The next is the transcript of the interview with New Jersey Gov.-elect , a Democrat, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 9, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Friday we spoke to one of many different large Democratic winners final Tuesday, New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, who’s at the moment a member of Congress – and requested whether or not given her new position because the chief government of a state onerous hit by the shutdown, she would help the Democratic Occasion place of blocking authorities funding till Obamacare subsidies are prolonged.
REP. SHERRILL: Effectively, it is actually vital that we sustain that struggle, as a result of we see out there, prices going up by 175% if the Republicans do not handle this well being care disaster. We all know that there have already been big cuts within the One Huge, Lovely Invoice to folks’s entry to well being care. And you recognize, after we have a look at this disaster, a lot of it’s actually imposed by Donald Trump. So there’s cash for him to place in direction of SNAP funding that he is refusing to do, though courts are demanding it. Now he is sort of sluggish strolling it, making it very troublesome for states to try this illegally, and courts are holding him accountable. We see with air visitors management downside, a few of it’s because the administration hasn’t moved shortly sufficient at Newark in among the issues we had over the summer time. So we’re already down by 25%. Now, with this disaster occurring as a result of the President refuses to open up the federal government, we’re seeing one other 10% in flights being derailed, and we see continued late and delayed flights. So, it is time that the government- that the Trump administration, that Republicans within the Home and the Senate, get severe about opening up authorities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Once we have a look at our latest polling, a majority of Individuals are actually involved that this shutdown goes to harm the general financial system. How are you going to justify the injury?
REP. SHERRILL: Effectively, it really is hurting the financial system, and you’ll’t justify the injury, which is why the President and the Senate and Republican majority within the Home have to get this authorities open, they usually want to take action in a manner that is going to cease punishing the American folks. I believe what we noticed with this election is the American folks, you recognize, actually demanding that our federal authorities function in a manner that’s going to cease punishing them economically. I will inform you I ran on affordability, on the truth that I’ll struggle in Trenton to verify we’re chopping by purple tape and allowing to drive down prices, but additionally that I’ll proceed to struggle that- for Washington, to handle issues just like the tariff program, which is elevating prices and all the things from a cup of espresso to groceries, to struggle the ‘One Huge Lovely Invoice,’ which is continuous to lift prices on schooling and innovation, housing, well being care, to proceed to struggle this authorities shutdown in order that we are able to actually handle well being care wants right here within the state.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You retain saying it is as much as the president to reopen the federal government, however you withheld your personal vote on that persevering with decision, that brief time period funding invoice, and over within the Senate, Chief Thune is tearing into Democrats for that call. He stated, It exhibits you are not caring that there are women and men in uniform frequenting meals banks due to the shutdown, not making lease funds, attempting to borrow. He stated, Dems view this as leverage, and he used that phrase as a result of it was your Home management, Katherine Clark, justified withholding votes to finish the shutdown, saying that is one of many few components of leverage that Democrats have. How do you reply to this accusation that it is really Democrats who’re being heartless right here?
REP. SHERRILL: Effectively, when you will have the Republicans which have the presidency, they’ve the bulk within the Senate, they’ve the bulk within the Home. They’ve even, many would say- together with myself, taken over the court docket system. Then they’ve a accountability to open up this authorities, and I’ve to inform you as a veteran myself, I understand how devastating that’s –
(CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: It was Whip Clark who stated these votes are leverage.
REP. SHERRILL: We’re- leverage to serve the American folks. I imply, we see many times these Republican assaults on all the things from well being care. Look, if if they do not fund the Inexpensive Care Act, prices are going to go up by 175% for folks right here in New Jersey, at already excessive ranges. That’s going to kick so many individuals off well being care that is on prime of the massive Medicare cuts that we’re seeing within the ‘One Huge Lovely Invoice,’ on prime of the tariff cuts which can be elevating grocery costs in all places, on prime of the struggle he is in now, which is elevating fuel costs. So many times, we’re seeing the Trump administration punishing folks, and these Republicans have gotten to come back to the desk, they usually’ve received to start out actually working for the American folks, and this election confirmed that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However while you have been speaking concerning the extension of the well being care subsidies, why is not the promise to carry a vote on these well being care subsidies sufficient for Democrats to vote to reopen the federal government?
