The next is the transcript of the interview with New Jersey Gov.-elect , a Democrat, that aired on “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 9, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Friday we spoke to one of the most different large Democratic winners ultimate Tuesday, New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, who’s these days a member of Congress – and requested whether or not given her new position as the manager government of a state exhausting hit via the shutdown, she would fortify the Democratic Birthday party place of blockading authorities investment till Obamacare subsidies are prolonged.
REP. SHERRILL: Smartly, it is in reality vital that we stay up that combat, as a result of we see out there, prices going up via 175% if the Republicans do not cope with this well being care disaster. We all know that there have already been large cuts within the One Large, Gorgeous Invoice to other folks’s get right of entry to to well being care. And , once we take a look at this disaster, such a lot of it’s in reality imposed via Donald Trump. So there’s cash for him to place against SNAP investment that he is refusing to do, despite the fact that courts are challenging it. Now he is roughly gradual strolling it, making it very tough for states to try this illegally, and courts are conserving him responsible. We see with air site visitors regulate downside, a few of it’s because the management hasn’t moved briefly sufficient at Newark in one of the issues we had over the summer time. So we are already down via 25%. Now, with this disaster happening for the reason that President refuses to open up the govt, we are seeing every other 10% in flights being derailed, and we see persevered overdue and not on time flights. So, it is time that the government- that the Trump management, that Republicans within the Space and the Senate, get thinking about opening up authorities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: After we take a look at our contemporary polling, a majority of American citizens are in reality involved that this shutdown goes to harm the whole financial system. How are you able to justify the wear and tear?
REP. SHERRILL: Smartly, it in reality is hurting the financial system, and you’ll’t justify the wear and tear, which is why the President and the Senate and Republican majority within the Space want to get this authorities open, they usually want to accomplish that in some way that is going to prevent punishing the American other folks. I believe what we noticed with this election is the American other folks, , in reality challenging that our federal authorities perform in some way this is going to prevent punishing them economically. I will inform you I ran on affordability, on the truth that I’ll combat in Trenton to verify we are chopping via pink tape and allowing to power down prices, but additionally that I’ll proceed to combat that- for Washington, to deal with such things as the tariff program, which is elevating prices and the whole lot from a cup of espresso to groceries, to combat the ‘One Large Gorgeous Invoice,’ which is continuous to boost prices on training and innovation, housing, well being care, to proceed to combat this authorities shutdown in order that we will be able to in reality cope with well being care wishes right here within the state.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You stay announcing it is as much as the president to reopen the govt, however you withheld your personal vote on that proceeding answer, that brief time period investment invoice, and over within the Senate, Chief Thune is tearing into Democrats for that call. He mentioned, It displays you are now not worrying that there are women and men in uniform frequenting meals banks on account of the shutdown, now not making hire bills, looking to borrow. He mentioned, Dems view this as leverage, and he used that phrase as it used to be your Space management, Katherine Clark, justified withholding votes to finish the shutdown, announcing that is one of the most few portions of leverage that Democrats have. How do you reply to this accusation that it is if truth be told Democrats who’re being heartless right here?
REP. SHERRILL: Smartly, in case you have the Republicans that experience the presidency, they’ve the bulk within the Senate, they’ve the bulk within the Space. They have even, many would say- together with myself, taken over the court docket device. Then they’ve a duty to open up this authorities, and I’ve to inform you as a veteran myself, I understand how devastating this is –
(CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: It used to be Whip Clark who mentioned the ones votes are leverage.
REP. SHERRILL: We are- leverage to serve the American other folks. I imply, we see over and over again those Republican assaults on the whole lot from well being care. Glance, if if they do not fund the Inexpensive Care Act, prices are going to head up via 175% for other folks right here in New Jersey, at already prime ranges. This is going to kick such a lot of other folks off well being care that is on most sensible of the massive Medicare cuts that we are seeing within the ‘One Large Gorgeous Invoice,’ on most sensible of the tariff cuts which are elevating grocery costs in all places, on most sensible of the combat he is in now, which is elevating gasoline costs. So over and over again, we are seeing the Trump management punishing other folks, and those Republicans have were given to return to the desk, and they have were given to begin in reality running for the American other folks, and this election confirmed that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However whilst you have been speaking concerning the extension of the well being care subsidies, why is not the promise to carry a vote on the ones well being care subsidies sufficient for Democrats to vote to reopen the govt?
