Who will replace Mike Sherrill in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District?
These are the members who will try to take over the 11th Congressional District, the seat vacated by Mikie Sherrill.
New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill used the first U.S. House of Representatives meeting since the October 1st government shutdown to announce her resignation as representative of New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.
“This will be my last speech in this chamber,” she said Wednesday night during a debate on the House floor ahead of a vote on a Senate-passed funding deal that would end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
“I’m going to hand in my resignation next week and move on to protecting the entire state of New Jersey,” Sherrill said during the 90 seconds he was given during the Nov. 12 debate.
Sherrill was first elected in 2018 in a North Jersey suburban district, riding a wave of discontent with then-President Donald Trump to win a seat held by Republicans for decades. Number 11, which was redrawn after the 2020 Census, now covers parts of Morris, Passaic, and Essex counties.
She did not mention a specific date for her resignation. Her swearing-in as governor is scheduled for January 20th.
Sherrill joined most Democrats in opposing the government reopening bill, citing Republican efforts to cut health insurance subsidies.
“I will stand up against the rules in this bill that will do nothing to protect the more than 450,000 New Jerseyans whose health insurance premiums are skyrocketing,” she said. “I took my first oath to the Constitution when I was 18 and went to the Naval Academy. It’s an oath to serve, to go to war. And I ran for Congress because I saw Washington Republicans attacking the Affordable Care Act.”
“I promised myself that I would accept the status quo. I would fight the big battles because that’s what people expect from their leaders,” Sherrill said. “That’s what people deserve from their leaders. And I’m proud of the victories I’ve had.”
Mikie Sherrill’s farewell words
She took time to reflect on some of her accomplishments during her tenure, which she said included “capping the price of prescription insulin for seniors, funding the Gateway Tunnel, the PACT Act for Veterans, flood mitigation projects, contributions to Picatinny Arsenal, and more.”
“New Jersey, you trusted me. And last week, you trusted me again and elected me as your 57th governor,” she continued. “So I made a similar commitment to take on anyone, doing whatever it takes to reduce costs and build opportunity for everyone.”
Her farewell message included thanking voters and staff and challenging her colleagues.
“This body cannot be used as a ceremonial red seal for a regime that deprives people of health care and deprives children of food,” she said. “To my country, I say be strong. As we say in the Navy, don’t let go of the ship.”
She was hugged by several colleagues in the House chamber as the debate continued.
Who will take her place in Congress?
Sherrill, who has been re-elected to the House of Representatives three times, began campaigning this year to succeed two-term Governor Phil Murphy.
Despite most polls showing a close race, she won a decisive victory on November 4th, defeating Republican candidate Jack Citterelli with 57% of the vote.
A number of Democrats have already expressed interest in replacing her, including former 7th District Congressman Tom Malinowski, who lost his seat to Tom Keene Jr. in 2022. Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill and Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett have also declared themselves on the Democratic side. So far, only one Republican has announced his candidacy: Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway.
A special election will be held to fill the 11th District seat.
