**Summary of the News Article: Mikie Sherrill’s Gubernatorial Campaign and Her Opposition to Donald Trump’s Agenda**
As the race for New Jersey governor heats up, Democratic candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill has taken a clear and combative stance against former President Donald Trump’s political influence and policies. Sherrill, who currently represents New Jersey in Congress, has made opposition to Trump a central theme of her campaign, promising voters that if elected, she will fight his agenda "tooth and nail." This message was on full display during her appearance at a recent "No Kings" protest in Montclair, New Jersey, where she rallied her supporters and directly criticized both Trump and her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli.
**Defining the "No Kings" Protest and Its Significance**
The "No Kings" protest, held in Montclair, was designed as a symbolic rejection of what participants see as authoritarian tendencies in the Trump administration. Some protesters dressed in historical costumes, including one man who came as George Washington, carrying a sign to emphasize the American value of rejecting monarchy and unchecked executive power.
Speaking before the gathered crowd, Sherrill asserted, "We know at every level this president is raising costs on people." She framed Trump’s economic and political approach as harmful to ordinary New Jerseyans, suggesting that his policies benefit only those at the top while leaving regular families to struggle with increased costs and uncertainty. "We've got a guy in Washington, D.C., that thinks he's going to reap all of the benefits of being in charge. We're going to fight it. We're going to fight it tooth and nail," she declared, drawing cheers from her supporters.
**Sherrill’s Platform and Endorsements**
Mikie Sherrill’s campaign has positioned her as a defender of New Jersey’s middle and working class, promising to stand up to Trump-style governance and protect the state from what she describes as damaging federal overreach. Her anti-Trump messaging has drawn support from several high-profile Democrats, reinforcing her position as the party’s standard-bearer in the state. Among those who have endorsed her are former President Barack Obama, current New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Senator Cory Booker, and Senator Andy Kim, all of whom have lent their voices and political capital to boost her candidacy.
**Criticism of Jack Ciattarelli and Republican Policies**
At the same protest, and in subsequent campaign events, Sherrill and her allies have taken aim at Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate for governor. Sherrill accused Ciattarelli of aligning himself too closely with Trump, especially in the wake of the Trump administration’s decision to halt a major rail project in New Jersey. She contended that Ciattarelli’s willingness to support Trump’s policies signals that, if elected, he would govern in a way that prioritizes partisan loyalty over the needs of New Jersey residents.
Supporting Sherrill at the rally were Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer, both of whom echoed her criticisms of Trump and Ciattarelli. Gottheimer told the crowd, "We're facing a president who thinks he can just barge into any state in America, including ours, and have his way." He assured voters that Sherrill would "stand up to Donald Trump and fight for us," reinforcing the campaign’s central message that the election is a referendum on Trump’s influence in New Jersey.
Governor Whitmer also targeted Ciattarelli directly, claiming that he "doesn't give a damn about actually doing the job" and would "take his orders from the folks in Washington, D.C." She accused Ciattarelli of being a rubber stamp for Trump’s policies, referencing a recent debate in which she claimed he expressed agreement with everything the Trump administration is doing. Whitmer used local humor to connect with the audience, joking, "That's like all of you agreeing that someone from Philly makes a better Taylor ham and cheese," referencing the beloved New Jersey breakfast sandwich and regional rivalries.
**Accusations Against Trump and Economic Messaging**
Sherrill has not just attacked Trump on policy grounds, but has also leveled serious accusations against him personally. At the protest, she claimed that Trump was "participating in a worldwide extortion racket that the president is operating so that he can put billions of dollars in cryptocurrency in his own pocket." While she did not provide details or evidence during her speech,