former New Jersey Governor Christy Whitman a lifelong Republican who's previously supported candidates across party lines is now backing Democrat Mikey Cheryl in the upcoming gubanatorial race Whitman is the state's first female governor and served two terms Tonight she joins us to discuss what led to her support of Cheryl the challenges she faces and why she's not backing fellow Republican GOP candidate Jack Chidarelli Governor Whitman uh good to talk to you Thank you for coming on the show What led you to decide um so very quickly to endorse Mikey Cheryl in her gubanatorial bid Well actually I've been supportive I met Mikey a while ago couple of years ago actually when she just had come into office and I said to her then you ought to think about running for governor Um she has all the qualities that you want to see in a governor She's got um leadership experience She has shown that she can work and will work with anyone to solve problems She's not a grandstander but she's tough She's strong She knows what she wants to get done and she gets it done And those are qualities we want in a governor and she's been very focused on the state of New Jersey Um she's not been as I said a grandstander in Congress She's been somebody who is focused on getting it done getting bills through and helping her constituents I wonder about the challenges that face gubanatorial leadership now right Um from the federal level from uh just intraparty differences and sort of how you think a Mikey Cheryl might be best to navigate through that What is there about her about her time as a congresswoman about your time getting to know her that leads you to that decision Well again it's that willingness to work with anyone The um she does not demonize people Unfortunately Jack Churle is not who I knew way back when because I've known him for years and he's just changed He is full-on MAGA and I don't believe the state of New Jersey is is MAGA in the from the sense of we are a nation particularly New Jersey is a state of immigrants They've made us strong My one of my mottos for New Jersey when I was governor was many faces many faces one family That's what gives us our texture give us our strength our economic viability Um Mikey Cheryl understands that She's appreciative of people from all walks of life and she will as I said before work with anyone She's focused on solving problems not on driving um separations not on trying to keep people apart so you can keep your power and you can win Um so it makes her the kind of candidate that it's going to be tough I mean let me put it that way It clearly with um Jack's win the size of his win in the primary tells you that the MAGA people are all there and they are hard in for him Uh it was Trump's endorsement that got him the nomination and and he was he has proven to be a loyal Trumper On the other side uh Mikey brought out a whole lot more to the Democratic side than they'd seen before So her win while maybe not by as many percentage points was even as certainly as strong showing that there was a strong inclination among those who would vote Democratic uh to support her which she the focus now is on the independents Is that where you also see maybe an endorsement like yours um being able to reach those voters a cross party endorsement Um I mean you lead the forward party You've talked about it being for the politically homeless um for folks who are still moderate who are still centrist Do you see a a role there in putting this endorsement out there to sort of coales some of those voters Well I certainly hope so because the Forward Party represents exactly what people want which is I mean our our candidates and we will support Republicans Democrats independents if they will sign the pledge which says they'll uphold the rule of law respect the Constitution work with anyone to solve problems create a safe space to discuss the controversial issues and work to ensure that anyone that has a legal right to vote gets to vote And it's based on the principles of decency diversity and democracy To my mind Mikey Cheryl ticks all those boxes I know you were out this weekend Um you were with Mikey Cheryl in Morristown at the No Kings um rally there There were folks all over What does she need to do uh to to get these votes I mean you pointed out she's got to run a statewide race It's not easy You've got experience doing that Twothirds of Democrats Democratic votes went to progressive candidates though she had a a good showing What does she need to do now She needs to do what she's been doing which is focus on New Jersey issues This is not the presidential This is not a national race This is about New Jersey And New Jerseyians want to hear what are you going to do for me How what are you going to do to help us with taxes to help stay in the state How are you going to make New Jersey better And if she sticks to that the way she did if you notice in the primary her ads and her focus I mean she took shots at Jack of course because of his the difference and and what it would be like if he were we had a MAGA governor but she needs to do that If she keeps focusing on New Jersey and what she wants to get done for the state I think she's going to be in very good shape Governor Christy Whitman always good to talk to you Thank you again for your time Good to talk to you