What Sherrill’s big win means for Desi voters

Democrat Mikie Sherrill won decisively over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in last week’s gubernatorial election, an outcome that surprised many given how close the race had gotten in the weeks leading up to voting day. 

What’s most notable about Sherrill’s victory is that she won back for Democrats some of the Black and brown voters who had swung in favor of President Donald Trump in last year’s presidential race. In an interview with Politico, Sherrill credited her “blowout” win to the concerns New Jerseyans have about affordability. 

“I think what you’re seeing in these races is a deep desire to address the needs of working people,” Sherrill said.

Central Desi has previously reported that South Asians in the state have also been tilting to the right. Sherrill’s win appeared to call that trend into question. In one example, several Edison-area precincts that Trump won in 2024 showed strong support for Sherrill last Tuesday, per VoteHub data first noted by @umichvoter, the site’s co-founder, on X.

In the Desi community, concerns about Trump’s tariffs on India and a fee imposed on the H1-B visa dominated the political narrative during this election cycle. Priti Pandya-Patel, the South Asian community liaison for Ciattarelli’s campaign told Central Desi, “People are saying, ‘Why are they doing this? Why is Trump doing this to India?’”

The Wall Street Journal reported that tariffs imposed by the administration had driven up the cost of goods for Desi businesses in Edison.

Sherrill’s victory can also be credited to the enthusiastic turnout by Democratic voters in the election. Turnout was up 20 percent from the last time Ciattarelli ran, according to City Journal, and in a state where Democrats outnumber Republican registered voters by 860,000, that was enough to give Sherrill a sure win.

Central Desi asked Sherrill’s Desi supporters for their perspectives on the election results and how they hope the governor-elect will support the community once she is in office.

What were you doing on Election Day?

“I volunteer with a voting registration group called RU Voting. [On Election Day], I set up a table at The Yard @ College Avenue with a couple other people. We were there for a couple hours just asking people if they had a plan to vote, if they knew where their polling location was.” — Ananya Shankar, Rutgers University student and Essex County resident 

“My daughter turned 18, and it's a big deal, so we voted together. At the polling station in Glen Ridge, they clapped for first-time voters, so that was really exciting. And then after that, I had a case of the jitters, so I went up to Palisades Park, which has a largely Korean American population, to do exit polling.” — Lavanya Raghavan, community organizer and Essex County resident

“I was invited to join [Sherrill’s victory celebration], so I was down in East Brunswick.… I think people had been hearing good things coming out of the exit polls, but I was nervous as hell.… When she won — when [AP News] finally called it — the place just erupted, and we were all literally just jumping up and down with joy.” — Kris Ramanathan, Sherrill supporter and Essex County resident

What do this year’s election results mean for South Asians in New Jersey?

“The tariffs or healthcare or the deportations and how ICE is treating people — those things affected the communities high and large. We saw the communities now step back and say, ‘Hold on, this is not acceptable, and we are going to show our power by showing up in record numbers to say what you're doing is something we don't agree with.’” —Karan Virmani, co-director of South Asians for America’s New Jersey chapter and Union County resident

“A lot of people are going to say that this was a referendum on Trump, but it really was on his policies — I think for Desi folks especially. From attacks on H-1Bs to birthright citizenship to these tariffs that are hurting our local businesses, [they] all had an impact.”— Anjali Mehrotra, political organizer and Union County resident 

“I think [Desi voters supporting Republican tax policies] have seen, as this year has unfolded since the presidential election, that policy is not effective or working or really improving their life in any way and it's actually doing the opposite in terms of endangering them.… There's been a lot of racial rhetoric against immigrants as well. They've felt alienated by the Republicans, and, particularly, by Donald Trump, so that's causing a shift more to the left side of things, which I felt a lot of us younger voters were already aware of and raising the alarm before the presidential election.” — Shankar

What issues do you hope Sherrill will focus on once in office?

“I think one of the things that has been brought up a lot by the South Asian community has been the ease of doing small business in New Jersey. I think that is definitely something that [Sherrill’s] campaign should have heard. And the other is the attack on immigrants as a group. For both those issues, I'm actually extremely confident that a) [Sherrill] is well aware and b) she believes in the Constitution, pledges allegiance to it and she absolutely believes in the right to due process.” — Parul Khemka, chair of the New Jersey Democratic Party’s South Asian American Caucus and Essex County resident

“I fervently hope she’ll use this momentum to prioritize immigrant communities, including supporting the Immigrant Trust Act and ensuring oversight at Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth detention facility, where detainees are suffering in inhumane conditions. I’d also like to see stronger leadership on LGBTQ+ rights, especially protections for trans students and access to gender-affirming care, which remain under real threat.” — Raghavan

Looking ahead to 2026

As Sherrill’s inauguration approaches, New Jersey constituents, including members of the South Asian community, continue to anticipate how the governor-elect will tackle the state’s most pressing challenges and its relationship with the federal government.

But for now, Desi Sherrill supporters say they are enjoying the moment. When asked to describe his feelings about the election results, Virmani said, “In one word: relief.”

Ambreen Ali is the founding editor of Central Desi and a journalist with two decades of experience covering politics, tech, and business.

Astha Lakhankar is a freelance reporter for Central Desi. While at Rutgers University, Astha served as managing editor of the student-run newspaper, The Daily Targum.

Upcoming events this week (Nov. 12 - Nov. 18)

November 15-16: Indo-American Arts Council’s Literary Festival
International House
500 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10027
This festival brings together acclaimed authors, thinkers, and storytellers from around the world to explore South Asia’s rich literary and cultural landscape, examining topics ranging from myth and mysticism to modern identity, innovation, and global citizenship. Tickets and details can be found here.

November 15 - Lost in Circulation: A Quest to Keep Diverse Stories in Bookstores
12 - 2:00 PM
Monroe Township Public Library - Program Room
4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe Township, NJ 08831
Join us for a screening of “Lost in Circulation,” a short film featuring interviews with women-owned, New Jersey-based bookstores about the importance of inclusive literature and their advocacy for diverse stories. There will be an event photographer, concessions, and favors for all attendees. This is a free event; RSVP here.

November 15 - Family Gathering Meet & Greet
6 - 8:30 PM
30 Sportsman Blvd, Hamilton, NJ 08690
An exclusive meet-and-greet organized by Ismat Shaadi Services for parents and eligible individuals to network and explore potential. Tea and refreshments will be served. Tickets and more details here.

November 16 - Islamic Relief USA: Our People, Our Pakistan
Starts at 6:00 PM
Lake Chateau Banquets
1002 US-9, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
This benefit dinner will support programs for orphans, flood relief, and livelihoods in Pakistan. Featuring actor Imran Abbas and nasheed artist Nabeel Shaukat Ali. Be part of a night of hope, inspiration, and impact for the people of Pakistan. Find tickets and donation information at IRUSA.org/Pakistan-NJ.

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