Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Year : 2, Issue: 12
Fox News: New Jersey Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey announced Monday she’s running for governor, saying it’s time to fix the state’s economy and make it more affordable.
Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, joins a crowded field of Democrats vying to succeed Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, whose second term expires after next year’s election. Murphy is barred by term limits from running again.
In a video announcing her run, Sherrill introduced herself as a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and chopper pilot and leaned on her military experience.
“I learned early on: In a crisis, the worst thing you can do is freeze,” she said. “You have to choose to lead, to follow, or get out of the way.”
Sherrill has represented the 11th District, which includes parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties, since her 2018 election during President-elect Donald Trump’s first administration’s midterm. Sherrill flipped the district from Republican control with former Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen’s retirement and has been reelected three times since.
Before getting elected to Congress, she was a prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. She served in the Navy from 1994 to 2003.
If Sherrill has to resign her House seat, state law calls for the governor to set a special election if the seat opens up 70 days before the election.
New Jersey and Virginia are the only states with races for governor next year.
