The Brian Lehrer Show New Jersey's New Governor
Nov 5, 2025
Mike Hayes, a WNYC/Gothamist reporter and author of The Secret Files, delves into New Jersey's recent governor's race. He shares insights into Mikie Sherrill's stunning 13-point victory and the historic performance of her coalition among diverse demographics. Hayes highlights Sherrill's strong support from urban and suburban voters, particularly within Latino and immigrant communities. He also discusses her emphasis on working-class issues in her victory message, setting the tone for her upcoming governance.
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Stunning Upset Victory
- Mikie Sherrill's victory margin surprised many observers and defied pre-election expectations.
- Mike Hayes compared her performance to an extraordinary athletic feat to capture its unexpected scale.
Broad Coalition Power
- Sherrill won across urban, suburban, and young-voter demographics that Democrats feared would underperform.
- Newark turnout doubled versus the last governor's race and she captured overwhelming majorities there.
Youth And Suburban Gains
- Sherrill even flipped groups Republicans expected to win, including young men and suburban voters.
- Exit polling showed 18-to-29-year-olds favored her by a wide margin, bucking national youth trends.
