NJ Morning Briefing: No Kings Rallies & Primary Season 2026

Governor Milly Sherrill took the stage in Princeton Saturday to kick off one of dozens of “No Kings” rallies that swept New Jersey as part of a coordinated nationwide day of protest, drawing crowds and candidates alike into the streets just weeks before the state’s primary season heats up.

Sherrill used the Princeton rally to draw a sharp line between herself and the Trump administration, accusing the president of prioritizing personal enrichment over governance. “This is what happens when you put someone in charge who’s more interested in making a billion dollars for himself and his family than running the United States of America,” she said. State Senator Andrew Zwicker followed, pledging that New Jersey would “not be silent” and “not look away.”

The rallies did more than draw a crowd. They also served as a political proving ground for candidates eyeing competitive congressional seats. In the 11th Congressional District, candidate Sherrill challenger Marcos Mejia rallied alongside protesters in Morristown, positioning himself in front of an energized activist base. The CD11 primary is set for June, and Mejia has already run into turbulence after the League of Women Voters canceled a planned debate, citing no agreement with his campaign.

The 7th Congressional District is also taking shape. Candidate Roth announced a round of local endorsements, while Somerset County Democrats consolidated support behind Bennett, according to reporting from NJ Globe. In the 9th District, Representative Pou picked up a significant boost, earning the endorsement of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The political world also mourned two losses over the weekend. Former Assemblyman Coutinho died in a fatal car accident. Longtime DNC Committeewoman June Fisher also passed away. Both were respected figures in Democratic circles who shaped New Jersey politics over many years.

Elsewhere on the political calendar, Bergen County is bracing for contested primaries in multiple races, while the Bergen County GOP has managed to recruit candidates for just over half of its county committee seats, a sign of organizing struggles heading into the spring. Cape May County also has three contested primary elections on tap.

On the casino front, South Jersey is drawing battle lines. Regional leaders sent a letter to Governor Sherrill promising a fight against any proposals to expand casino gambling into North Jersey. A new advocacy group, South Jersey Forward, launched a website specifically opposing the idea. Atlantic City’s gaming industry has long viewed northern expansion as an existential threat, and those concerns are clearly not fading.

New Jersey’s first female State Police Superintendent is settling into her role, according to reporting from NJ.com, signaling a historic shift in leadership at one of the state’s most prominent law enforcement agencies. Amy Herbold was also named to lead Choose NJ, the state’s economic development marketing organization.

On the transit front, NJ Transit is giving riders a window to weigh in on its Rapid Action Plan through three upcoming virtual hearings. For a system that serves hundreds of thousands of daily commuters across the state, the input period matters. Service complaints have been a persistent sore spot for commuters in the corridor between Trenton and New York, and riders should use the opportunity to make their voices count.

New Jersey’s population growth slowed last year, according to NJ Spotlight, a trend worth watching as the state heads toward a new round of budget negotiations and infrastructure planning. In Brick, local officials are looking at a budget that could push taxes higher. In Evesham, the governor visited the Lenape school district and the township is moving to require project labor agreements on major construction projects.

Planned Parenthood launched a new Impact Giving Campaign, and the ACLU-NJ brought on a new political advocacy director, both moves that signal increased organizing activity on the left as federal policy fights over reproductive rights and civil liberties continue to land in state courts and legislatures.

New Jersey is not a passive observer in any of these national fights. From the protest rallies on Saturday to the congressional primaries taking shape this spring, the state is actively working to project its politics outward. Sherrill and the Democrats showing up in the streets are betting that energy translates at the ballot box.