REP. SHERRILL: So we’re running exhausting to deal with the worries for the American other folks, and Republicans, over and over again, are refusing to deal with that. So proper now–
(CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly the chief Thune mentioned they are going to dangle a vote–
REP. SHERRILL: –part of the way we get the govt open they usually will have to do it presently, I believe we’ve noticed what the guarantees that Republicans have made had been value. What he must do is if truth be told put the subsidies in. We will be able to serve the American other folks, we will be able to power down well being care prices, and that is the reason in reality key.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let’s communicate somewhat about your election. As you mentioned, the financial system used to be entrance and middle for you. Power costs particularly, you targeted in on. In New Jersey, they are up 19% during the last 12 months, as opposed to 6% national. I do know you need to claim a state of emergency day one, however what does it if truth be told imply? How briefly will costs come down?
REP. SHERRILL: So the state of emergency will freeze price hikes, as a result of there are some price hikes which are set to return into play within the subsequent a number of months, and I- , I am not going to permit the ones to be put at the again of the New Jersey price payer, and we see that the can has been kicked down the street via too many of us. So the application corporations have already come to the desk to mention, ok, let’s negotiate the ones price hikes. We’ve cash that is available in in the course of the BPU to defray the price. However what is in reality going to additionally occur is, in no time, I am turning to including numerous energy to our grid. At this time, PJM, that is our regional grid operator, has in reality screwed up the marketplace for more than a few causes, and so each electron we produce in New Jersey will defray the price of elect- of electrical energy we need to purchase available on the market. In order that’s why, in an instant, I’ll lower via pink tape and allowing delays to get sun accomplished. We are going to proceed to construct out battery garage, after which within the first finances, we can amplify modernization of our herbal gasoline amenities, and in the long run, nuclear.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You mentioned on CNN this previous week that there is a feeling running other folks have now not been heard, and that there is an excessive amount of warning and mediocrity within the Democratic Birthday party nowadays. What? What did you imply via that?
REP. SHERRILL: That- as I used to be chatting with other folks around the state, hundreds of other folks, they sought after to peer an time table to get their prices down, and one thing that used to be going to happen briefly. As I mentioned, , I am not writing a strongly worded letter. I am not doing a ten 12 months plan. I am on day one stating a state of emergency, now not simply because I am livid that, , as too many of us have failed New Jersey price payers, that the prices are being dumped on them. Sure, that may be a large downside for me that I am addressing, however it additionally, I believe, conveys that sense of urgency that I believe to paintings for the folks of New Jersey, in order that they know that this can be a day one factor for me. In addition they wish to see any individual regardless that that has their backs, as a result of they know that those price lists are elevating prices. They know that the ‘One Large Gorgeous Invoice’ goes to remove their well being care. They know that assaults at the Gateway Tunnel Mission are going to boost prices right here and in reality lower into task alternatives. In order that they wish to know that whoever is governing goes to be enthusiastic about governing for them, now not a birthday celebration of 1 like Donald Trump.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, your complaint there used to be of fellow Democrats, as I understood it. However let me ask you about Speaker Emeritus, Nancy Pelosi. She simply introduced that she will be leaving Congress. Once I spoke to her ultimate in this program, she indicated that she is aware of it is a downside recruiting new applicants, partly on account of the surroundings we are in, together with simply how nasty our politics are and the protection threats. And he or she mentioned that is discouraging- particularly girls who worry the have an effect on on youngsters. What do you are saying to these taking into account for place of job presently? Are you seeing that that feminine applicants are petrified of doing what you simply did?
REP. SHERRILL: Smartly, we’ve got labored very exhausting right here in New Jersey to in reality construct out a long term and an concept that is going to convey everyone in and- and in reality running exhausting to stay other folks secure. Public protection is a large factor for me and for other folks around the state. As we double down on our constitutional protections, freedom of speech, freedom of meeting, and many others., however this can be a frightening time. I keep in mind proper when I received my number one, the assassinations in Minnesota happened, and right here I’ve 4 children, and I am unexpectedly considering, oh my gosh, am I striking them in peril via operating? However what? I believe maximum people are weighing as mothers if we are applicants is, what’s my children’ long term seem like if I do not run? And that’s the reason on steadiness, I believe individuals are opting for to run. I see girls throughout our state operating. We’ve, , other folks newly coming into races, and likewise one of the nice, robust girls in our state proceeding to serve. So I do not believe it is dissuading them, however it unquestionably is on our minds as we’re desirous about, how are we going to stay our households secure as we’re operating for elected place of job?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congresswoman, we’re going to be gazing as you transition into being the following Governor of New Jersey. Thanks on your time nowadays. We’re going to be proper again.
