Title: Why This Young Black NJ Democrat Is Standing With Mikie Sherrill for Governor

I am Kemani A. Scott, the youngest Black municipal chair in the State of New Jersey. I first entered politics because of my own upbringing. I grew up in a lower-middle-class family—and that’s putting it lightly. I witnessed my family stretch every dollar so they can pay for food for their children and pay for cancer treatment. My family and I are survivors of domestic violence, once lived in a government-subsidized “Mother Shelter,” and were recipients of food stamps and Medicaid. But because of a lot of hard work and the opportunities and safety nets provided in this state, we have been able to turn our lives around. Working in public service and politics has been my way of giving back and doing my part to help ensure that future generations face fewer of the struggles my family and I endured.

My support or vote for a candidate is never a blind action just because they are on the Democratic ticket. But this year, there is no question or hesitation on where I stand: I will be emphatically voting for Mikie Sherrill for Governor, and I believe every young voter and Black voter should too.

If we are truly going to get ahead and protect the values we share, we need a governor who sees us and is driven by that same desire to leave our state better than we found it.

For many New Jerseyans, especially in the Black community and among our youth, the American Dream of homeownership feels out of reach. Mikie has a plan to expand first-time homebuyer assistance, and expand access to housing that is affordable for young people, working families, and seniors.

She also knows that education is the backbone of success and the American Dream. Mikie wants to make Pre-K and kindergarten affordable across the state, while also addressing post-pandemic challenges: ensuring kids have proper nutrition, expanding tutoring to reverse learning loss, and strengthening mental health services in our schools.

As a man of faith, I am encouraged that she has taken the time to engage with faith leaders across New Jersey, many of whom endorsed her during the primary, and built bridges to those who did not. This shows her commitment to the vital role faith plays in the Black community.

And as a young leader myself, I take note of how she treats youth voices. Early on in her campaign, Mikie called me to hear about the challenges facing young people in this state because she cares, and she also understands because she’s raising four kids. She is speaking directly to the challenges young voters face: affordability, the cost of higher education and trade training, the lack of housing, and the threat of climate change to the very shores that define our state.

Young voters in New Jersey often feel sidelined in Democratic politics, with leaders out of touch with our needs. But as a mother, Mikie takes these concerns to heart and has committed to advancing equitable policies for all residents. So, like youth voters in Michigan who propelled Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to victory in 2022, we need the youth vote mobilized so we can have someone in Drumthwacket who will fight for us.

Real public servants lead by listening—listening to the struggles of everyday people and crafting policy solutions that allow us not just to survive, but to thrive. The fact that Mikie has only been campaigning for less than a year—while her opponent has been running for Governor for over a decade—and yet is leading in the polls proves she and her campaign have been listening and are more in tune with New Jersey voters across all demographics.

No matter the community, it is not homogeneous or defined by a single issue. That's why Mikie will continue to meet with people from all across the state, continue to listen, and earn each and every vote because she will fight for them—instead of fighting on behalf of Trump.

I am speaking up as a young Black man who seeks out leaders willing to lift up the many diverse communities in the Garden State. Mikie Sherrill is that leader. And she is the Governor New Jersey needs.

Kemani A. Scott is the youngest Black Democratic municipal chair in the state at 24-years old. He has served in various capacities, including senior roles in campaigning and in local, state, and federal government.