NEW JERSEY — Another high-profile Democrat has thrown her hat into the New Jersey governor’s race.

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill launched her candidacy on YouTube early Monday morning

She now joins a crowded field running in the primaries.

“In the Navy, I was on a mission to protect our country. Now I’m announcing my candidacy for governor with a mission to get things done for New Jersey,” Sherrill said.

Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot, said she is running for the Garden State’s top job because she is concerned about freedoms under Donald Trump’s presidency, including reproductive rights.

“We have heard that there is a lot of effort within the Republican Party to enact a nationwide abortion ban,” Sherrill said. “In other states around the country, women are dying in emergency rooms because doctors refuse to perform abortions.”

List of Democratic candidates for governor of New Jersey is growing

Sherrill’s announcement comes after her latest victory in the 11th Congressional District and beyond fellow Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer said he is also running for governor.

“As governor, I will cut your property and income taxes,” Gottheimer said.

Gottheimer is supported by the Democratic chairman of Bergen County, which has more than seventy cities.

Other Democrats running include Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who released a statement saying Sherrill is backed by political bosses and that his campaign is different. wants to fight Trump in Congress and be released on bail the following week.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is also in the running in a state where Trump lost to Vice President Kamala Harris by just five points.

“I don’t think the Republicans have done better. I just think we’ve done worse. We didn’t organize as we should. We didn’t go out into the community. We didn’t lean into our values,” Baraka said. “Giving people access to the middle class, lowering our health care costs, lowering our housing costs and making sure the wealthy pay their fair share.”

NJEA President Sean Spiller is a lesser-known Democrat.

“As an educator, someone who fights for the needs of our students and families every day, someone who understands as a union leader, who worked under Chris Christie, knows how to fight back,” Spiller said.

South Jersey Former Senate President Stephen Sweeney is also running as a Democrat. His campaign said he has no comment.

The candidates will have to fight hard as they campaign this year for the 2025 gubernatorial race.

Republicans in the fight for the top job in New Jersey

State Senator Jon Bramnick And Jack CiatarelliWHO came close to defeating Governor Phil Murphy in the last electionare running in the Republican primaries, just like radio host Bill Spadea.

“We can win with the right Republican, but that’s a Republican who appeals to swing voters,” Bramnick said.

Spadea, an ardent Trump supporter, has 1 million radio listeners. He told CBS News New York that Democrats are on a failed message.

“The only thing they want to talk about is abortion because they can’t talk about affordability. They can’t talk about public safety,” Spadea said. “Prices have skyrocketed. The streets have become less safe and we have no solution to our education spending plan.”