We’ve Endorsed Mikie Sherrill for Governor – Now We Need to Make Sure She Wins

Dear colleague,

This week, our union’s elected Executive Council voted to endorse US Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s campaign to defeat MAGA Republican Jack Ciattarelli and become governor of New Jersey. As our Legislative Committee wrote in the endorsement statement voted on by the EC:

While we continue to stand against [the Trump administration’s] unconstitutional acts at the federal level, we must at the same time look to our state to offer additional defense for ourselves and our communities. In New Jersey, one of the most important ways we can do this is by ensuring that our governor will be someone who steadfastly opposes the federal attacks on our rights. With this in mind, the Rutgers AAUP-AFT Executive Council endorses US Rep. Mikie Sherrill as our next governor of New Jersey.

Click here to read the full endorsement statement.

We want to get organizing right away to make sure Sherrill wins. There are a number of upcoming campaign events to plug into:

  • Pre-Debate Rally for Mikie Sherrill – TOMORROW (Wed., Oct. 8) at 4 p.m., New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (11 Livingston Ave.) – Before her debate with Ciattarelli, Sherrill will appear at a rally in New Brunswick hosted by the Middlesex/Somerset County Central Labor Council and New Jersey State AFL-CIO. If you’re teaching in New Brunswick tomorrow, it’s right downtown! Click here to tell us you can come.
  • Rutgers Unions Labor Walk in Highland Park – Sunday, October 12, 12–3 p.m., meet at the URA office (75 Raritan Ave., Suite 255) – Join your colleagues from AAUP-AFT and sibling Rutgers unions to knock on the doors of our members in Highland Park to get out the vote for Mikie Sherrill for governor. Click here to tell us you can come.
  • AFT Day Labor Walk in North Brunswick – Saturday, October 18, meet at 8:30 a.m., IBEW 456 Hall (1295 Livingston Ave., North Brunswick) – Join our labor-to-labor canvassing for Sherrill at a labor walk hosted by the Middlesex/Somerset County Central Labor Council and New Jersey AFL-CIO; please recruit co-workers and friends to join us! Spend the morning canvassing and then head to the No Kings Day demonstration in Highland Park. Click here if you can make it.
  • Volunteers Needed for Text-Banking – Tuesday Evenings from 6-8 p.m. through Election Day – If you are looking for a way to help remotely, our union along with the Central Labor Council will participate in weekly text banks. We’re looking for more volunteers to sign up to do this easy GOTV work from the comfort of their own homes. Click here and we’ll tell you how to join.

And don’t forget what you can do on campus!

Lastly, to hear about canvassing and phone-banking plans in the coming weeks, click here to sign up for the broadcast-only Legislative Committee News listserve.

In solidarity,
Matthew Buckley, Joint Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Rutgers AAUP-AFT
Todd Vachon, New Brunswick Chapter President, Rutgers AAUP-AFT; President, Middlesex/Somerset County Central Labor Council

Other Upcoming Events

Click here for a full calendar: https://rutgersaaup.org/events/

Health Care Town Hall
Learn about your health plan options as open enrollment begins for the State Health Benefits Program.

New Brunswick Chapter Happy Hour
Talk with your colleagues informally at a meetup at Pino’s in Highland Park (13 N. 4th Ave.); your first drink is on your union!

  • Thursday, October 9, 5–7 p.m.

Union Health Care Clinics
Smaller meetings throughout October to dig into the details of SHBP plans and address individual questions.

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Visit our website: https://rutgers-ptlfc.org/

AAUP-BHSNJ website: https://aaupbhsnj.org/
AAUP-BHSNJ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RUaaupbhsnj