In the final days before New Jersey’s hotly contested gubernatorial election, the political landscape has become a showcase for the sharp divides and shifting strategies within the Democratic Party—and a battleground for competing visions of education, identity, and the future of progressive politics in the Garden State.
On October 27, 2025, the campaign trail saw a high-profile show of support for Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill, as former President Barack Obama, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined her in New Jersey. Their presence underscored the stakes of the race and the national attention it has drawn, as Sherrill faces off against Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli in a contest that, according to a Real Clear Politics average of polling, remains tight with Sherrill holding a slim four-point lead.
But beyond the big-name endorsements and the close polls, the race is revealing the challenges Democrats face in balancing their moderate and progressive wings. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Sherrill’s careful distance from Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist and first Muslim nominee for mayor of New York City. Mamdani, who has become a lightning rod for controversy due to his outspoken support for the Palestinian cause and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza—actions he has described as “genocide”—has energized young and progressive voters across the river. Yet, as NJ Advance Media reports, Sherrill has made clear: “I’m not getting involved in the New York mayor’s race.”
This reticence is echoed by many in the Democratic establishment, including New York’s Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, who have either withheld or delayed endorsements for Mamdani. As Ashley Koning, director of Rutgers’ Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, told NJ Advance Media, “Quite frankly, the two candidacies of Mamdani and Sherrill are showcasing two very different sides of the Democratic Party right now.”
Political analysts say Sherrill’s move is strategic, reflecting the more moderate and suburban makeup of New Jersey’s electorate compared to New York City. Daniel Cassino, a political science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, put it plainly: “The median Democratic voter in New Jersey is well to the right of the median Democratic voter in New York City.” In a state where high property taxes and affordability dominate the conversation, Sherrill’s centrist approach is seen as a way to hold together a diverse coalition.
Still, the split has not gone unnoticed by progressives. Some, like Katie Brennan—a Democratic legislative candidate in Hudson County—warn that Sherrill risks alienating the very urban and younger voters whose turnout could be decisive. “I think the candidates would be better off learning from his campaign instead of being afraid of him or treating him like a boogeyman,” Brennan told NJ Advance Media.
Meanwhile, Republican Jack Ciattarelli has seized on the divide, attempting to tie Sherrill to Mamdani and the broader progressive movement. On social media, Ciattarelli quipped, “Mamdani & Mikie: Perfect Together,” and accused Sherrill of “ducking, dodging & stammering as she panders to her far left base.” His campaign has also sought to highlight endorsements from the state’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders, particularly in Ocean County, while distancing himself from controversy after a campaign adviser made antisemitic and homophobic remarks at a Muslims4Jack rally. Sherrill’s campaign condemned the comments as “vile,” emphasizing her support for Israel and her record on combating antisemitism.
The race’s focus on education has also brought the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) into the spotlight. The NJEA, one of the state’s most powerful political donors and a staunch supporter of Democrats, endorsed Sherrill in September 2025. The union, representing hundreds of thousands of educators, has poured tens of millions into Democratic campaigns and is known for its advocacy on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Next month, just days after the election, the NJEA will host an event titled “Drag is not a Crime: The Past, Present, and Future of Drag,” aimed at celebrating drag culture for public school teachers. According to The Daily Wire, the event is part of a broader initiative to boost diversity and inclusion in K-12 classrooms, particularly for minority communities. The New Jersey Project, promoting the event, declared, “Teachers, learning goes beyond classrooms! NJEA presents a dive into the vibrant world of drag. Get inspired to challenge norms & ignite creativity in the classroom! Drag is what education is all about.”
This embrace of drag culture and LGBTQIA+ representation is not new for the NJEA, which in 2022 hosted a “Drag Queen Story Hour” at its convention and has regularly promoted LGBTQ-inclusive lesson design. The organization’s website proudly noted, “The LGBTQIA+ representation at the NJEA Convention made us PROUD!” and highlighted the importance of queer-affirming books and visibility for students.
However, the NJEA’s activism has drawn sharp criticism from Ciattarelli and his campaign. In a statement to The Daily Wire, a strategist for Ciattarelli said, “Drag might not be a crime, but looking the other way while 80% of third graders in some of New Jersey’s schools can’t read at grade level should be.” The campaign accused NJEA and “far-left politicians like Mikie Sherrill” of prioritizing “an extreme ‘woke’ agenda on young children” over educational outcomes and parental rights. “When Jack Ciattarelli is Governor, parents are back in charge and the NJEA is in timeout,” the strategist added.
These criticisms reflect a broader national debate over the role of schools in addressing issues of gender, sexuality, and diversity. For some, events like “Drag is not a Crime” are a celebration of inclusivity and creativity in education; for others, they are evidence of misplaced priorities and a disconnect from the concerns of parents and communities struggling with basic educational challenges.
As the campaign enters its final stretch, both sides are betting that their vision of New Jersey’s future will resonate with voters. For Sherrill, a four-term congresswoman and former Navy helicopter pilot, the path to victory runs through the state’s moderate and suburban voters, many of whom are wary of the leftward pull seen in neighboring New York. For Ciattarelli, the challenge is to harness dissatisfaction with the status quo, tie Sherrill to the most controversial elements of her party, and present himself as the champion of parental rights and educational basics.
What happens on Election Day could send a powerful signal, not just about the direction of New Jersey, but about the evolving identity of the Democratic Party and the future of progressive politics in America.
