani.
The Republican Governors Association echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Sherrill’s shifting stance illustrates a lack of clarity in her support.
Though Mamdani is well-positioned to win the Democratic primary, he faces competition in the general election from Mayor Adams, Governor Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Sherrill, a former Navy pilot who surged to Congress during the 2018 Blue Wave, tries to position herself as a centrist Democrat.
She entered the House in 2019 alongside notable Democratic figures, all presenting themselves as moderates focused on national security issues.
“People are really worried about affordability,” Sherrill noted to PIX11 after dodging inquiries about Mamdani.
“Voters want actionable plans. They’re concerned about what Trenton is doing to address local needs amidst bureaucracy and red tape.”
Ciattarelli narrowly lost to Governor Phil Murphy in 2021, and Republicans are eyeing potential gains in the Democratic stronghold, particularly with important elections approaching in New York City and Virginia.
These off-year elections are seen as a bellwether for the political landscape leading into 2026.
