Mikie Sherrill, Democratic candidate for the 11^th District congressional seat, has picked up two important endorsements from the editorial boards of The New York Times and the Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper.

Vote Mikie Sherrill for Congress: Webber is too fanatical (Star-Ledger)

Highlights: Sherrill’s “sterling background as a Navy veteran, helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor” and “sensible defense of our health care coverage [and] gun safety” are contrasted with “Webber’s bear hug of President Trump and a Republican party that’s careened to the far right.” The Star-Ledger’s editorial board writes that Webber’s state legislature voting record “proves he’s far too extreme for the people of this district.”

Candidates Who Can Help Take Back the House (The New York Times)

Highlights: Sherrill is featured as one of six candidates The Times’ editorial board considers to be strong choices for “representatives in Congress who will act against corruption in the Trump administration and work for legislation to provide health care, public services and jobs to Americans, as opposed to tax breaks for millionaires.” The Times notes Sherrill’s commitment to the Gateway infrastructure project and universal background checks for gun purchases.

TODAY (TUES. Oct. 16) IS THE DAY to ensure that you are able to vote on Nov. 6, 2018 in what is arguably the most important election of our lifetimes. This is the home stretch.

If you have not yet registered to vote in New Jersey, you have until today to register in time to vote in the general election.

 GO HERE to find out how to register.

If you’re already registered to vote:

• Check NOW at this link to make sure your registration is current and active. If it isn’t, go to the link above for instructions on how to register by Oct. 16.
• Use this link to make sure you know where your polling place is.
• IMPORTANT Vote By Mail Update: If you are a registered voter who applied for a Vote By Mail (VBM) ballot for the 2016 general election, you will automatically be sent a VBM ballot for 2018. Our VBM fact sheet has more details about important Vote By Mail updates for 2018.

Please take a moment, right now, to make sure you’re registered, and to make a voting plan.

Talk to your family and friends. Ask if they are registered. Encourage them to become registered voters. If they’re already registered, encourage them to check to make sure their registration is active.

Don’t sit this one out. There’s so much at stake this year, for all of us.

During Gov. Chris Christie’s administration, funding for women’s reproductive health care was slashed. More than $7 million per year was eliminated for health and family planning for uninsured women -- funding that went to lifesaving, preventive services including breast and cervical cancer screenings, birth control, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Health centers were forced to close. Breast and cervical cancer cases increased. And Morris County had the highest surge in bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the state.

Did Jay Webber stand with other legislators who voted to protect NJ women by restoring the needed funding? Not a chance. He voted against the bill that provided a safety net for low-income women.

#27moredays  #votesherrill

Shala Gagliardi, Democratic candidate for Morris County Clerk, put up a video on her Facebook page recently that covers what you should know about Vote By Mail procedures, including what's new this year.

(Still have questions about the new rules for 2018? Download our handy Vote By Mail guide.)

When thousands of students and families across the state marched in support of tougher gun laws this spring, astute legislators paid attention. A few weeks later, New Jersey joined eight other states and Washington DC to pass laws banning large capacity ammunition magazines holding more than ten rounds.

Despite the fact that residents in our congressional district favor having strong gun laws, Jay Webber voted against this reasonable measure.

#34moredays  #votesherrill

New Jersey has the highest foreclosure rate in the country. Following the housing crash, mortgage counseling and mediation services helped to prevent even more homeowners from going underwater.

What did Jay Webber do? He voted against establishing the Mortgage Stabilization Program that assists homeowners and lenders who want to refinance mortgages to make payments affordable.

#35moredays #votesherrill

A 31 percent drop in clinical breast exams in New Jersey from 2009-2012 at Title X health centers was the direct result of former Governor Christie’s drastic cuts to women’s healthcare services. By 2015, rates of sexually transmitted infections increased 35 percent.

A large majority of residents in our 11th congressional district believe Planned Parenthood should be allowed to receive government funding. Mikie Sherrill has pledged to “be a forceful voice against efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, restrict access to birth control, and efforts to limit a woman’s access to safe family planning services.”

#37moredays  #votesherrill

Important Update: New Vote-By-Mail Rules (.pdf)

Click on the .pdf link for a handout explaining new Vote-By-Mail rules in effect for 2018 -- what's involved, what you should do, and where to get more information if you need it. Download and share with your New Jersey friends!

(Cross-posted from NJ 11th for Change's Issues Essentials page.) 

STATEMENT:

NJ 11th for Change Calls On Senate Judiciary Committee To Reject Brett Kavanaugh for the U.S. Supreme Court

Sept. 27, 2018 — Since being nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh has been the subject of repeated and credible allegations of sexual assault. Despite the situation crying out for an unbiased, fact-based FBI investigation,  GOP leadership has plowed through the process, dismissively rejecting that approach -- as well as the women requesting it. Today, in Senate confirmation hearings, Kavanaugh himself repeatedly refused to support an objective inquiry. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, on the other hand, has repeatedly requested one. The contrast speaks volumes.

Dr. Ford’s clear, powerful and courageous testimony today stood in telling contrast to Kavanaugh’s angry and often contemptuous responses to questions.

The serious assertions of sexual assault detailed by Dr. Ford only add to Kavanaugh’s already cloudy record, which has been consistently shielded from effective scrutiny by Republican Senators eager to fast-track the process.  

NJ 11th for Change has been deeply concerned about Kavanaugh’s nomination since its announcement 11 weeks ago, due to his troubling record regarding presidential power, women’s choice, and gun safety, among other matters. It has now become abundantly clear that Kavanaugh’s character is as troubling as his record. Bestowing a lifelong seat on the nation’s most powerful Court to Brett Kavanaugh would fail to align with our values of transparency, accountability and responsiveness. We look forward to the day when women who come forward with credible assertions of abuse are not subjected to more abuse, and we will do our part to elect representatives who will stand up for women and help create that world.

A Supreme Court appointment is a lifelong responsibility, not an entitlement.  We strongly urge Senators to vote NO on confirming this manifestly unsuitable candidate.

The American Lung Association says air pollution in New Jersey is so bad that it could be harmful for people with breathing conditions. An estimated 735,000 NJ residents have asthma. Developing renewable sources of energy not only supports a healthier environment, but also creates clean energy jobs.

Earlier this year, legislation passed that should make NJ a leader in this field. Despite bipartisan support, Jay Webber voted “nay.”

#40moredays #votesherrill

New Jersey leads the nation with tough legislation that requires equal pay for women. Recently, our legislators overwhelmingly passed a law that protects women and minorities from workplace discrimination, making it illegal to offer them lower pay and fewer benefits without justification. 

Most would call this a no-brainer, but not Jay Webber. He was one of only two Assembly members who voted against equal pay for equal work.

#41moredays #votesherrill

That sinking feeling: another deadly shooting in our country. Followed by the predictable reaction from legislators: hand-wringing, thoughts and prayers, return to business as usual.

There were almost 500 firearm deaths in New Jersey in 2016, despite our relatively strong gun laws - laws which residents in our district support.

Mikie Sherrill stood shoulder to shoulder with courageous young neighbors in our district at the Morristown March for Our Lives rally. She is firmly committed to a federal assault weapons ban and other common-sense measures and has vowed to work tirelessly “to save lives and help find responsible solutions to America’s gun violence crisis.”  

#42moredays  #votesherrill