Before he ran a congressional office or drafted legislation, Brendan Gill was a Seton Hall commuter navigating classes, student government meetings and pep band rehearsals.
Now an Essex County commissioner at large, Gill is one of 11 Democrats competing in the special election primary to fill the seat vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district.
Gill, a Montclair native, traces his path into public service back to his time at SHU, where he majored in political science, interned with congressmen and immersed himself in campus life.
“I had great professors who encouraged me to stay civically engaged,” Gill said in an interview with The Setonian.
That encouragement translated into action. At SHU, Gill served as senate speaker of the student government association, worked as a peer counselor to mentor incoming students and played in the pep band during university basketball teams.
The pep band especially became a highlight of Gill’s college experience.
“We were really good at that time,” he said. “I had a blast because I went on a bunch of trips, and the women’s team and the men’s team made the NCAA tournament multiple times.”
Gill’s time at SHU also opened the door to his first experiences in government. He interned in the state office of former U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and with former Paterson Mayor Bill Pascrell Jr., who later ran for Congress. Gill then served as a senior adviser to Lautenberg, Pascrell, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and former U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman.
Looking back, Gill credits SHU with preparing him for his political career.
“I very much have this opportunity to run for Congress because of the education that Seton Hall provided to me,” Gill said. “It was and continues to be a great institution. I’m very dedicated to maintaining its success.”
Now serving as an Essex County commissioner at large, Gill said his policy priorities are shaped by the concerns he hears most often from constituents, particularly around affordability, healthcare, small businesses, infrastructure and higher education.
On healthcare, Gill supports restoring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and addressing rising premium costs. He also said broader reforms should be considered.
“We need to explore either having a public option or Medicare for all,” Gill said, pointing to the financial strain healthcare costs place on families.
Voicing support for Gov. Sherrill’s plan to tackle high energy costs, Gill also advocated for more affordable housing in local communities.
For Gill, these economic concerns naturally extend to the health of local businesses, which he described as “the lifeblood of the economy” in the 11th district. He supports expanding Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs, raising microloan caps and speeding up application processes to help local entrepreneurs access capital.
“We need to…encourage community banks and credit unions to invest in local entrepreneurs,” Gill said.
Pointing to his record of supporting small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, Gill helped pass a small business lease emergency assistance grant that provided up to $30,000 to struggling businesses and nonprofits to help cover commercial rent and protect local jobs. He has also consistently advocated for minority- and women-owned businesses to reduce barriers to capital and business development.
Infrastructure investments are closely linked to the success of these businesses, Gill said. He supports federal policies that improve roads and transportation systems and promote walkability and accessibility. He is also an advocate for the corporate transit fee, which makes public transit more affordable.
“[Infrastructure improvements] may not be tied directly to any small business, but these things need to happen in order for small businesses to be successful,” Gill said.
Higher education is also a priority for Gill. He said he would push to cap federal student loan interest rates so balances do not grow faster than borrowers can repay them, expand Pell Grants and index them to inflation, and support tuition-free community college.
“I absolutely would oppose any attempts to roll back loan forgiveness or punish borrowers for using relief programs,” he said.
Gill also raised concerns about federal efforts to influence universities through funding restrictions.
“We need to protect academic freedom and the right of free thought,” he said. “We should not utilize federal funding for research and programs as a wedge to try to force policy outcomes.”
On immigration, Gill has taken a proactive stance to protect New Jersey’s immigrant communities. As a Commissioner, he passed a resolution urging former Gov. Phil Murphy to sign the state’s Immigrant Trust Act.
Gill calls for ending contracts with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We have to work very aggressively in Washington to rein in ICE’s overreach,” he said.
Championing federal investments in pro bono legal aid programs to ensure detainees have access to legal representation and humane treatment, Gill supports legislation for fairer asylum and refugee policies and a “pathway to citizenship” for Dreamers. Gill said addressing the root causes of migration is key to creating sustainable solutions.
“We need to legislate for a fairer and more humane asylum and refugee policy,” he said.
Gill describes himself as a hands-on and accessible legislator, a reputation he said he built while serving on the Essex County Board of Commissioners.
“The best way to be held accountable is to be accessible,” he said.
Outreach to young voters through his “Young People for Brendan Gill” coalition, which includes early-career public servants, college and high school students, is a priority for Gill. He said young voters are frustrated with both political parties and worried about their futures.
“They’re worried about whether they’re going to be able to find a job that allows them to enter into the housing market,” Gill said. “They’re worried about the debt they’re being straddled with. They’re worried about gun violence, which I’m a huge active proponent of fighting back against. They’re worried about climate change and what that means to our overall environment.”
His message to voters who feel disconnected is one of persistence.
“We can’t give up,” he said. “The type of change that you want to see comes from activity.”
Looking ahead, Gill said he hopes his legacy will be defined by responsiveness and tangible improvements to the district, including the Essex-Hudson Greenway, a nine-mile conversion of an old freight rail line into what he describes as “New Jersey’s version of the High Line.”
“I hope that my legacy will be that people will say that when they called on me, I responded,” Gill said. “That I did everything I could to try to improve the life of the people that entrusted me to represent them.”
Early voting in the special election primary began on Jan. 29 and will conclude on Feb. 3. Election day is Feb. 5. Find your polling location here.
Megan Pitt is the head editor of The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at megan.pitt@student.shu.edu.
