John Reitmeyer

This Week in Politics: Mikie Sherrill rides an affordability message and a Jersey blue wave into office | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News Governor-elect Sherrill will face serious headwinds when it comes to implementing her affordability agenda.

It was great chatting with @wnyc.org Weekend Edition host David Furst about the NJ election results and the big challenges facing governor-elect Mikie Sherrill.
And check out @njspotlightnews.org today for our continuing coverage.

The one word that drove NJ election results: affordability | NJ Spotlight News Heading into the election, seven of every 10 NJ voters had negative views about the national economy

With economic concerns still running high nearly a year into another Trump presidency, Democrats in NJ focused heavily on affordability issues in the run up to Nov. 4.
How did it work out?
Democrats made gains, up and down the ballot. @njspotlightnews.org

Thanks, John.

The quick overview is that Sherrill has obligations in both D.C. and New Jersey, and the timing on when she resigns is REALLY important.

@njspotlightnews.org

If Sherrill wins governorship, filling her House seat could get tricky | NJ Spotlight News Filling New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s 11th Congressional District seat would hinge on when she resigned.

It's definitely worth taking a new look at this smart @bhulac.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org story today now that NJ will soon have a congressional vacancy to fill.

Here are the challenges Mikie Sherrill faces as NJ's next governor | NJ Spotlight News As governor, Sherrill faces a raft of challenges. Big budgets, Trump issues, school funding and more

What’s the prize for pulling off her huge victory?
How about pressure to deliver on affordability promises while managing a state budget gap and funding cuts coming down from the federal government.
These and other big issues are on the to-do list for Gov-elect Mikie Sherrill.
@njspotlightnews.org

NJ governor's race: Sherrill beats Ciattarelli | NJ Spotlight News More than 1.4 million cast early ballots in person or by mail

Democrat Mikie Sherrill won the race to become New Jersey governor in one of the most expensive campaigns in state history conducted in the shadow of the Trump presidency and decided by voters overwhelmingly concerned about affordability concerns.
@colleenodea.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org

The AP has now called the NJ governor's race -- Democrat Mikie Sherrill will be the state's 57th governor.
@njspotlightnews.org

NJ election results 2025 governor - NJ Spotlight News Live results from The Associated Press

Democrat Mikie Sherill is now holding a more than 260k lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli with more than 50% of the vote in, according to AP.
@njspotlightnews.org

LIVE: NJ election night results 2025 | NJ Decides YouTube video by NJ Spotlight News

We're live! Watch now: www.youtube.com/live/ZH2TU-t...

Track away NJ. You can hit refresh as often as you want!

NJ election: Early voting updates | NJ Spotlight News Updated counts of mail-in ballots and early in-person votes

Final early voting #s in NJ: 1.36M total. 300K more Dems than GOP (a target Dems were trying to reach). Will it make a difference? @njspotlightnews.org www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/10/nj-e...

Democratic candidate for NJ governor @mikiesherrill.bsky.social votes in Montclair, reacts to bomb threats at polling places this morning:

NJ elections: Fewer candidates running for school boards | NJ Spotlight News Lower-turnout school board elections have significant impact on how schools are governed and how taxpayer money is spent

It's not just the race for governor on the ballot, NJ. Many voters can also vote for mayor, city council and their local school boards. School boards have a big impact on how local schools are governed and how taxpayer money is spent. @njspotlightnews.org

If you know the issue or issues you care about, you have all the resources you need to get informed before you cast a vote.
And after you vote, join
@njspotlightnews.org Tuesday at 10 p.m. for complete coverage of all the results, as well as deep dives on the issues that driving them.

What will NJ governor candidates do about high electric bills? | NJ Spotlight News How two of the major party candidates would handle New Jersey's climate policy

Or my favorite issue, how would the candidates improve the transparency of state budgeting?
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/10/nj-g...

What will NJ governor candidates do about high electric bills? | NJ Spotlight News How two of the major party candidates would handle New Jersey's climate policy

Where do the candidates stand on electricity costs?
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/10/nj-g...

