Former President Barack Obama stormed into Newark, New Jersey, on November 1, 2025, to rally the Democratic faithful just days before a critical gubernatorial election.
On that Saturday, hundreds of supporters packed the Essex County College Gymnasium for a "Get Out the Vote" event backing Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic hopeful for governor, while Obama and other party heavyweights took aim at President Donald Trump and GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli, as Fox News reports.
The crowd was electric, with lines stretching around blocks and the auditorium hitting capacity before the event even kicked off.
Those who couldn’t squeeze inside watched from an overflow parking lot, proving that Obama’s star power still draws a mob.
Vendors outside hawked anti-Trump merchandise, a clear sign that for many, this election is as much a referendum on the current White House as it is on local leadership.
Speakers like Obama, Sherrill, DNC chair Ken Martin, and Sen. Cory Booker didn’t hold back, zeroing in on Trump’s policies—from deportation plans to economic tariffs and energy strategies favoring fossil fuels.
Obama pulled no punches, telling the crowd, "Let's face it, our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now."
He continued, "It's hard to know where to start, because every day this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness and carelessness and mean-spiritedness" (Obama, to the audience at the rally on November 1, 2025).
While his words may resonate with the choir, let’s be real—painting the administration as a daily disaster ignores the appeal of Trump’s no-nonsense approach to border security and energy independence that many working-class Americans value.
Sherrill herself doubled down, declaring, "But my fight doesn't and can't end at the border of New Jersey."
She added, "We've got to take on all those hits coming from Trump and Washington, D.C." (Sherrill, during the rally on November 1, 2025).
Sure, standing up to federal overreach sounds noble, but one wonders if Sherrill’s focus on battling Washington distracts from addressing New Jersey’s own potholes—both literal and figurative.
Voters in the crowd echoed the stage rhetoric, with many admitting their support for Sherrill is tied to disdain for the current president.
Irvington Councilwoman Charnette Frederic, in office since 2012, expressed hope that Obama’s appearance would boost turnout as it has in past campaigns, a reminder that celebrity endorsements can sometimes overshadow policy substance.
While the passion at this rally was undeniable, it’s worth asking if the constant Trump-bashing risks alienating moderates who might appreciate some of the administration’s push for economic relief or deregulation, even if they disagree on style.
