The NJ Economy, The Latino Pocketbook & Mikie Sherrill

Every Latino family in New Jersey already feels in their bones: the New Jersey economy isn't working for everyone, and our pocketbooks are proving it every single day. New Jersey Governors candidate Mikie Sherrill knows it as well and this November 4th will be the Latino pocketbook election.

Walk into any supermercado in Newark, Paterson, or Union City, and you'll see it. Families standing in the aisles, calculators out—sometimes just on their phones, sometimes literally in their heads—doing the math that never quite adds up anymore. Rice, beans, chicken, milk. The staples that once stretched a week now barely make it to Thursday. This is the daily arithmetic of survival, and for Latino families across New Jersey, the numbers are getting harder to balance.

This is where leadership matters. Candidates like Mikie Sherrill understand that strengthening the New Jersey economy means protecting the Latino pocketbook. It means policies that stabilize prices, protect workers, and ensure that families who contribute so much aren't left struggling to afford basic necessities. It means recognizing that when Latino families thrive, all of New Jersey benefits.

Researchers at Rutgers University recently confirmed what our communities have been living: Hispanic New Jerseyans face some of the most severe financial pressures in the state. We report greater difficulty paying household expenses and more frequent food shortages than most other groups. This isn't a reflection of work ethic—our families work multiple jobs, long hours, without complaint. It's about an economic reality where inflation hits the Latino pocketbook with particular force.

Consider the scope of what's at stake. Latino-owned businesses in New Jersey generate an estimated $194 billion annually, supporting over 250,000 jobs. We're not on the margins of the New Jersey economy—we are essential to its engine. Yet that engine is sputtering, with state growth projected at barely 0.5% this year, well below the national average. When the economy slows while prices surge, it's working families who absorb the shock.

Then layer on the fear. Angel, who runs two restaurants in Newark, describes streets that used to pulse with life now eerily quiet. "We always used to see tons of people walking through the streets, but now it's almost empty," he explains. Immigration raids and hostile policies have created an atmosphere where even legally present Latinos think twice before leaving home. When people stay inside out of fear, businesses lose customers, workers, and the community connections that sustain them.

The ripple effects touch every corner of our economy. Immigrant labor comprises 48% of kitchen staff in New Jersey restaurants, 36% of construction workers, and the majority of domestic and cleaning service employees. Reduced workforce participation doesn't just hurt those workers—it drives up costs for everyone and weakens the economic foundation we all depend on.

The path forward requires both policy action and community solidarity. Support Latino-owned businesses. Speak openly about these struggles in churches, town halls, and neighborhood gatherings. Push elected officials to prioritize economic policies that work for working families, not just those already comfortable.

Your experience matters. Have rising costs forced your family to make impossible choices? Has economic uncertainty changed how you live, work, or move through your community? Share your story with neighbors, local leaders, and here. Our collective voice shapes the future—and right now, that future needs our urgent attention.