NJ-11: Phil Murphy backs Brendan Gill, his old campaign manager, in special election

As the Democratic field to succeed Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill continues to grow, Gov. Phil Murphy has waded in on behalf of Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill (D-Montclair), a close ally since Murphy’s first run for governor.

“As Mikie heads to Trenton, we need a new leader to keep up the fight against Donald Trump and his allies in Congress,” Murphy said in a statement. “For me, that’s Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill. Brendan has spent his career getting results – fighting for progressive values and helping to elect Democrats across New Jersey including me. Now, we need Brendan in DC to help lower costs, complete the Gateway Program, and protect our freedoms.”

A political operative with a long history of working for prominent New Jersey Democrats, Gill was Murphy’s campaign manager in 2017, a campaign that transformed the former ambassador and first-time candidate from political unknown into the state’s most powerful man. Gill, who has also been a member of the Essex County Board of Commissioners since 2012, remains close to the Murphy orbit.

Murphy’s endorsement, then, is not unexpected, and had been widely telegraphed even before its announcement today.



https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/phil-murphy-back-brendan-gill-his-old-campaign-manager-in-nj-11-special-election/