Democratic US Rep. Mikie Sherrill Announces Run for New Jersey Governor

Former Navy helicopter pilot and prosecutor joins crowded Democratic primary field

Democratic US Rep. Mikie Sherrill announced Tuesday that she is running for governor of New Jersey, becoming the latest candidate to join a crowded primary field in the race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy, who is not seeking a third term.

Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party.

She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018, flipping a Republican-held seat in a district that had been represented by Republicans for nearly two decades.

In the House, Sherrill has served on the Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Sherrill's entry into the race shakes up the Democratic primary field.

She is the only woman running for governor and is seen as a moderate Democrat who could appeal to independent and Republican voters.

Other Democratic candidates in the race include Phil Murphy Jr., the son of the current governor, and Matthew Platkin, the state's attorney general.

The Republican primary field is also crowded, with several candidates vying for the nomination.

The most prominent Republican candidate is Jack Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman who narrowly lost to Murphy in the 2021 gubernatorial election.

Other Republican candidates include Hirsh Singh, a businessman and former candidate for US Senate, and Brian Levine, a former investment banker.

The New Jersey gubernatorial election will be held on November 7, 2023.

The Democratic and Republican primaries will be held on June 6, 2023.