Grading Democratic gubernatorial candidates in a race to the left

The stakes are high for New Jersey’s burgeoning Jewish community as the Democratic primary for governor comes down the wire. The winner in this deep-blue state is almost a lock for the job in November, and will hold power over many critical issues. Anti-Semitism, both on the street and in municipal governments, joins anti-Israel activism as topmost on our minds. Skyrocketing costs of living; desperately needed funding for education, special education, and security; and critically failing roads and city infrastructure in Lakewood are issues that must be addressed over the next four years.

Here’s a review of the five candidates who qualified for the public debates and where they stand. (On some issues we use a traffic-light rating scale — green for go, yellow for pump the brakes, red for stop.)

Ras Baraka

Ideology: Extreme Left Progressive

Qualifications: Newark mayor since 2014

Company He Keeps: Nation of Islam founder Louis Farrakhan.

Election Strategy: Appeals to minorities, low-income communities, progressives, and labor unions.

Israel/Jewish Issues: Red. Used Newark city funds to honor his dad, discredited poet Amiri Baraka, who accused Israel of plotting 9/11 and wrote: “Smile, jew. Dance, jew. Tell me you love me, jew,” and, “I got the extermination blues, jewboys. I got the hitler syndrome figured.”

Affordability Issues: Red. Plans fund investment in lower classes by raising taxes and fees on middle and upper classes.

Lakewood Issues: No data. Met privately with community leaders, but was unfamiliar with local issues.

Key Endorsement: Playing the race card as the only African-American candidate, 15 out of 16 political endorsements on Baraka’s website are black. Included is LaMonica McIver, the congresswoman alongside whom Baraka was arrested for storming an ICE detention facility.

Steven Fulop

Political Ideology: Far Left

Qualifications: Jersey City mayor since 2013

Election Strategy: Built alliances with 40 liberal down-ballot candidates in local races across the state, hoping to usurp their voters.

Company He Keeps: Allies included are Christina Khalil and Freshta Taeb, anti-Israel genocide accusers. Khalil openly defended Hamas’s October 7 attack, later dropped from Fulop’s network.

Israel/Jewish Issues: Red. Will veto legislation adopting the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism that would toughen penalties, arguing it increases anti-Semitism by supporting the stereotype that Jews “think that they’re better than others.”

Affordability Issues: Red. Only candidate supporting New York City congestion pricing, proposing a sister tax to enter New Jersey. Will raise income taxes, nix property tax rebates, add new tax on real estate worth over $1M.

Lakewood Issues: Red. Leaders coming from a private meeting said Fulop’s hard-left tack is “worrying.”

Key Endorsement: Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer, Fulop’s first endorsement, accused Israel of deliberately killing aid workers, colonizing Gaza, and says Netanyahu is a “war criminal.” Fulop welcomed Jaffer’s endorsement: “True honor to have Assemblywoman Jaffer’s support in this campaign as well as the tremendous value she will bring to our team in helping shape policy positions.”

Mikie Sherrill

Ideology: Left

Qualifications: US attorney; Congress since 2018

Company She Keeps: Campaign ambassador Patricia Campos-Medina repeatedly accuses Israel of genocide.

Election Strategy: Extensive ties within the existing Democratic political establishment, running on their coattails.

Israel/Jewish Issues: Yellow. Pressured Israel for ceasefires and humanitarian aid, mixed voting record in Congress on Israel funding. Equivocated on condemning anti-Semitic demonstrations after October 7. Met with Muslim organizations CAIR and AMP accused of supporting Hamas.

Affordability Issues:
Yellow. Blames Trump and Musk for affordability crisis, ideas include building more groceries, expanding child tax credit.

Lakewood Issues:
Red. Did not demonstrate receptiveness to community needs when meeting with leaders.

Key Endorsement: Mayor Andrew Sayegh of Paterson (“Capital of Palestine”); she eagerly celebrated his approval.

Josh Gottheimer

Ideology: Center

Qualifications: US Congress since 2016.

Company He Keeps: AIPAC membership, close to family of Edan Alexander, strong ties throughout the New Jersey Jewish community.

Election Strategy: With 30,000 Jewish eligible (registered Democrats and unaffiliated) voters in Lakewood alone and many more throughout the state, and only about 250,000 votes needed to win, the Jewish vote —his strongest point — can easily put him over the top… if they turn out.

Israel/Jewish Issues: Bright green. Pushed hundreds of measures in Congress supporting Israel, combating anti-Semitism. Calls out all anti-Semitism unequivocally, pressures misbehaving municipalities.

Lakewood Issues: Green. Visiting Mishpacha, Gottheimer was knowledgeable and receptive to Lakewood’s needs, recognizing it as prime economic and growth driver, and advocating infrastructure investment. Promised to open an office in Lakewood, push strongly for widening Route 9, fix the school-funding formula to lower property taxes, supply special-education access, and provide busing.

Affordability Issues:

Green. Cut property and income tax for middle class by 15%, incentivize people to move here from other states, give seniors money to stay, and provide free UPK to three- and four-year-olds even in private school, at a value of $143M, for Lakewood’s 13,000 eligible kids.

Key Endorsement: Orthodox Jewish assemblyman Gary Schaer: “Every single item we believe in as a community, he champions. I’ve never seen anything like this gentleman. This is an opportunity we have never had as a community before... to put a guy in office who understands the frum community, understands the key issues. It will not happen again for a long time.”

Steve Sweeney

Ideology: Moderate

Qualifications: Gloucester County commissioner for 23 years; New Jersey state senator 2002-2022; state senate president from 2010 until losing seat in massive upset to Ed “The Trucker” Durr in 2022.

Company He Keeps: Only Trenton “insider” in the race, Sweeney has extensive connections in state government and his native South Jersey.

Election Strategy: Deeply unpopular for some of his more controversial practices as senate president, Sweeney is possibly the only candidate with no realistic pathway to victory. His hopes are pinned on sweeping his native South Jersey.

Israel/Jewish Issues: Green. Strong supporter of Israel’s war effort and biblical right to the land; equates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, will sign IHRA definition.

Affordability Issues: Green. Supports public health plan, maintaining property and income tax credits, will not raise taxes.

Lakewood Issues: Green. Sweeney has a long history of accomplishments for the Lakewood community, including creating the LSTA busing consortium, pushing funding for schools, and supporting the bill legalizing Hatzolah.

Key Endorsement: Camden County Democratic Jewish Caucus chairman David Spector.

Wednesday polling has Sherrill out in front by about 15%, with Gottheimer, Baraka, and Fulop statistically tied for second. Six candidates splitting a low-turnout primary means only about 20% is needed to win; with 30% undecided, it’s anybody’s race. Primary polls are also notoriously off by as much as 15%, and undercount the Jewish vote.

Ultimately, the outcome is likely to come down to turnout. Without endorsing a candidate, BMG published a letter urging people to register and vote. The Jewish bloc can easily play kingmaker in New Jersey.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1063)