Buttigieg Endorses Sherrill as Crucial Tunnel Project Becomes Central Issue in New Jersey Governor’s Race
Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg unexpectedly supported Democratic governor candidate Mikie Sherrill, calling the election a test of who will put New Jersey first. The endorsement comes amid mounting tension over the $16 billion Hudson River tunnel project, a vital regional transportation and infrastructure project.
Sherrill and Buttigieg addressed Westfield train station commuters and supporters in the rain. They considered the Gateway tunnel controversy a Washington-Trenton leadership test. Buttigieg said Sherrill’s Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, was afraid to challenge the former President on government infrastructure. He criticized Ciattarelli for opposing the tunnel project despite Washington high-ups’ objections.
Since previous President Donald Trump declared the tunnel project “terminated,” despite federal funding, it has been in political turmoil. The federal Transportation Secretary later declared the project was “under review,” perplexing New Jersey politicians, construction companies, and commuters. These incidents caused Sherrill to threaten legal action if elected to force the federal government to honor earlier payment deals. She warned that raw material tariffs have escalated costs and that every day of delay may cost $1 million.
Sherrill’s campaign stressed her congressional role in federal funding and tunnel continuity and responsibility. Her position contrasted with Ciattarelli’s 2011 rejection to a tunnel proposal that favored domestic jobs over the train link. Sherrill said Raritan Valley Line and other train stations have seen new housing complexes in anticipation of tunnel-enabled service to Manhattan, making prompt completion critical.
Ciattarelli’s campaign challenged Sherrill’s infrastructure financing focus and emphasized his ability to negotiate federal dollars for New Jersey with the White House or future administrations. He accused Sherrill of obscured her past, including a government shutdown vote. Infrastructure, federal-state relations, and commuter issues dominate the election due to the tunnel issue.
As New Jersey voters consider transit reliability and train access to New York City, the tunnel controversy is affecting the governor’s campaign. Sherrill and her supporters argue project delays and financial uncertainties threaten jobs, regional mobility, and economic growth, not simply politics. Sherrill’s partnership with Buttigieg signals federal transportation leadership for the state. While regaining his position on key infrastructure projects, Ciattarelli must demonstrate federal autonomy.
Thus, the tunnel issue represents governor leadership, federal-state coordination, and New Jersey’s infrastructure strategy. Campaign rhetoric will test voters’ trust in politicians’ abilities to maintain pledges and manage complex federal finance conditions.
Sources
New York Post coverage of the tunnel funding and campaign dynamics
