New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Friday cast doubt on Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s proposal to freeze utility rates, suggesting such an effort would be difficult to execute in a market dominated by private companies.

“I’m not sure how you’d actually do that,” Murphy said to reporters after signing a pair of bills aimed at increasing the state’s energy storage capacity. “These are private-sector players. I’m not sure if she got into the details as to how you do it, but we’ve been spending morning, noon, and night on energy, energy sources, energy affordability for years.”

His comments follow a plan outlined by Sherrill last week aimed at combating skyrocketing electric costs by placing a temporary freeze on utility rates for her first year as governor.

Murphy’s comments were first reported by The New Jersey Globe.

Sherrill, the Democratic party’s nominee to replace the term-limited Murphy, has to maneuver delicately as she asks angry voters for their vote despite her party currently in full control of the governorship and the Legislature.

And Murphy’s comments underscore the challenge she faces in staking out new ground while a fellow Democrat already occupies the office and has spent years making energy affordability a central issue.

“It’s possible Mikie went into this in more detail — I don’t know what that means,” Murphy continued. “These are private-sector players. I’m a proud progressive and a cold-blooded capitalist. I believe there are ways to get to where we want to get to. I’m open-minded to everything, but I’m not sure what that means, and I’d love to get more detail on that, which we will.”

The governor stopped short of directly criticizing Sherrill but made clear he wants to see specifics before embracing her plan.

However, Murphy’s skepticism quickly drew pushback from other Democrats.

Assemblyman Cody Miller said the governor was “flat-out wrong,” arguing that New Jersey is in an energy crisis and must take stronger action to protect residents struggling with basic costs. He called for an “all of the above” approach that includes nuclear, natural gas, and solar production, with a utility rate freeze as the first step.

Assemblywoman Andrea Katz also weighed in, declaring, “The governor is wrong again. We can, should, and will freeze utility rates.”

Katz and Miller are among the most endangered Democrat members of the Assembly up for re-election this November, where all 80 seats are on the ballot. Democrats currently hold a 52-28 majority.