Latest news with #NewJerseyans
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mikie Sherrill's Narrative Fatigue
As New Jersey begins early voting for their gubernatorial primaries, voters are looking for candidates stories to take to the ballot box. This is where frontrunner Mikie Sherrill could find herself in trouble. Democratic contender Rep. Josh Gottheimer weaves a tale of his upbringing in Essex County, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka touts his recent arrest at an ICE protest, and Mayor Steven Fulop builds an account of Jersey Citys transformation. Mikie Sherrill has credentials - a current U.S. representative, former Navy pilot, and federal prosecutor - but unlike the others, she lacks a story. This could ultimately spoil her bid. Julie Roginsky, a longtime Democratic strategist, notes that she cant tell "what [Sherrills] running on right now other than [her resume]." Many of Sherrills policy proposals on healthcare, cooperative federalism, and housing are extensions of the incumbent Murphy administration, not transformative new initiatives. In turn, voters are supporting alternatives to dissent from her unoriginality and "platitudes." The Sherrill campaign refuses to address the tension between her presentation and its relation to voter concerns. Twenty-two percent of New Jerseyans rank the economy as their top issue, followed by immigration (13%) and candidate character (11%). Voters aged 50+ and older, the most powerful electoral bloc in the Garden State, prioritize property tax relief, retirement security, and long-term care reform. Military service doesnt automatically make someone better at managing a states economy and services. Sherrill doesnt demonstrate that it can in her marketing, interviews, or speeches, either. Her campaign is betting that this doesnt matter. A 2022 Pew Research poll found that 49% of Americans - and 53% of registered voters - said they like political leaders who are also veterans. Sherrills campaign website is laden with military imagery, with her "about" page mentioning her armed services experience a whopping 13 times. County Democratic committees that endorsed Sherrill, such as Essex, focus on similar messaging. Even recent advertisements and her debate performance spell this background out for viewers. This is the campaigns core, and theyll mention it whenever possible. Her campaign runs on the assumption that voters will intrinsically admire her credentials without explaining what it means for her home states future. It could be a ploy for cross-party appeal, as Republicans are more likely than Democrats to value military experience in candidates. Nevertheless, its an approach that lacks substance, and this could limit voters faith in Sherrill. Even on the rare occasions when she does talk policy, her ideas arent new. She pledges to uphold Gov. Murphys goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035. She echoes Murphys stance on immigration policy by keeping New Jerseys "sanctuary" status and lauds his stance on New Jersey Transit funding. She, like Murphy, seeks to be tough on President Donald Trump and challenge federal law. Garden State powerbrokers love Sherrills continuation of the Murphy regime and have made her the establishment pick. Yet, todays political climate increasingly rewards candidates who deviate from the status quo, and New Jersey is no exception. Murphys approval rating has steadily declined over his governorship, in part due to his lackluster transit funding plan. Only 25% of voters say his policies align with theirs, and 60% of state independents want the next governor to work with President Trump, with state voters evenly split over mass deportations. Sherrill is imitating an already-told story, and its reception is suboptimal. By not staking out positions beyond Murphys agenda, Sherrill lets his achievements and shortcomings speak for her. That might not cut it in an open election. While name recognition, fundraising, and endorsements can render a campaign competitive at the surface level, narratives require ownership. German philosopher Martin Heidegger once discussed the concept of eigentlichkeit, or authenticity, in which individuals must choose and commit to a meaningful path rather than living passively or according to external scripts. A campaign shouldn't manufacture a persona or copy anothers playbook one-to-one; it must be a genuine and full expression of the candidates beliefs and history. Ownership guarantees coherence because the story arises from the candidate as a lived reality and demands consistency between message and action. Without ownership, campaign narratives become empty spectacle - stories told about someone, not by them. In democratic politics, only those who craft their stories organically with conviction can hope to lead others into a shared and believable future. In the last stretch, other primary candidates can capitalize on Sherrills weakness by anchoring their emotionally resonant narratives in concrete policy perceptions. Former State Senate President Steve Sweeney often invokes his background as a union ironworker and raising his daughter with disabilities. But he can go further, framing his political journey as a commitment to family and community, and turn it into a bold economic equity agenda that includes expanded labor protections and a state disability benefits overhaul. Baraka can integrate his fathers legacy as a poet to reinforce his image as a social justice champion, and Gottheimer can apply his time at the Federal Communications Commission to push for affordable broadband and infrastructure. Storytelling isnt fluff, but a powerful tool for political persuasion. In New Jersey, the growing desire for outsider energy and policy innovation demands that the next governor inject emotional authenticity into their policy goals and localize their story to build beyond their home base. If they want to beat Sherrill, challengers need to build a narrative that is wholly theirs, inspiring, and implementable. Alex Rosado is a professional programs assistant at the Alexander Hamilton Society. Follow him on Twitter/X at @Alexprosado.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NJ Governor's Race 2025: Here's who is running in the primary