REP. SHERRILL: So we’re working onerous to handle the issues for the American folks, and Republicans, many times, are refusing to handle that. So proper now–
(CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively the chief Thune stated they’re going to maintain a vote–
REP. SHERRILL: –part of how we get the federal government open and they need to do it proper now, I believe we’ve seen what the guarantees that Republicans have made have been price. What he must do is definitely put the subsidies in. We will serve the American folks, we are able to drive down well being care prices, and that is actually key.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let’s discuss a bit about your election. As you stated, the financial system was entrance and heart for you. Vitality costs particularly, you targeted in on. In New Jersey, they’re up 19% over the previous 12 months, versus 6% nationwide. I do know you wish to declare a state of emergency day one, however what does it really imply? How shortly will costs come down?
REP. SHERRILL: So the state of emergency will freeze fee hikes, as a result of there are some fee hikes which can be set to come back into play within the subsequent a number of months, and I- you recognize, I am not going to permit these to be placed on the again of the New Jersey fee payer, and we see that the can has been kicked down the highway by too many individuals. So the utility corporations have already come to the desk to say, okay, let’s negotiate these fee hikes. We have now cash that is available in by the BPU to defray the price. However what’s actually going to additionally occur is, in a short time, I am turning to including a variety of energy to our grid. Proper now, PJM, that is our regional grid operator, has actually screwed up the marketplace for varied causes, and so each electron we produce in New Jersey will defray the price of elect- of electrical energy we’ve to purchase available on the market. In order that’s why, instantly, I’ll minimize by purple tape and allowing delays to get photo voltaic completed. We will proceed to construct out battery storage, after which within the first finances, we are going to increase modernization of our pure fuel amenities, and in the long run, nuclear.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You stated on CNN this previous week that there is a feeling working folks haven’t been heard, and that there is an excessive amount of warning and mediocrity within the Democratic Occasion at present. What? What did you imply by that?
REP. SHERRILL: That- as I used to be speaking to folks throughout the state, 1000’s of individuals, they needed to see an agenda to get their prices down, and one thing that was going to happen shortly. As I stated, you recognize, I am not writing a strongly worded letter. I am not doing a ten 12 months plan. I am on day one declaring a state of emergency, not simply because I am livid that, you recognize, as too many individuals have failed New Jersey fee payers, that the prices are being dumped on them. Sure, that may be a big downside for me that I am addressing, nevertheless it additionally, I believe, conveys that sense of urgency that I really feel to work for the folks of New Jersey, in order that they know that it is a day one situation for me. In addition they wish to see someone although that has their backs, as a result of they know that these tariffs are elevating prices. They know that the ‘One Huge Lovely Invoice’ goes to remove their well being care. They know that assaults on the Gateway Tunnel Venture are going to lift prices right here and actually minimize into job alternatives. So that they wish to know that whoever is governing goes to be targeted on governing for them, not a celebration of 1 like Donald Trump.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, your criticism there was of fellow Democrats, as I understood it. However let me ask you about Speaker Emeritus, Nancy Pelosi. She simply introduced that she goes to be leaving Congress. Once I spoke to her final on this program, she indicated that she is aware of it is an issue recruiting new candidates, partially due to the setting we’re in, together with simply how nasty our politics are and the safety threats. And she or he stated that is discouraging- particularly girls who worry the influence on youngsters. What do you say to these contemplating for workplace proper now? Are you seeing that that feminine candidates are frightened of doing what you simply did?
REP. SHERRILL: Effectively, we have labored very onerous right here in New Jersey to essentially construct out a future and an concept that’s going to carry everyone in and- and actually working onerous to maintain folks secure. Public security is a big situation for me and for folks throughout the state. As we double down on our constitutional protections, freedom of speech, freedom of meeting, and so on., however it’s a scary time. I keep in mind proper after I received my major, the assassinations in Minnesota came about, and right here I’ve 4 youngsters, and I am immediately considering, oh my gosh, am I placing them in danger by operating? However you recognize what? I believe most of us are weighing as mothers if we’re candidates is, what’s my youngsters’ future appear to be if I do not run? And that is on steadiness, I believe persons are selecting to run. I see girls throughout our state operating. We have now, you recognize, folks newly stepping into races, and likewise among the nice, highly effective girls in our state persevering with to serve. So I do not suppose it is dissuading them, nevertheless it actually is on our minds as we’re interested by, how are we going to maintain our households secure as we’re operating for elected workplace?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congresswoman, we’ll be watching as you transition into being the subsequent Governor of New Jersey. Thanks in your time at present. We’ll be proper again.
