The Garden State’s gubernatorial race is always viewed as a referendum on the occupant of the White House. That made sense this year, since New Jersey and Virginia were the two big elections 12 months after Trump claimed a second term. This month, voters came out of the woodwork in off-the-charts numbers because they knew Mikie Sherrill would stand up for them and stand up to Trump — especially when bad policies like MAGA’s Big Beautiful Bill come rushing out of Washington to make life worse and more expensive at home.

But Sherrill’s huge victory isn’t just about this year and the first real blow of Trump 2.0. The shellacking also serves as a canary in the coal mine for the congressional midterms all across America next year. And, for 2026 Democratic candidates, no bird is singing more

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