PARSIPPANY — Speaking in front of a packed house of more than 2,000 supporters at the Parsippany Sheraton Hotel, Navy veteran, federal prosecutor, mother of four, and first time candidate Mikie Sherrill claimed a decisive, historic victory in the race for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. Assemblyman Jay Webber called Congresswoman-elect Sherrill to concede. Sherrill’s win marks the first time in more than thirty years that a Democrat will represent the 11th District in Congress, and she will now be the second woman in the New Jersey Congressional Delegation. The victory was the culmination of a bipartisan, grassroots movement built over two years in the 11th, driven by voters’ concerns over health care protections, tax changes that leave New Jersey homeowners behind, and gun laws that have left too many firearms in dangerous hands.
In Morris County, Sherrill took the lead with 76,819 votes (53.86%) with Jay Webber at 64,339 votes (45.11%). Morris County has 364,147 registered voters and 190,892 voted or 52.42%
“Tonight, we celebrate a historic moment, born of our deep belief in what we have to do to make America what it can be and should be,” said Congresswoman-elect Sherrill. “I swore my first oath to support our country when I was 18 years old, and ever since that day, my confidence in our democracy has never wavered. Out of the cynicism, the distrust, and the attacks on our democratic ideals, we have found what exists inside all of us: the simple truth that we love our country, that we are no longer taking our government of the people, by the people, and for the people for granted. In fact, we are going to do everything in our power to protect it.
“Tomorrow, our work really begins: for health care that doesn’t make you choose between treatment and putting food on the table; for a tax code that makes it possible to raise a family and retire here in New Jersey; for infrastructure that ensures you can work hard and also make it home for dinner; for gun laws that make it safe to go to school, to the movies, and to a church, synagogue, or mosque. Now is the time to face these challenges and rebuild our democracy — to restore the trust in our government and our faith in our country. Now is the time for our country to come together.
“Serving this country has always been the honor of my life, and I pledge to everyone in this district, that when I stand on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, raise my right hand and once again swear that oath to my country, I will also be swearing an oath to every resident of the 11th District.”
Mike Sherrill is a Naval Academy graduate, Navy veteran and helicopter pilot, former federal prosecutor, mother of four, first-time candidate, and the Congresswoman-elect for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.