NEW JERSEY - The race for New Jersey's next governor is well under way with the primary fast approaching, and 11 candidates vying to replace term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy. This is also New Jersey's first governor's race without the state's unique and controversial county-line, a ballot design that allowed local party leaders to give preferred candidates prime positioning. Six Democrats and five Republicans have secured their spots on the June 10 ballot, submitting the required number of voter signatures to qualify as primary candidates before the general election on November 4. Here's who is running for the GOP and Democratic Party: A former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, the congresswoman now represents New Jersey's 11th District. Her goals as governor include bringing down costs for New Jersey families, from grocers to housing and healthcare, while improving access to public transportation and fixing aging infrastructure. Sherrill also wants New Jersey to be the "first line of defense" in protecting reproductive rights. If Sherrill resigns from Congress to run, state law requires the governor to call a special election if the seat opens more than 70 days before the general election. A congressman from New Jersey's 5th District, Gottheimer is also co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. He says he is running to be the "lower taxes, lower costs Governow," aiming to address the high cost of living in New Jersey. Baraka has been the mayor of Newark since 2014, and is aiming to prioritize economic growth, educational advancement, housing accessibility, and inclusive policies in his run for governor. Last month, the mayor was arrested outside a federal immigration detention center while protesting its opening. He claims he was invited to a press conference and was arrested on the sidewalk, despite not trespassing. Fulop is a former Marine with a background in finance, who has been the mayor of Jersey City since 2013. His campaign has focused on "comprehensive and impactful" policies, including affordability and sustainability initiatives, along with "meaningful" government reform. Spiller is the president of the New Jersey Education Association and former mayor of Montclair. With strong union backing, he plans to advocate for New Jersey's educators and students while improving local infrastructure, enhancing community services, and reducing tax burden. Sweeny led the Democratic caucus for over a decade as the former state Senate president, who "focused on improving the lives of all New Jerseyans." His policies in the run for governor include fighting for workers, disability rights and seniors; lowering costs, and defending women's reproductive freedom. The former state assemblyman came close to beating Gov. Murphy in 2021, losing by just three points. He is running again in 2025 with policies to "make New Jersey affordable again," reform government and "find common ground" on abortion rights. President Donald Trump endorsed Ciattarelli for governor last month, saying he's gone "ALL IN" on the "Make America Great Again" agenda. The Burlington County contractor made an unsuccessful bid last year, running as a conservative third-party candidate to succeed now-Senator Andy Kim. Barbera told the New Jersey Globe that if elected governor, he would "take executive action to protect gun rights, lower taxes on social security and pension payments, and institute cost-of-living adjustments for police." The former conservative talk radio host claims to be a "political outsider, the opposite of the career politicians running for Governor." He says he would defend New Jersey from illegal immigration, make New Jersey affordable, and fix the state's "crumbling" infrastructure. The state Senator served five terms as the Republican Leader of the Republican Caucus in the Assembly. Bramnick says he wants to "restore balance in New Jersey" with several policies addressing costs, safety, and overdevelopment throughout the state. The former mayor of Englewood Cliffs has also positioned himself as a "political outsider" and "unapologetic supporter of President Trump." He plans to work with Trump to secure the border, while lowering property taxes, making the government more transparent, and "protecting life from conception to natural death."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NJ Vietnam veterans memorial honors soldiers
HOLMDEL, N.J. (PIX11) — Those on this wall are gone, but never forgotten. 'It bothers me when people say 'Happy Memorial Day,' because it's not a happy occasion,' said Brian DuMont. 'They gave it all. Their last full measure.' More Local News A Hamilton resident and Vietnam era veteran, he is here to remember his friend and neighbor, John D. Ossmann, a Marine who gave his last full measure in 1967, just one month after landing in Vietnam. He was 19 years old. 'I was actually in Yokota, Japan, when he was killed in Vietnam,' said DuMont. 'He had his whole life ahead of him, and — just, gone.' Dumont comes to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Museum in Holmdel each year to honor him. This year, he's brought a memorial trinket he made himself to sit below his spot on the wall, which is home to the names of more than 1,500 New Jerseyans who gave their lives in Vietnam. This Memorial Day is a milestone, as the memorial marks its 30th anniversary of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 'When they built this place 30 years ago, I don't know that they envisioned that 30 years later not only would we be here, but we have grown exponentially,' said Amy Osborn, CEO of the Memorial and Museum. The museum site, just off the Garden State Parkway next to the PNC Arts Center, has been expanded several times over the years to educate the next generation. It's also home to one of the state's most attended Memorial Day services. 'When that bugle starts playing, we all feel it,' said Gerry Aponte, a veteran and leader of the Knights of Columbus. 'We're here to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam – not just the ones that never came home, but those that came back that suffered from the issues they obtained in Vietnam, and we'll always remember that.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
New Jersey parents are favoring these baby names — and the No. 1 pick might be a shock
