Former Dem Newark City councilman says he can’t back Rep. Mikie Sherrill in NJ governor’s race

A former Newark City Councilman and Democrat said he will vote across party lines in the high-stakes New Jersey gubernatorial election and back GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli — slamming Rep. Mikie Sherrill for being out of touch with “regular everyday people.”

Oscar James II, who is black and served on the City Council from 2006 to 2010, said Sherrill has failed to resonate with “working people” and much of the Garden State’s historically left-leaning black community. 

“When you talk to everyday people, the people picking up the kids when I’m picking up my kids, the people in the grocery line…she does not relate to Democratic voters,” he said.

Instead, her campaign has leaned too heavily on scare tactics linking Ciattarelli to President Trump, James railed. 

“People want to hear what she has to offer, not that this is a vote against Trump — and she’s not talking about what she has to offer,” the former councilman said.

“The fact that they keep trying to fear monger us with Trump is not going to work, and it’s not resonating,” he continued.

“The Democratic Party has used Trump as such a scary figure, I believe, with many African Americans in this country… [But] their lives haven’t changed so drastically since Trump has been in office and not in office.”

James, who is a small business owner and neighborhood organizer, said Sherrill has also failed to show up at enough events that are meaningful to the black community.

“She goes in the communities with the political insiders,” he said of campaign events.  “[But]  the working people who are in these African American communities, in these black communities, they’re not at those events.”

In August, James published an op-ed titled “I’m a Black NJ Democrat. This is why I can’t support Mikie Sherrill for governor,” and said Thursday he hasn’t changed his stance. 

“They have nothing to offer the residents that they’re pushing. It’s high taxes,” he said. “She hasn’t resonated with the voters. There’s nothing new.”

Surveys have shown warning signs for months about dipping support among black and Hispanic voters in urban areas. 

In majority-Black municipalities, for example, Sherrill won only 16% percent of the Democratic primary vote in June, compared to 34 % statewide.

Overall, Sherrill narrowly edged out Ciattarelli 48.1% to 45.8% among likely voters, according to a Quantus Insights Poll reported this week.

The poll marked a major dip from the 10-point lead the congresswoman had in a Labor Day survey.