Redefining “Insider or Outsider” in NJ-11

By Mayrose Wegmann

The race to replace Mikie Sherrill’s seat in Congress raises an important question: who truly represents the interests of New Jersey voters, and what makes someone a party “insider” or “outsider”? Recently, much has been made of the so-called “party insiders versus outsiders” debate. But what really defines an insider? Am I one simply because I am active in the Democratic Party and support a candidate perceived as a party insider? In NJ-11, who qualifies as an insider, and who is an outsider?

Brendan Gill is often labeled the candidate of “power brokers,” but that description misses the real story. He isn’t a backroom dealmaker — he’s a hands-on party builder and a proven public servant who has spent decades turning progressive values into tangible results for Essex County.

I moved to New Jersey in 2018 with little knowledge of how the Democratic Party worked here. My involvement began with an email to Montclair Dems Chair Brendan Gill. We met for over an hour, discussing issues we cared about, where we disagreed, and how I could begin volunteering at the neighborhood level. I held no title. I simply wanted to push back against Donald Trump and make a difference in my community. Brendan Gill helped me find that path.

Since that first meeting, I have volunteered hundreds of hours, knocked on thousands of doors, made countless phone calls, organized over 30 buses to Pennsylvania for Kamala Harris, coordinated three successful No Kings rallies, and helped elect Mikie Sherrill as our next governor. Many of those efforts also included helping former Congressman Tom Malinowski in his unsuccessful reelection campaign for CD-07. Like many Democrats, I was devastated when that seat went Republican, and the loss in the 2024 presidential race was another bitter blow.

Yet, we kept organizing on the ground. With recent wins by Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, Assemblywoman-elect Katie Brennan, and Jersey City Mayor-elect James Solomon, I believe we have a strong chance of continuing to elect strong progressive leaders. That is why I am supporting Brendan Gill for Congress in CD-11.

Since moving to New Jersey, I have been proud to partner with Brendan Gill to turn out the vote. He has created a home for those of us with no official party title beyond “proud registered Democrat.”

Let’s be clear: Brendan Gill has spent over a decade delivering concrete, progressive results for Essex County. As County Commissioner, he led efforts to keep ICE out of county correctional facilities, expanded parks and green space, strengthened environmental protections — especially in my neighborhood, which flooded during Hurricane Ida — and supported neighborhood revitalization. These results didn’t come from shouting into a void or cutting deals in smoke-filled rooms. They came from listening to the community, building coalitions, and getting things done.

The deep and broad support Brendan Gill enjoys from labor unions and community leaders is often met with unwarranted suspicion. But these endorsements come from real people. I am proud to stand with nurses, teachers, electricians, small business owners, first responders, and public-sector workers who know firsthand that Brendan Gill consistently fights for living wages, safe workplaces, strong public education, and the rights of working families. These are the people who make our communities thrive.

Voters in NJ-11 deserve a serious, honest conversation about who can best represent their interests in Washington. I am supporting Brendan Gill because of his proven record, the trust he has earned from working people across the district, and his ability to turn progressive values into meaningful improvements in our communities. Reducing him to a party insider caricature distorts the race, disrespects community organizers like myself, and shortchanges voters seeking more than oversimplified narratives.

Brendan Gill is the product of hard work, public service, and tangible results. That is exactly what we need in Congress, and I am proud to support him.

Mayrose Wegmann is a longtime union organizer and volunteer for progressive Democratic campaigns. She holds a master’s degree from Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Public Policy, was awarded the Eagleton Institute of Politics graduate fellowship, and currently leads the New Jersey Leadership Collective, an organization dedicated to recruiting and building the progressive bench.