Washington — With three months to go until the critical midterm elections, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill is taking her first major step onto the national political stage to help Democratic candidates with military service win in competitive frontline races.
The centrist Democrat, who won in a top battleground race last year, will use her federal political action committee to endorse a slate of Democratic contenders who are running in some of the country’s most competitive congressional races as she signals an interest in shaping the Democratic Party’s direction ahead of the 2028 presidential election, CBS News has learned.
Sherrill’s Mission to Deliver PAC will announce its first round of key endorsements Thursday, backing 13 Democratic candidates with military or national security backgrounds in House and Senate races across the midterm landscape.
The candidates include Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, who is mounting an insurgent challenge against two-term incumbent Democrat Sen. Edward Markey.
The group is also endorsing Reps. Don Davis of North Carolina and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, who represent what could be competitive districts — and, in Davis’ case, a district that was redrawn to become more favorable to Republicans.
Most of the other endorsees are aiming to unseat House Republicans in seats that Democrats are targeting, including former Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia, JoAnna Mendoza of Arizona, Eileen Laubacher and Jessica Killin of Colorado, Bale Dalton of Florida, Zach Dembo of Kentucky, Rebecca Bennett of New Jersey and Cait Conley of New York. Also on the list: Maura Sullivan, who is running for the New Hampshire House seat currently held by Senate candidate Chris Pappas, and Nancy Lacore, a retired United States Navy Vice Admiral who is running for in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, the seat being vacated by Rep. Nancy Mace.
The endorsements are the first from her PAC, which Sherrill launched to support candidates with military service and public leadership experience. According to a source familiar with Sherrill’s plans, additional endorsements are expected in the coming months, and Sherrill plans to campaign aggressively for Democrats in key battleground states, including Nevada, New Hampshire, Texas and Wisconsin.
