Former New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman, a lifelong Republican who has previously supported candidates across party lines, is backing Democrat Mikie Sherrill in the upcoming gubernatorial race.
Whitman broke ground as the state’s first female governor and served two terms from 1994-2001. She separated from the GOP to co-chair the Forward Party, a national political party, with former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Whitman tells NJ Spotlight News that Sherrill is the right person for the job right now.
“She has all the qualities that you want to see in a governor,” Whitman said. “She’s got leadership experience. She has shown that she can work and will work with anyone to solve problems. She’s not a grandstander, she’s tough. She’s strong. She knows what she wants to get done, and she gets it done. And those are qualities we want in a governor, and she’s been very focused on the state of New Jersey.”
“Unfortunately, Jack Ciattarelli is not who I knew way back when, because I’ve known him for years, and he’s just changed,” said Whitman. “He is full on MAGA.”
Whitman said she doesn’t believe New Jersey is ready to fully embrace that wing of the GOP, at least not for a statewide leader.
“New Jersey is a state of immigrants,” she said. “They’ve made us strong, Mikie Sherrill understands that. She’s appreciative of people from all walks of life.”
But Whitman conceded that Sherrill has her work cut out for her.
“She needs to do what she’s been doing, which is focus on New Jersey issues,” Whitman said. “This is not the presidential, this is not a national race. This is about New Jersey, and New Jerseyans want to hear what are you going to do for me. What are you going to do to help us with taxes to help stay in the state? How are you going to make New Jersey better?”
