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Mikie Sherrill

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Mikie Sherrill
Mikie Sherrill
Official portrait, 2026
57th Governor of New Jersey
Assumed office
January 20, 2026
LieutenantDale Caldwell
Preceded byPhil Murphy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 11th district
In office
January 3, 2019 – November 20, 2025
Preceded byRodney Frelinghuysen
Succeeded byTBD
Personal details
Born
Rebecca Michelle Sherrill

(1972-01-19) January 19, 1972 (age 54)
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Jason Hedberg
Children4
Education
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website
Military service
BranchUnited States Navy
Service years1994–2003
RankLieutenant
UnitNaval aviation

Rebecca Michelle "Mikie" Sherrill[1][2] (/ˈmaɪki ʃɛrəl/ MY-kee SHERR-əl; born January 19, 1972) is an American politician, former naval pilot, and former federal prosecutor who has been the 57th Governor of New Jersey since 2026. She was the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 11th congressional district from 2019 to 2025. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

She defeated Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli in the 2025 election, becoming the first Democratic woman elected New Jersey governor.[3][4]

Early life and education

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Sherrill was born in Alexandria, Virginia.[5] She was raised in Reston, Virginia.[6][7] In 1994, she earned her B.S. from the United States Naval Academy.[8] In 2003, Sherrill graduated from the London School of Economics. In 2004, she studied at the American University in Cairo. In 2007, Sherrill earned a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.[9]

Military career

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Sherrill wanted to be a pilot from a young age because of her grandfather's service in World War II.[9] She was among the flight school graduates in the first class of women eligible for direct assignment to fly combat aircraft.[10] She was a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot.[11] Sherrill flew missions throughout Europe and in the Middle East.[5][9] In 2000, she was based in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Sherrill served on active duty in the United States Navy for nine years, the final five in the rank of Lieutenant.[12] In 2003 Sherrill was nominated for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.[13] She left the Navy in 2003.[14]

Law career

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In 2007, while earning her Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center, Sherrill was a summer associate at Kirkland & Ellis.[15]

After leaving Kirkland & Ellis, Sherrill joined the United States Attorneys' Office. In 2015, Sherrill became an assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.[16] She left that office in 2016.[5]

U.S. House of Representatives

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On May 11, 2017, Sherrill announced her campaign for New Jersey's 11th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.[17][18] Her campaign was supported by The New York Times.[19]

Sherrill visiting Kyiv, July 2022

In June 2018, Sherrill won the Democratic primary with 77% of the vote.[20][21][22] On November 6, Sherrill beat Republican Jay Webber with 56.8% of the vote to Webber's 42.1%.[23][24] Sherrill is the first Democrat to win this seat since 1984.[25] She would be re-elected in 2020, 2022 and 2024.[26]

Following her election, Sherrill joined the moderate New Democrat Coalition.[27] She also joined the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of moderate and conservative House Democrats.[28]

In 2019, Sherrill was against the first impeachment of President Donald Trump at first, but she changed her mind in September after it was revealed that Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate then-former Vice President Joe Biden.[29] She supported a second impeachment of Trump after the 2021 United States Capitol attack.[30]

On July 9, 2024, Sherrill became the seventh House member to publicly support President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 United States presidential election after his debate against former President Trump.[31]

After winning the 2025 gubernatorial election, Sherrill announced on November 18, 2025 that she would resign from her seat on November 20.[32]

2025 gubernatorial election

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On November 12, 2024, Sherrill announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor in the 2025 gubernatorial election.[33] In June 2025, Sherrill won the Democratic nomination.[34] Among the candidates she beat in the Democratic primary included Newark mayor Ras Baraka and U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer.[34]

After winning the Democratic nomination, Sherrill faced Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the general election. CBS News reported that National Archives and Records Administration had released a mostly uncensored version of Sherrill's military records to Nicholas De Gregorio, an ally of Ciattarelli. CBS News also found that Sherrill's congressional campaign had lied about her military rank, but did not find instances of Sherrill personally doing so.[35]

Sherrill would go on to beat Ciattarelli in the November general election, winning 56.2% of the vote.[36] She is the second woman elected as New Jersey's governor, the first Democratic female governor and the first female military veteran to be a governor of any American state.[37]

Governor of New Jersey

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Sherrill was sworn in on January 20, 2026, in a ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. This is the first time that a new governor was inaugurated outside the state capital of Trenton since William Livingston, the state's first governor.[38][39]

Personal life

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Sherrill is married to Jason Hedberg.[40][41] The couple has lived in Montclair with their four children since 2010. Sherrill is Roman Catholic.[42]

