NEWARK - Putting aside any lingering scars from the June primary, Mayor Ras Baraka on Wednesday endorsed Mikie Sherrill for governor.

The mayor's blessing was given during a big-to-do at the city's Zion Hill Baptist Church.

LeRoy Jones, the chair of the state Democratic Committee, spoke. As did Joe DiVincenzo, the Essex County Executive. More than a dozen local officials crowded the podium.

And guess what?

Baraka said it almost didn't happen. He acknowledged that he and Sherrill, who is not as progressive as Baraka, still have policy differences.

"This is a fact," the mayor told the crowd.

In fact, the mayor said he was fielding phone calls from friends and supporters as late as this morning, asking him not to do it.

But Sherrill was calling too. Baraka gave the impression that he and the congresswoman have been conversing over the summer trying to hash out their differences.

It worked.

The mayor said he was doing what "God has led me to do."

Given the fact the event was in a church, the line seemed appropriate.

A bit more specifically, Baraka, who finished second in the primary, said that Sherrill has shown a willingness to understand "what's important in our community."

The mayor in the campaign talked about better health care and an expansion of minority-owned businesses and homes to produce generational wealth.

Baraka compared any political turmoil to a family squabble. He said family members can disagree during the year, but everyone still gets invited to Thanksgiving dinner.

And then there is Donald Trump, who the mayor said is trying to destroy cities by deploying the military and ICE agents.

He said Newark and all cities will get more of that, "If (voters) go with the other guy who got endorsed by the other guy."

Everyone knew he was talking about Republican Jack Ciattarelli who is backed by Trump.

Sherrill stressed unity - the theme of the day. She said the only way Democrats will lose is if they do not vote.

Today's event was to encourage Baraka's primary supporters - some 173,000 of them - to vote for Sherrill.

County Exec DiVincenzo provided some local flavor. He said it is incumbent upon Essex County to produce a "huge plurality" for Sherrill.

Democrats won the 2021 gubernatorial race and Kamala Harris carried New Jersey last year, but he said both races were too close for comfort.

Back to the main event, Baraka was thinking ahead.

He said he expected access to "Gov. Sherrill" and that she has "not seen the last of me."