SMART members win big in New Jersey on Election Day

On November 4, 2025, voters went to the polls across the United States to choose new leaders and decide on critical issues. Candidates who stand with SMART members won big in races nationwide, such as Local 12-endorsed Pitts­burgh Mayor Corey O’Connor, Local 36 member and St. Paul, Mo., Alderman Kevin Brugmann and newly elected Tama City Councilmember Chris Smith (SMART-TD Iowa safety and legislative director). But our union really flexed its muscles in New Jersey. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill won decisively in the state’s election for governor, pledging after her victory to work to cut costs for working families and lower the state’s high property tax burden — priorities which will benefit thousands of SMART members.

SMART members were front and center in the campaign. Local 22 in Kenilworth lent their union hall for the get-out-the-vote effort, launching labor walks in Union County where Governor-elect Sherrill won with over 66% of the vote. She stopped by the union hall on the Saturday before the election to speak with union volunteers and Local 22 Business Manager Jim O’Reilly, recording a video for members before her next event.

“As governor, I’m going to stand with sheet metal workers as we fight hard to upgrade our schools [and] provide the skilled union workers that we need,” Sherrill said in the video.

Governor-elect Sherrill has been a champion of rail safety and full funding for New Jersey’s rail and bus transportation system during her time in Congress, in close collaboration with SMART-TD’s New Jersey Safety and Legislative Director Ron Sabol. Sabol has long been a powerhouse in New Jersey politics, and 2025 was no different: In Mercer County, where he serves as secretary-treasurer of the Central Labor Council, the AFL-CIO had an overwhelming 550 volun­teers knocking doors on Election Day. (Sherrill also appointed Sabol to her transition team after winning the election.)

Reacting to the outcome, Sabol said, “The people of New Jersey sent a message on Tuesday: We want a strong pro-worker government to work with us on fixing the problems in our state. Labor candidates won up and down the ballot, and we’ll continue the hard work of making New Jersey safer and more affordable.”

In addition to the governor’s race, there is now a larger pro-union majority in the New Jersey Assembly than any year since 1973. That means oppor­tunity for policies to bring down costs, ensure public money is spent on construc­tion projects that create good jobs, and for investments in public safety and affordable housing — making life better for everyone while creating work opportunities for SMART members.

Another Jersey legend, Bruce Springsteen, once lamented, “Sometimes it’s hard to remember that this place belongs to us, that this is our hometown.” From Montclair to the Pine Barrens, SMART members made it plain on Election Day that this place belongs to the men and women who go to work every day to build it.