Sherrill Appoints Senator Gopal as Gubernatorial Campaign Chair
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill has named State Senator Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) as her campaign chairman for the 2025 New Jersey governor’s race. Gopal, a seasoned political strategist and accomplished fundraiser, will play a pivotal role in leading fundraising efforts and serving as a key campaign surrogate in this competitive statewide contest.
Gopal, a former Monmouth County Democratic chairman, has a proven track record of electoral success, having helped Democrats flip two Republican Assembly seats in Monmouth County in 2015 and 2023. He unseated a three-term Republican state senator in 2017 and secured re-election twice in a competitive district, winning by over 20 points in 2023. As chair of the Senate Education Committee and a member of Senate Democratic leadership, Gopal brings significant experience to Sherrill’s campaign.
Sherrill also appointed Karin Elkis, a former senior aide to three U.S. Senators and current lobbyist, as campaign vice chair. Additional vice chairs include Justin Dews, a Jersey City attorney who served as associate White House counsel under President Biden and senior counsel to Governor Phil Murphy, and Patricia Campos-Medina, a former U.S. Senate candidate.
NJBIA Hosts 2025 Gubernatorial Candidates Forum
The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) hosted its 2025 ELC Reception in Somerset, attracting over 400 attendees to hear from gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciattarelli (R) and Mikie Sherrill (D) in their first post-primary public forum.
Ciattarelli, drawing on his business background, proposed economic reforms, including reducing the Corporate Business Tax by 1% annually over six years to align with Pennsylvania, adopting Delaware’s corporate governance bylaws, and offering tax exemptions for small businesses and IPO stock gains if headquartered in New Jersey. He also called for a comprehensive energy policy overhaul, including replacing all current BPU Commissioners, and reinstating the Department of Commerce.
Sherrill, a congresswoman and former Navy pilot, emphasized streamlining business licensing and permitting processes through a modernized Business Action Center and an online permit tracking dashboard. Her priorities include investing in public education, workforce development, high-impact tutoring, apprenticeships, childcare access, and housing development through commercial conversions and transit-oriented projects.
Click here for a more detailed recap of the event.
Sherrill and Ciattarelli Secure Major Labor Endorsements
Following their primary election victories, Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli and Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill have each secured significant labor union endorsements, bolstering their campaigns for New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial race.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, representing 8,000 members, endorsed Ciattarelli. Having supported Governor Phil Murphy in 2021, the union’s shift to Ciattarelli provides critical grassroots support and the potential for substantial independent expenditure funding to strengthen his campaign.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, representing over one million union members and their families, unanimously endorsed Sherrill. The endorsement, backed by over 500 delegates from more than 1,000 affiliated local unions, underscores Sherrill’s strong support among public- and private-sector workers statewide.
These endorsements highlight the candidates’ ability to build diverse coalitions as they prepare for a competitive general election.
RCSG’s Janellen Duffy Named to Insider NJ’s 2025 Top 100 Policymakers
River Crossing Strategy Group (RCSG) proudly congratulates Janellen Duffy for her inclusion in Insider NJ’s 2025 Insider 100 Policymakers Power List, a testament to her influential role in New Jersey’s policy landscape.
As chair of RCSG’s education practice, vice-chair of its technology practice, and co-chair of its nonprofit practice, Duffy brings extensive expertise to her work. Insider NJ noted her distinguished career, stating, “Having served on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and as Education Policy Advisor and Director of Policy for Governor Jon Corzine, Duffy carries heavyweight credentials into her work in Trenton.”
This recognition follows Duffy’s 2024 designation as one of Insider NJ’s Top 100 Lobbyists in New Jersey, further affirming her impact on state policy and advocacy.
Tweets from RCSG