No Pauly or Francesca on this list. Home of the Jersey Shore, Wawa and Tony Soprano — in 2025, there are specific baby names that are popular in New Jersey, and the top spot for both boys and girls might not be what you would think. Nor are they grandma or grandpa-sounding by any means, despite a recent surge in popularity in old-fashioned baby names. Advertisement Sad news for Bruce Springsteen or Bon Jovi — parents in the Garden state love the names Liam and Noah for their baby boys — as those two came in first and second place, according to the Social Security Administration. Despite old-fashioned baby names coming back into style — New Jersey isn't jumping on the trend. Getty Images/iStockphoto Liam being the most popular shouldn't come as a total shock, considering it's held the No. 1 spot for boys' names for eight years in a row. Advertisement The adorable name Lucas came in third, and to no one's surprise, for those who are from the tri-state area, Joseph and Michael got the fourth and fifth spots. For baby girls — Mia was the No. 1 choice for New Jerseyans. Sophia came in second. And Emma came in third while Olivia fell into fourth place. Similar to how popular Liam is for boys — the name Olivia has topped the list of baby girl names for six years in a row. Charlotte rounded out the list by coming in fifth place. Advertisement Some other notable mentions for both guys' and girls' names include Anthony, James, Oliver — and Amelia, Isabella and Ava. It seems like the state of the pork roll versus Taylor ham debacle might not be the biggest fan of old-fashioned names, like the rest of the country. According to Jennifer Moss, founder and CEO of and baby-name consultant Taylor A. Humphrey, grandma-like names such as Eleanor, Eloise, Elodie, Alma, Margaret, Nora and Bennett are popular for 2025, originally reported by Yahoo! Life. Advertisement 'On the boys' side, we're seeing the 'trad name,' or old-fashioned names, stick — like Theodore, Oliver, Owen, Silas and Jasper,' Colleen Slagen, author of the forthcoming book 'Naming Bebe,' also told the outlet. '…I'm hearing Hayes, Lachlan, Palmer, Soren, Sterling and Theodore,' added Humphrey. While some parents are giving their babies rather mature names — others are opting for the simpler route. 'More families in the US come from mixed cultural backgrounds, and I hear parents commonly request that they want their child to travel and have a relatively easy-to-understand name,' said Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of Nameberry, a baby naming website.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NJ Gov. Murphy blasts striking NJ Transit union workers leaving 350,000 commuters in travel nightmare
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ripped NJ Transit engineers for going on strike Friday — blasting their actions as a 'slap in the face' to commuters and a 'mess of their own making.' The Democrat lashed out after roughly 400 rail engineers walked off the job after marathon contract talks stalled ahead of a midnight deadline, setting off the first strike to hit the major transit system in more than 40 years. 'It did not have to come to this,' Murphy told a news conference after the morning commuter rush got underway. 'A small handful of locomotive engineers have walked off the job and shut down our entire transit system,' he continued, adding that 'we're talking just under 400 engineers in a total workforce of about 12,000.' 'It is, frankly, a mess of their own making — and it is a slap in the face of every commuter and worker who relies on NJ Transit.' Murphy urged the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union (BLET), which represents the engineers who drive the agency's commuter trains, to come back to the negotiating table. 'What the people of New Jersey need right now is for the members to meet their obligations to the public,' he said. 'Let's end the strike.' 'We are ready to restart negotiations, literally this second, but we need the BLET to come back to the negotiating table in good faith,' he added. The union, for their part, blamed transit management negotiators for walking out of the bargaining talks late Thursday. 'We presented them with a deal and they walked away,' the union's national president, Mark Wallace, said. 'They chose to leave. We did not.' Wages are the key sticking point of the strike, according to the union. BLET had been seeking its first pay increase since 2019 for 450 of its engineers, a source familiar with the negotiations earlier told The Post, adding that NJ Transit could fully fund the sought increase with a seven-and-a-half-year contract for less than $30 million. The union has said it was aiming to raise the engineers' salaries to match those at other commuter railroads in the region – including Amtrak and the Long Island Railroad. 'For six years our engineers have not had a pay raise,' the union prez said. 'They make $10 less an hour than Long Island Railroad. They make $10 less an hour than Amtrak, Path, Metro North. They're the lowest paid commuter engineers today in the United States.' NJ Transit said the engineers currently make $135,000 on average and that management had offered a deal that would yield an average salary of $172,000 by 2027. NJ Transit, however, has said it can't afford the pay raises the engineers are seeking because 14 other unions that negotiate separate labor contracts with the agency would then demand higher wage rates for their members. 'I for one refuse to pass the buck or increase taxes on hard working New Jerseyans for the same, or even more likely, reduced service. That's not going to happen. That is untenable,' Murphy said. NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said they got close to what the union was seeking on wages but raised concerns about the longer-term fiscal health of the transit agency. 'What's the point of giving you a pay raise if a couple of years from now your job is not going to exist?' Kolluri said. 'That's sort of what we're talking about in the most plain and simple terms.' Murphy, meanwhile, argued that it wasn't about politics. 'We're holding the line for the next governor and the next administration so they do not inherit a NJ Transit that is on the brink of fiscal collapse, but is in fact in a strong state of health,' he said. 'That is what it means to fix NJ Transit, leaving the agency better in every respect, but especially in fiscal terms, than when we entered office.' The next talks are scheduled for Sunday with the help of federal mediators.
