Team, last night on MSNBC, Lawrence O’Donnell asked me about funding for the vital Gateway Tunnel Project, which Donald Trump just illegally “terminated.”

Specifically, Lawrence asked me: Why didn’t my opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, fight back when Trump abused his power to take an action that so clearly endangers our state’s economic future? Here’s what I had to say:

The fact is, that Jack didn’t fight back because he’s a Trump lackey, not a leader.

Leadership isn’t blindly following whatever Donald Trump, or any other politician, wants to do.

Leadership certainly isn’t putting loyalty to Trump before loyalty to our Constitution or the people of New Jersey.

And quite honestly, if Jack won’t stand up to Trump on this incredibly obvious issue, it’s pretty clear he will never stand up to Trump as our governor — and that’s really dangerous.

Let me be clear: I am committed to leading in New Jersey. That means fighting for our families every step of the way. And yes, if I have to take Donald Trump to court to save the 100,000 good-paying jobs, including union jobs, this tunnel project will create — and fight for the 200,000 New Jerseyans who rely on these rail tunnels every single day — that’s exactly what I’ll do.

If you believe that’s the kind of leadership our state deserves, I am humbly asking you to pitch in $25, or any amount that works for you to NJ Victory 2025, because this race is incredibly close with only five days to go. Every single voter your donation helps us reach could be the difference between electing New Jersey Democrats up and down the ticket — or a crushing defeat that sees a Trump lackey become our next governor.

With gratitude,

Mikie