New Jersey Gubernatorial Election: Where is Mikie?

As Mikie Sherrill Ignores Lakewood, Jack Ciattarreli is Here for the Jewish Community

By a Lakewood voter and concerned resident

For months now, the Democratic nominee for governor of New Jersey, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, has been canvassing the state in search of support for her gubernatorial campaign. She has visited many cities, towns and municipalities, including some in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. However, there is one area that she has completely ignored.

Has anyone seen Mikie in Lakewood, Toms River and Jackson?

Has she made any overtures towards the frum community?

Is she even pretending to care about our unique needs and the issues that concern us?

The answer to all these questions is a resounding no!

Sherrill is affiliated with far-left of the Democratic Party, and her ideas and ideals are very far from ours. It is, therefore, no wonder that she isn’t even attempting to placate us or develop any common ground. Basically, she has made it clear that, if elected, Lakewood will not even be on her radar.

On the other hand, Republican candidate Jack Ciattarreli has visited Lakewood, Toms River, Jackson and the surrounding area many times. He has met with numerous local communal leaders and activists, businessmen and storeowners, as well as many local residents who were excited to see him and to speak with him. He has been very open about discussing issues that we care about, such as law and order, religious freedoms, the cost of living and the high price of tuition, all of which are issues that only the Republican Party has any plans to address.

Ciattarelli is a real friend of the Lakewood community and of Ocean and Monmouth counties. He has proven that he will look out for our needs. In addition to visiting Lakewood and other frum communities probably more than any other candidate in history, he also has visited Israel numerous times, making sure to pray at the Kosel and visit the frum communities as well. His choice of Sheriff James Gannon as his running mate proves his commitment to law and order. Ciattarelli truly is in touch with our mindset and our needs.

The danger presented by far-left socialist candidates like Sherril is very real. On August 8, 2025, Zohran Mamdani said in a exclusive interview with New York’s PIX on Politics that he “absolutely” supports Mikie Sherill in her bid to become New Jersey’s next Governor, after Mamdani was asked directly on air.

Make no mistake: What Mamdani will be to New York City, Sherrill will be to the entire state of New Jersey if elected governor. Where the frum community, as well as every rational resident of NYC, is facing a severe crisis.

In NYC may in the Jewish community our calling the expected results of the upcoming Mayoral election a situation of “Pikuach Nefesh.” While New York may be an extreme example of a clearly dangerous candidate threatening to uproot the normal way of life, If the Democratic progressive candidate wins in New Jersey we won’t be so far behind. It is also a microcosm of what is happening around the country. In federal, state, county and local elections, candidates on the Republican side who represent traditional values, fiscal responsibility, and dedication to upholding law and order and safety are facing off against Democrats who have no regard for the any of those things.

In New Jersey, as in many other places, we have seen the results of what happens when liberals get into power – skyrocketing taxes, huge increases to the cost of living, rising crime, no support for law enforcement personnel who keep us safe, school systems falling apart, extreme government overreach to mandate what cars we drive, what type of stoves we may own, how to use plastic straws and bags, etc., etc.

There certainly is what to be afraid of – but we now have an opportunity to do something about it. And we certainly shouldn’t take that responsibility lightly.

In this election, there is one candidate who will stand for us and with us, and one who will not. The election is extremely close, meaning that every vote will really matter. And it is very clear that this election’s results will have serious consequences. As the entire country grapples with major ideological and practical issues, the future of our state is literally on the line.

Our current choice is if we want the government mixing into every aspect of our lives, and charging us a bundle to do it, without giving almost anything back to our community, or if we want safety and security and a true friend in power who genuinely cares about our concerns and needs.

But to have any say, we need to vote. The polls show this race for governor as being very close. It will go down to the wire. And every vote will make a difference.

With hate and antisemitism rising both in New Jersey and across the country, it only makes sense to support the candidate who backs law enforcement and who is a friend of our community, as opposed to the candidate who will not have the backs of police officers, thus enabling hatemongers to do as they please.

With morale amongst police officers at an all-time low, the need for a governor who will stand behind law enforcement personnel has never been clearer. The current Democratic administration has made cops’ jobs much more difficult. They work hard to get criminals off the street, only to have them released on cashless bail to offend again. They are constantly under scrutiny and are not given the support they need to do their jobs. Ciattarreli and Gannon have vowed to change all that.

In addition, we now know that some very bad people have found their way into our country, and even into our state. Media reports that real terrorists have infiltrated our borders. They would have no qualms with harming us, and we need a governor who will do all he can to stop them.

On this front, President Trump is doing some very good things. Now is our opportunity to bring an ally of the president’s, who will work with him for our safety, into the governor’s seat.

As far as tuition relief goes, much attention has been given to the small victory our community had in Washington, with certain tax credits for private school donations being approved on the federal level. It must be noted that New Jersey can only benefit from these credits with the approval of the governor. Sherril has promised not to allow them, while Ciattarelli has pledged the opposite. Jack also will work to expand tuition relief as much as he can, with more forms created that will be of great benefit to us all.

During a recent debate, it became quite clear that Sherril has no policies or plans to speak of. She kept repeating empty platitudes, whereas Jack detailed his plans to deal with high electric costs, crime, and other pressing issues.

By now even the saner members of the Democratic Party are turning away from Sherril. The recent scandals that have come to light about her have led away even more of her supporters. Numerous Democratic operatives are, in fact, throwing their support behind Ciattarreli.

The momentum amongst Democrats for this election is very low, while Republican enthusiasm is increasing. It is, therefore, clear that even though New Jersey is viewed by many as a “Blue State”, this election will be very close. It will go down to the wire and every vote will matter.

Every vote will matter in this important, close election!

The choice of whom to vote for is clear! Would you rather have a governor who cares about our community or one who clearly does not?

If you or any member of your household of voting age aren’t yet registered, do so immediately! If you are registered, don’t miss this historic opportunity! If you or your voting-aged children will not to be in New Jersey on Election Day, make sure to vote early or vote by mail!

This election’s outcome will affect every single resident and our day to day lives, the results will be strongly felt in our Shuls, Yeahivas and on the streets of New Jersey.

B’Ezras Hashem, with a community united for our best interests, the outcome will be good and a friend of ours will be put into a position to help us!

Below is a large photo gallery of Jack Ciattarelli interacting with the New Jersey Jewish community, residents and voters.