NJ governor’s race: The plans to pay for schools | NJ Spotlight News Ciattarelli wants a rewrite while Sherrill offers tweaks

Or maybe school funding is your issue?
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/10/nj-g...

NJ’s housing costs are skyrocketing. What will the next governor do? | NJ Spotlight News Here’s what Ciattarelli, Sherrill say they plan to do about affordable housing, rent

How about housing affordability?
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/10/njs-...

NJ governor’s race: What’s the plan for taxes? | NJ Spotlight News Ciattarelli, Sherrill each say taxes are key, but so far offer scant details

Do you care about taxes?
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/10/nj-g...
Like the sales tax?
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/09/nj-g...

NJ Decides 2025 - NJ Spotlight News

To all the last-minute voters (and family members, you know who you are) asking me, who should I vote for?
I'll never tell you who to vote for, but I'll always encourage you to make an informed decision.
Get all the info you need from @njspotlightnews.org at
www.njspotlightnews.org/nj-decides-2...

Trump says Gateway tunnel is terminated. How did we get here? | NJ Spotlight News Inside the decades-long drama behind the massive tunnel and rail project to improve rail traffic, safety

Out of the ashes of ARC came Gateway.
But now this long-planned new rail tunnel that is considered crucial to the region's economic future has also come under threat of being canceled.
@bhulac.bsky.social and I look at current events in the context of some 30 yrs of planning.
@njspotlightnews.org

As you get ready to vote, do you
-Want to know where the candidates stand on the issues, including taxes, housing and school funding?
-Want an election resource where issues are the focus instead of nonsense horse race stories?
Check out @njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/nj-decides-2...

NJ elections: Fewer candidates running for school boards | NJ Spotlight News Lower-turnout school board elections have significant impact on how schools are governed and how taxpayer money is spent

In NJ, the largest portion of the typical homeowner's property-tax bill funds the budget of their local K-12 schools.
Down ballot this year, voters will decide who wins key school board seats in districts throughout NJ, reports
@hannah-gross.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org @njspotlightnews.org.

Pension funds get boost from high investment returns | NJ Spotlight News State panel says funds grew nearly 11%, beating estimates

With full state employer pension contributions now being made on an annual basis, pension fund managers have been able to take full advantage of favorable market conditions that have lifted investment returns in recent years, including during the fiscal year that ended June 30.
@njspotlightnews.org

NJ governor’s race: The plans to pay for schools | NJ Spotlight News Ciattarelli wants a rewrite while Sherrill offers tweaks

From state income taxes to local property taxes, we pay billions annually to fund NJ's K-12 public schools.
How would the candidates for governor alter NJ's approach to school-funding?
@hannah-gross.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org explains it all in this very useful story.

NJ state treasurer transition | NJ Spotlight News The state budget is 'job one'

The @njspotlightnews.org gubernatorial advice column
continues with this insightful fiscal guidance from two former state treasurers, one a Democrat, the other a Republican.
"It’s a challenging and rewarding role."

NJ’s next governor faces budget bombs and pressure to raise taxes | NJ Spotlight News Whoever wins, fiscal problems are brewing and some want action now

As GOP lawmakers raise concerns about the true size of NJ's structural budget gap, a coalition of labor unions and issue-advocacy organizations calls for tax hikes on the wealthy to offset the effects of fiscal policies enacted by President Trump and the Republican Congress.
@njspotlightnews.org

Not too soon to start planning to be governor | NJ Spotlight News Two former chiefs of staff give the next governor their advice on what to do after declaring victory

Ahead of New Jersey’s gubernatorial election, @njspotlightnews.org invited former top aides and state commissioners to pen some bipartisan advice for their incoming successors.
This gubernatorial advice column starts with two former chiefs of staff, one a Democrat, the other a Republican.

"As the government borrows more and more, it makes it more expensive for everyone else to borrow. Because everyone’s fighting for a loan, whether it’s you for a car loan or the government for a bond. And as the government fights harder, interest rates rise. Mortgages are just the start."