Mikie Sherrill’s victory Tuesday, November 5, making her New Jersey’s first Democratic female governor was seen largely by the state’s LGBTQ community as a rebuke of the anti-trans, anti-marriage equality rhetoric expressed during the contentious race and an affirmation that the hard-fought rights and protections the community has gained over the years will remain.
Sherrill beat Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli, whose agenda included rescinding a policy that educators do not have to inform parents or legal guardians if a student confides to them that they are trans. Also, a campaign adviser of his late in the race called for an end to same-sex marriage. Those stances sparked the ire of many.
“My feelings are that who a person is, what a person might decide about their health and well-being should not be legislated,” said Gina Lotito, who lives in Beach Haven in Ocean County and who has a trans son. “Decisions like abortion, birth control, transitioning — medically or emotionally — should be left to the person and their doctors.”
In addition to noting specific issues, community members throughout the state expressed how the right to vote is paramount to keeping LGBTQ civil rights in place and how the political process requires everyone’s participation.
Phil McCabe is a gay man who resides in Asbury Park in Monmouth County. He is widely regarded there as a well-respected and stalwart advocate of queer civil rights. On Election Night, McCabe found himself reflecting on his early days of advocacy volunteering for George McGovern and learning that civic participation is both a right and a responsibility.
“In the early 1980s, I went door to door registering voters in communities where few minorities were registered, believing deeply that every person deserves to be seen, counted, and represented,” he said. McCabe later became a district coordinator for the Gay Rights National Lobby and a member of the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force, working to ensure that LGBTQ Americans were no longer invisible in the political process.
“For LGBTQIA+ people, voting is deeply personal. It’s how we honor those who came before us, defend the freedoms we’ve earned, and shape a future where authenticity, safety, and equality are the norm, not the exception. And every one of us has a role to play. Civic participation isn’t just for those who take on leadership or activist roles — it belongs to all of us. Each ballot cast, each conversation had, and each act of visibility contributes to the collective strength of our community. Every election is an opportunity to affirm our belonging and to say, ‘We are here. We matter. We will not be erased,’,” he said.
Andrea Johnson — who lives with her wife, Joanne Filan, in Nutley in Essex County — also spoke about the importance of voting, calling it a privilege for her as a citizen, a woman, a lesbian, and a child of an immigrant and saying that it is a duty and honor to ensure her voice is heard.
“We have fueled insecurity and fear around change and diversity, which is what our country is built on. We need to get back to ensure we continue to use our history to bring us forward, not backwards,” Johnson said, adding that she hopes the election serves as a reminder to all politicians that they represent everyone, “not just they ones they like or agree with.”
Inclusion matters, and the vote proves it. Diversity matters, and the vote demonstrates that.
Melissa Firstenberg, a trans woman from Marlton in Burlington County who helps run an LGBTQ social group in the area, could finally exhale after Sherrill was declared the winner. “I can breathe,” she said after the results were announced. “I’m thankful to the voters of New Jersey for supporting our values. Inclusion matters, and the vote proves it. Diversity matters, and the vote demonstrates that. New Jersey stands for everyone.”
Also breathing a sigh of relief was John Jackson, a gay man who lives in Red Bank, Monmouth County, and who has been active in the borough’s politics. He said he was “thrilled” by the results. “While great candidates run strong campaigns, the outcome was a resounding rejection of Trump and the MAGA mindset. After living under a would-be tyrant and his aristocratic cronies, it was great to see voters choose leaders who represent positivity, progress, and the people,” Jackson said.
Also referencing the red-hat-wearing supporters of President Donald Trump, Firstenberg hopes “that the MAGAs out there can find a way to accept the results and maybe even join together to work for everyone to succeed.” She’s excited to see what the future holds.
In addition to Jackson and Firstenberg, the results brought Filan a sense of relief. “It feels like a tiny ray of sunshine finally coming through the clouds. It’s hopeful and very positive, which is a pleasant change from the darkness and intense feeling of dread I tend to wake up with now,” she said.
the Supreme Court may decide to review the same-sex marriage case
Jackson called for stronger support of the community from political leaders and said he’d like to see what comes next from the new leaders elected. “We also have the Supreme Court decision on whether they’ll review the gay marriage case. On that point, I look forward to the day when our rights are a given and not a ruling in court,” he said.
The high court is expected to decide Friday whether it will review the case and announce to the public on Monday whether it will do so. If the Supreme Court grants review, oral arguments could start in the spring, and a ruling likely would be announced in June 2026.
After her victory was announced, Sherrill addressed supporters gathered in East Brunswick, Middlesex County: “Thank you. Thank you to each and every person here tonight and across the state who’s worked hard over the last year. Thanks to the thousands of volunteers who made millions of calls, texts, and canvasses, to everyone who’s ready to stand and demand a better future for our kids and our families.”
Not everyone in the LGBTQ community was happy with the victory, however. Michael Arnone, a gay man who lives in Neptune, Monmouth County, thought Ciattarelli was the better choice. Arnone felt the most important thing Ciattarelli was going to do was lower taxes. Other issues important to the Neptune resident were the former assemblyman’s plan to offer free choices for school, abolish the property tax for seniors over 70, and stop off-shore windmills.
Arnone is certainly no fan of the Democratic Party, saying that it “only loves the community during Pride and when it’s time to vote. Vote red. I’m gay, not stupid,” he said.
During her post-victory remarks, the governor-elect did address New Jersey residents like Arnone. “I know not everyone voted for me, but I’m working for everyone — every single one of you. When we all do better, we all do better.”
