The Playbook Podcast The Conversation election special 2025: Mikie Sherrill and James Blair
11 snips
Nov 9, 2025 
Mikie Sherrill, former Navy helicopter pilot and the new governor-elect of New Jersey, discusses her impactful campaign strategies and commitment to affordability in her state. She emphasizes a focus on working-class issues and collaboration across the aisle. James Blair, former political director for the Trump campaign, analyzes the recent Democratic victories and outlines GOP strategies for upcoming midterms, stressing the importance of connecting with low-propensity voters and adapting messaging to economic concerns.
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Field Effort Built A Blue Firewall
- Mikie Sherrill described seeing early returns and realizing her campaign was outperforming its model and building a statewide volunteer field effort.
- She said the campaign built a 300,000-voter "blue firewall" that made victory feel like a matter of margin, not survival.
Take Bold Day-One Actions
- On day one Sherrill will declare a state of emergency on utility costs and freeze utility prices to show immediate action.
- She framed decisive, service-rooted leadership as key to building trust and delivering results quickly.
Working-Class Focus Rebuilds Democratic Appeal
- Sherrill argued Democratic wins reflect voters wanting leaders who deliver on kitchen-table issues and working-class concerns.
- She emphasized government functioning — schools, jobs, affordability — as the pathway to rebuild Democratic support.