Rep. Mikie Sherrill announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey on Tuesday, vowing to address affordability and make bold changes for the state. Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor who rose to political prominence by unseating a powerful Republican six years ago, declared her intention to lead with a focus on housing, healthcare, and economic reforms.
“Let’s be the state that builds more housing, fixes the economy, and makes life more affordable for hardworking New Jerseyans,” Sherrill said in a two-minute video launching her campaign. “These challenges aren’t new, and it’s time to confront them head-on.”
The 52-year-old congresswoman from Montclair highlighted her military and legislative experience, pledging to bring a proactive approach to governance. “In a crisis, the worst thing you can do is freeze. You have to choose to lead, to follow, or get out of the way,” Sherrill stated. “In New Jersey, we don’t whine; we work.”
Sherrill joins a crowded Democratic primary field that includes Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, New Jersey Education Association President and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who entered the race just days ago.
Sherrill is widely regarded as one of the top contenders, with strong name recognition and expected backing from influential county organizations in Essex, Middlesex, Passaic, and Morris. She has also secured early endorsements from the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) and the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (NJFMBA).
The congresswoman began her campaign trail Tuesday in Paterson, visiting a nonprofit social services agency with Mayor Andre Sayegh, who has publicly endorsed her. She continued with stops at a LiUNA construction site in New Brunswick, a meeting with visiting nurses in Red Bank, and concluded the day with the NJFMBA in Atlantic City.
Since her 2018 election victory in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district—a seat held by Republicans for over three decades—Sherrill has been a prominent figure in state and national politics. Her campaigns have consistently demonstrated strong fundraising and voter outreach, flipping a district long considered a GOP stronghold. She was re-elected in 2022 by a decisive 19-point margin, outperforming Kamala Harris by six percentage points in her district.
In Congress, Sherrill serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Select Committee on Strategic Competition with China. She has advocated for restoring state and local tax (SALT) deductions, advancing the Gateway Tunnel Project, and securing federal funding for New Jersey infrastructure. Known for her independent streak, Sherrill has twice declined to vote for Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker.
Sherrill is seeking to become New Jersey’s first Democratic woman governor, following Republican Christine Todd Whitman, who served two terms in the 1990s. With a military background and degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy, the London School of Economics, and Georgetown University, Sherrill brings a diverse resume to the race.
Her announcement also signals a focus on countering Republican influence from Washington. “We know they’ll be under attack from Donald Trump’s Washington,” she said in her campaign video, referring to rights and freedoms she aims to protect.