New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill stands next to her husband, Jason Hedberg, as she attends her inauguration ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre in Newark, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
(Montclair, NJ) – Back during her original run for US Congress in 2018, Republican opponents attempted to highlight the far-left nature of current New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill. She was nicknamed “Montclair Mikie” as a nod to her progressive hometown, and the policies such a person would embrace. Now, as she completes her first month as governor of New Jersey, it’s clear the nickname is well earned.
Who Does She Represent?
Governor Sherrill enacted a “cap” on soaring utility prices during her first days in office. The tacit admission was that electricity prices — regulated by the state — are so high, that something must be done. In parts of the state, there are concerns that seniors and retirees could be forced from their homes, as a result of the soaring costs. Still, this past week, Governor Sherrill made comments indicating she’s willing to take a hatchet to a tax savings program, as New Jersey looks to deal with a budget gap.
The “Stay NJ” Program was passed in a bid to help seniors stay in their homes. But Governor Sherrill “isn’t ruling out” making cuts to it, in order to fill that gap. It’s all the result of an entrenched spend-first culture in Trenton, one that refuses to examine ways to shrink government — in order to improve the state overall. Instead, the focus continues to be on growing government overreach, in keeping with the Democratic party’s longstanding focus.
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Sherrill Seeks To “ICE Out” NJ
Take the three most recent executive orders issued by Governor Sherrill. The three orders are aimed at making it more difficult for ICE agents to do their jobs, because Democrats continue to say they want reforms enacted. In reality, the progressive left has long believed that citizenship laws — and the enforcement of immigration laws — is an archaic practice. The prevailing belief is that we live in a globalized world where wealthy nations such as ours have a duty to take in as many immigrants as possible. Those are the “true believers.” There’s also the reality that DNC leaders see increased amnesty and boosted numbers of immigrants as a way to gain voters. Not to mention that until our elections are properly secured with federal voter ID laws, there’s no assuring that illegal immigrants aren’t voting.
Governor Sherrill, who lives in Montclair and is a party apparatchik, stands behind one or both of those ideas. “No person is illegal,” is a common refrain among members of the political left when it comes to immigration, which is partly why the term “undocumented” has become the politically correct term of choice.
Her three executive orders include one saying ICE agents can’t launch operations from state property — including roadways owned by the state. Governor Sherrill’s administration has also set up a “portal” website where New Jersey residents are encouraged to take and upload cell phone video of ICE agents doing their jobs.
Perhaps most cloyingly, Sherrill announced a new website where illegal immigrants can “know their rights,” and even went on The Daily Show to lay out her agenda. She ordered her constituents, “if you see an ICE agent, in the street, get your phone out.” The audience predictably erupted into raucous applause, and the interviewer mused “yes… yes.”
As Trump’s ICE raids continue across the country, we have launched a new website to make sure New Jerseyans know their Constitutional rights.
✅ Get connected with important resources
✅ Report ICE incidents to @NewJerseyOAG
✅ Know your rightsVisit: https://t.co/xBhoRQBFO1 pic.twitter.com/u4ixPCKAVs
— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) February 17, 2026
NJ Transit’s Frigid Reality… and the “Winter from Hell”
As all of Governor Sherrill’s policy decisions play out, an enduring hellish reality for New Jersey remains — but this one really can’t be blamed on her. NJ Transit continues to face revenue shortages, crippling mismanagement, and likely instances of waste/fraud — leading to a less-than-desirable commuting experience. This proved true during the recent snowstorm when it took NJ Transit trains longer than its MTA counterparts to get moving again — and it’s routinely seen on the roadways when dirty, out-of-date buses go rolling by.
Now, NJ Transit’s “cutover” work is causing additional headaches for rail commuters, as Amtrak replaces the “portal bridge” over the Hackensack River. At over 115-years-old, the bridge is a routine source of delays and problems for NJ Transit trains. Its replacement is a good thing, but the month-long disruptions that are now underway are a drag.
So far, the cutover work hasn’t been a complete disaster. It takes north Jersey commuters a few more steps to get into Manhattan, but NJ Transit appears to be sagging rather than crumbling under the additional system stress. Perhaps that’s something Governor Sherrill can build on early in her administration. For sure, New Jersey residents are more likely to worry about getting to and from work than they are political talking points. In Montclair, cracking down on “ICE” is all the rage, but New Jersey is still purple — and most just want a state that runs smoothly.
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