A word on next Tuesday's gubernatorial primary...

Before co-founding the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, I was communications director for the New Jersey Democratic Party. I saw some inspiring leaders and some corrupt officials. I saw acts of boldness and acts of cowardice.

Especially after Senator Andy Kim proved that an inspiring progressive can fight corruption and win, New Jersey deserves a bold inspiring leader as the next Democratic governor. Our state deserves someone who will shake up a broken political system and rigged economic system -- someone who fights for working families against powerful interests, not for party bosses and big donors.

We endorse voting for a progressive candidate -- Steve Fulop or Ras Baraka -- in next Tuesday's Democratic gubernatorial primary. Not for Mikie Sherrill, who earned a reputation in Congress for being a milquetoast Democrat, not a bold leader.

Click here to tell us who you currently support in the June 10 election for governor -- or what questions are on your mind.

Please forward this email to others who are making up their minds.

Our recent survey of New Jersey PCCC members showed Mikie Sherrill and Steve Fulop leading the pack, followed by Ras Baraka in the middle. The rest were way behind. Emerson College polling between January and May showed two candidates tripling their support during the campaign: Sherrill and Fulop. Growth for the others was within the margin of error.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has made a case against corruption and party bosses. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka made national news fighting Trump at an ICE facility in his home city -- a moment that will go down in history.

Speaking of history, when the fight against Big Pharma was happening in 2021-2022, Mikie Sherrill was nowhere to be seen. As Trump and Elon Musk proposed cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, and child nutrition to fund tax cuts for billionaires, lots of Democrats made news by fighting back. Sherrill did not.

The fact that Sherrill took donations from Musk's corporate PAC did not help. The fact that she made $7 million from stock trades while in Congress, and got fined for unreported trades, doesn't help a Democratic Party stand for anti-corruption in the general election.

To be clear, she would be better than a Republican. But not bold. Not extraordinary. Not itching for a fight at a time when voters want someone who will shake up a corrupt political and economic system.

That's why we endorse voting for a progressive candidate -- Steve Fulop or Ras Baraka -- in next Tuesday's Democratic gubernatorial primary. Not for Mikie Sherrill.

Click here to tell us who you currently support in the June 10 election for governor -- or what questions are on your mind.

Thanks for being in the fight.

-- Adam Green, Somerset/Edison native and PCCC co-founder