TRENTON, NJ — Independent Women’s Voice warns that Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill’s win tonight in New Jersey sets the stage for higher energy costs and renewed attacks on women’s sports, safety, and privacy. 

Throughout this election cycle, Independent Women’s Voice worked to inform New Jersey voters about Sherrill’s record and the harmful consequences of her radical policies. Now, with Sherrill poised to lead the state as governor, New Jersey families—and especially women and girls—stand to pay the price. 

“New Jersey voters have given Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill a chance to break from a decade of failed policies that drove up costs, weakened competition, and eroded the sex-based rights of women and girls,” said Jordanne Kemper, Vice President of Independent Women’s Voice. “New Jersey needs leadership that protects women’s sports and spaces, restores a reliable energy grid, and puts common sense back at the center of state governance. The people of New Jersey deserve an administration that delivers results, not one that panders to the political theatre. I hope Governor-elect Sherrill proves that leadership in the Garden State can finally mean fairness, accountability, and real solutions for women and families.”

On Protecting Women’s Spaces:

Not all New Jersey voters agree with Sherrill’s radical policy agenda. Independent Women’s July polling revealed widespread concern among New Jersey swing voters over the threat to women’s rights and the erosion of single-sex spaces and opportunities. When informed about Sherrill’s record—voting twice to allow men to compete in women’s sports— respondents recoiled. The more they learned, the less they liked.

“Too many New Jersey leaders are failing us,” said women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines in an ad produced by Independent Women’s Voice.

Independent Women’s Voice, in partnership with Gaines, highlighted candidates whose records reflect that they will protect and advance policies to safeguard women’s sex-based rights. 

In 2024 Independent Women’s Voice launched the Riley Gaines Stand With Women Scorecard, grading incumbents and candidates on whether they support legislation that preserves female opportunities and private spaces. 

“You deserve to know who stands with women and who does not,” Gaines proclaims in the state-wide ad campaign distributed throughout the state through OTT, streaming, digital, and text platforms. 

Watch Riley Gaines’ Stand With Women New Jersey Ad

In July of this year, Jack Ciattarelli received a “RG APPROVED” scorecard rating after signing the Stand With Women Commitment, promising “to uphold laws that preserve female opportunities and private spaces.”

Mikie Sherrill, on the other hand, received a “FAILED” score for her votes against “The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” and the “Riley Gaines Women’s Sports Protection Act.” 

   
Riley Gaines Stand With Women Scorecard Texts

“The first job of any leader should be protecting the rights and safety of women and girls,” added Kemper. “Sadly, Sherrill’s record shows she won’t.”

“Sherrill’s victory tonight proves that there is much more work to be done to ensure that women’s rights are protected in the state of New Jersey. While tonight’s results are disappointing, our fight for women’s rights and protections is far from over,” said Beth Parlato, senior legal advisor for Independent Women. “Independent Women will continue to hold her accountable and lead the charge for policies that put women first in New Jersey.”

Energy Costs Poised to Soar:

New Jersey residents must brace for an expensive life with respect to energy usage. Independent Women polling found that when voters learned of New Jersey’s costly climate mandates, which are more aggressive than California’s, energy policy climbed to the top of voter’s concerns. 

“Garden State residents should brace for sticker shock,” warned Gabriella Hoffman, director of Independent Women’s Center for Energy and Conservation. “The Energy Master Plan must be reformed to promote reliable energy sources—not 100% renewables mandates—to lower electricity prices. New Jersey needs new natural gas and nuclear power plants to meet rising electricity demand and stave off energy insecurity. Residents must hold Governor-elect Mikie Sherill accountable and ensure she promotes energy abundance policies, not to continue the status quo.”

Independent Women’s Center for Energy and Conservation’s new report, “Energy Abundance: How America Can Lead the World in Energy Production While Creating a Better, Cleaner Environment,” proposes better solutions to meet today’s growing energy demand. The report outlines how unleashing America’s energy potential can drive economic growth, strengthen national security, and deliver real environmental progress. 

“Energy abundance, not scarcity, is the key to prosperity,” Hoffman added. “Governor-elect Sherrill should abandon the failed Murphy playbook and embrace policies that power opportunity instead of draining wallets.”

See below to learn more about Independent Women’s work to elevate the issues that matter most to voters in New Jersey:

Direct media inquiries and booking requests to [email protected]. 

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