Mikie Sherrill

Mikie Sherrill
source
Name	Mikie Sherrill
Caption	Sherrill in 2023
State	New Jersey
District	11th
Term start	January 3, 2019
Predecessor	Rodney Frelinghuysen
Party	Democratic
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy (BS), Georgetown University Law Center (JD)
Branch	United States Navy
Serviceyears	1994–2003
Rank	Lieutenant
Battles	Global War on Terrorism

Mikie Sherrill is an American politician and former United States Navy officer serving as the U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 11th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, she was first elected in the 2018 elections, flipping a seat long held by Republicans. Sherrill serves on the influential House Armed Services Committee and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party.

Early life and education

Mikie Sherrill was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up in the Dallas area. She attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and receiving a commission as an officer in the United States Navy. Following her service as a naval flight officer, she earned a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C..

Career before Congress

Sherrill served as a naval flight officer and Seahawk helicopter pilot, achieving the rank of lieutenant. Her military service included deployments supporting operations in Europe and the Middle East during the Global War on Terrorism. After leaving active duty, she worked as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, focusing on political corruption cases. She later served as a Rutgers Law School instructor and was a volunteer with the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elected in the 2018 midterm elections, Sherrill succeeded retiring Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen. She was sworn into the 116th United States Congress and assigned to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. In the 117th United States Congress, she joined the House Education and Labor Committee. She was appointed to the Select Committee on China in the 118th United States Congress. Sherrill co-founded the Servicewomen and Women Veterans Congressional Caucus and serves as a Democratic Caucus Regional Whip. She has sponsored legislation including the Honor Our Commitment Act and the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act.

Political positions

Sherrill is considered a New Democrat or Blue Dog moderate within the Democratic Party. She supports Affordable Care Act protections, investment in infrastructure like the Gateway Tunnel, and strong environmental policies aligned with the Paris Agreement. On national security, she advocates for a robust defense budget, support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and a firm stance against the Chinese Communist Party. She voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, but has broken with her party on some issues, including certain provisions of the Build Back Better Act.

Electoral history

In the 2018 election for New Jersey's 11th congressional district, Sherrill defeated Republican nominee Jay Webber and independent candidates. She won re-election in 2020 against Republican Rosemary Becchi and again in 2022 against Republican Paul DeGroot. Her victories have been part of a broader Democratic shift in historically Republican suburban areas of North Jersey.

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey