Former President Obama Campaigns For Mikie Sherrill In Newark With Recycled Rhetoric About A “brighter Future,” Echoing The Same Failed Promises That Preceded Eight Years Of Decline Under Governor Phil Murphy

Monday, November 3, 2025, 9:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

NEWARK, NJ.- Former President Barack Obama returned to familiar territory Saturday night, rallying Democratic voters in Newark to support Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s bid for New Jersey governor. His message? The same well-worn call for a “brighter future” that echoed almost word for word the stump speeches he delivered for Governor Phil Murphy’s campaigns in 2017 and 2021.

     “New Jersey, it’s time to point America in a brighter direction by appointing Mikie Sherrill your next governor,” Obama told a packed crowd at Essex County Community College. “If you meet this moment … you will not just elect Mikie Sherrill, you will set a glorious example for this nation.”

     But to many residents, those promises ring hollow after eight years of Democratic control in Trenton that have left New Jersey burdened with higher taxes, record deficits, and rising crime. The Murphy administration, despite its early pledges of progress, has overseen a $1.5 billion budget deficit, skyrocketing energy costs, and a steady exodus of businesses and residents fleeing the state’s soaring expenses and sanctuary policies.

Obama’s Familiar “Hope And Change” Routine;

     Obama’s remarks were filled with the same rhetorical flourishes that once defined his presidency: optimism, unity, and a vague promise that Democratic leadership would “restore normalcy.” However, critics argue that these speeches amount to style without substance, failing to address the tangible decline many New Jerseyans have experienced under Democratic rule.

     In his speech, Obama also took aim at the Trump administration, calling the White House “a pretty dark place right now,” and accusing it of “lawlessness and just plain old craziness.”

     Republican strategists, however, called the comments “a distraction,” saying Democrats are leaning on fear and nostalgia rather than facts or results.

Murphy’s Legacy Casts A Long Shadow;

The Democratic blueprint Obama promoted in 2017 for then-candidate Phil Murphy, promises of cleaner government, fairer taxation, and better public services, has not materialized. Instead, crime rates have risen, energy bills have soared, and budget deficits have deepened.

     Critics say that by embracing Murphy’s policies, Mikie Sherrill represents a continuation of the same tax-and-spend politics that have driven New Jersey into deeper debt. “Obama’s rally for Sherrill feels like déjà vu,” one Newark resident told local reporters. “We’ve heard all this before, and we’ve seen where it got us.”

Election Eve Reality Check;

     With Election Day less than 24 hours away, the stakes are clear. Sherrill, a Democratic congresswoman from Montclair, faces Republican former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli in what many analysts call a referendum on eight years of Democratic rule.

     While Obama’s visit energized Sherrill’s base, Republican voters remain hopeful that frustration with Democratic governance, from runaway spending to sanctuary policies, will push independents toward the GOP ticket.

     Should Sherrill win, Democrats will likely declare it a mandate. But for many New Jerseyans struggling under Murphy-era economic and safety challenges, another “brighter future” may sound like the same tired Democratic tune.

Editor’s Note:

This report was written by Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor for Englebrook Independent News. Reporting and verification were based on public statements and coverage from Reuters, Insider NJ, New Jersey Monitor, and official state budget sources. Attribution for factual references includes the New Jersey Senate Republican Budget Committee, Fairleigh Dickinson University polling, and Politico.