References

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  1. ↑ "Nominations – Naval Academy Graduates: Rebecca M. Sherrill". Congressional Record. 140 (53). May 5, 1994.
  2. ↑ Aron, Michael; Sherrill, Mikie (February 17, 2018). "Season 2018 Episode 7: Congressional Candidate Mikie Sherrill" (Video interview). On the Record with Michael Aron, NJTV. PBS. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  3. ↑ Wasserman, Jake (2025-11-05). "Democrat Mikie Sherrill elected governor of New Jersey". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  4. ↑ "Democrat Mikie Sherrill wins New Jersey governor race". www.bbc.com. 2025-11-05. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  5. 1 2 3 Friedman, Matt (May 12, 2017). "New Jersey Playbook Interview: House candidate Mikie Sherrill". Politico.
  6. ↑ "Sherrill, Mikie". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  7. ↑ Fouriezos, Nick (May 24, 2018). "Mikie Sherrill flew helicopters for the U.S. Now she wants to turn D.C. blue". KYTX. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Nominations – Naval Academy Graduates: Rebecca M. Sherrill". Congressional Record. 140 (53). May 5, 1994.
  9. 1 2 3 Mallon, Maggie (September 1, 2017). "Mikie Sherrill Once Flew Helicopter Missions in the Navy—Now She's Running for Congress". Glamour.
  10. ↑ Walsh, Michael (July 10, 2018). "The New Jersey race that could be key to Democrats retaking the House". Yahoo News. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  11. ↑ Aron, Michael; Sherrill, Mikie (February 17, 2018). "Season 2018 Episode 7: Congressional Candidate Mikie Sherrill" (Video interview). On the Record with Michael Aron, NJTV. PBS.
  12. ↑ Ballotpedia, Encyclopedia of American Politics, Bio of Mikie Sherrill. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  13. ↑ "To be Lieutenant Commander: Rebecca M Sherrill" (PDF). Congressional Record. 149 (119): S11048. September 3, 2003.
  14. ↑ Izzo, Michael (May 11, 2017). "Former Navy pilot challenges Frelinghuysen". Daily Record. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  15. ↑ "2007 New York, Summer Associates: Rebecca Sherrill" (PDF). Kirkland & Ellis. 2007.
  16. ↑ "United States v. Francisco Vallejo, Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus" (PDF). United States District Court District of New Jersey. June 1, 2016. Rebecca M. Sherrill, U.S. District Attorney
  17. ↑ Kiefer, Eric (May 11, 2017). "Montclair Woman, Ex-Prosecutor To Challenge Frelinghuysen For Congress". Montclair, NJ Patch.
  18. ↑ Zaremba, Justin (May 11, 2017). "Ex-Navy helicopter pilot plans to challenge Rep. Frelinghuysen". NJ.com.
  19. ↑ Editorial Board (May 28, 2018). "Opinion: Mikie Sherrill for New Jersey Democrats". The New York Times.
  20. ↑ Corasanti, Nick; Flegenheimer, Matt (June 5, 2018). "Democrats Gain Spots to Battle for Crucial House Seats in New Jersey". The New York Times.
  21. ↑ Salant, Jonathan D. (June 5, 2018). "Former Navy pilot, ex-Obama officials to lead Jersey Dem charge to win House at Trump midterm". NJ.com.
  22. ↑ Almukhtar, Sarah (June 5, 2018). "New Jersey Primary Election Results". The New York Times.
  23. ↑ "N.J. Election 2018: Mikie Sherrill wins House seat for Democrats, beats Jay Webber". NJ.com. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  24. ↑ "New Jersey's 11th Congressional District election, 2018 – Ballotpedia". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  25. ↑ Narvaez, Alfonso A. (November 11, 1984). "Minish Considers Causes of His Loss". The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  26. ↑ "New Jersey Election Results: 11th Congressional District". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  27. ↑ Connolly, Griffin; Connolly, Griffin (January 10, 2019). "Houlahan, Sherrill take leadership roles among freshman Dem moderates". Roll Call. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  28. ↑ Lindsey McPherson (November 27, 2018). "Blue Dog Coalition Elects 3 New Co-Chairs to Lead Them in Next Congress". Roll Call. Archived from the original on January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  29. ↑ Alia Slisco (October 3, 2019). "Trump 'Going Against the Constitution,' Dem. Rep. Mikie Sherrill Tells Chris Cuomo: 'Simply Not Acceptable'". Newsweek. Retrieved October 4, 2018. ...Sherrill ... had not been in favor of moving forward with the impeachment.... However, she stated that the recent allegation Trump asked Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden has provided an unambiguous case against the president.
  30. ↑ Salant, Jonathan D (January 9, 2021). "Rep. Mikie Sherrill was reticent about impeaching Trump the first time, but this time she says she's sure". nj. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  31. ↑ Nobles, Ryan (9 July 2024). "Another House Democrat calls on Biden to step aside in 2024 race". NBC. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  32. ↑ Sobko, Katie (November 18, 2025). "Gov-elect Mike Sherrill will resign her 11th Congressional District effective Nov. 20". NorthJersey.
  33. ↑ "Gottheimer, Sherrill will enter N.J. governor's race". New Jersey Globe. November 12, 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  34. 1 2 "Mikie Sherrill Wins the Democratic Primary for Governor of New Jersey". June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Archives released too much of Mikie Sherrill's military record to ally of her opponent in N.J. governor's race – CBS News". CBS News. September 25, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Fox News Poll: New Jersey governorship remains Democratic with Sherrill win". November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Covering Women in the 2025 Elections". CAWP.edu. October 28, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  38. ↑ Wildstein, David (December 17, 2025). "Sherrill inauguration will be in Newark, not Trenton". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  39. ↑ Johnson, Brent (20 January 2026). "Mikie Sherrill sworn in as N.J. governor as new era begins". NJ.com. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  40. ↑ "Nominations – Naval Academy Graduates: Jason J. Hedberg". Congressional Record. 140 (53). May 5, 1994.
  41. ↑ "USNA Men's Rugby Team: All Americans, Eight-Man. Jason Hedberg ('93, '94)". NBC Sports. 1994.
  42. ↑ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. December 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2023.

Other websites

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Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mikie_Sherrill&oldid=10722438"