Phil Rizzo Joins NJ-11 Republican Race Challenging Mikie Sherrill

NEW JERSEY — Another Republican challenger has put his hat into the ring in hopes of unseating U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill in 2022, with Phil Rizzo announcing his candidacy on Thursday.

Rizzo, a pastor, small business owner, 2021 Republican gubernatorial candidate and native New Jerseyan who now lives in Harding Township, says he’s running “because empowering New Jersey didn’t end with the Governor’s race."

In preliminary results for the Republican primary nomination when the Associated Press called it for Jack Ciattarelli on June 8, Rizzo held that second spot with 38,814 votes to Ciattarelli’s 74,958, followed by Hirsch V. Singh with 34,197 votes and Brian D. Levine with 4,796.

A real estate developer, pastor of City Baptist Church in North Bergen and pro-life candidate who has supported former President Donald Trump, it was Rizzo’s first time running for office, with Ciattarelli having been the only Republican candidate, outside of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who was able to qualify for public funds to run for governor.

He also faced some questions in the gubernatorial race, for selling his $1.6 million home to his church as an asset, according to Politico, with it a "tax-exempt parsonage," where Rizzo told the news outlet he lives tax-free and wasn't taking a salary from his church.

Rizzo has been a part of the “medical freedom movement” against vaccine mandates, having been a speaker at events at Rutgers University and invited to speak at anti-mask protests. He ended up speaking at one in May 2021 in support of a Stafford Township school nurse, Erin Pein, who was suspended from her job for refusing to mask up, calling mask-wearing "child abuse."

“The people of New Jersey are ready to take back our state,” was a statement Rizzo made on Thursday in a news release about his campaign. “We’re tired of being told we don’t have a voice in our kids’ education, our health decisions, our livelihoods, our speech, our safety and our elections.”

The people of New Jersey are ready to take back our state. We’re tired of being told we don’t have a voice in our kids’ education, our health decisions, our livelihoods, our speech, our safety, and our elections.

Join my movement to flip NJ-11 RED!https://t.co/nKCWnjHXiF pic.twitter.com/6KOc8dzBUX
— Phil Rizzo 🇺🇸 (@JerseyRizzo) December 9, 2021

As part of that, he says that it’s time to stand up to “federal government and radical, out-of-touch Leftist politicians and unelected bureaucrats trying to tell New Jerseyans how to live our lives.”

In his announcement, he said he believes “New Jersey’s best days are ahead,” as someone who “won’t back down when it comes to defending the freedoms of our people and lifting the voices of New Jerseyans.”

Having lost his right arm to an accident as a young child who loved being involved in sports, Rizzo explained that he “bounced back,” prevailing over challenges and continuing in athletics, as well as having enrolled in college and starting a family, his business, his church, a school and his past run for governor.

“The challenge ahead will take a fighter with the true spirit of New Jersey, someone who won’t be pushed around,” he added.

Rizzo joins several other Republicans who have announced their candidacies against Democratic incumbent Sherrill so far. She was elected in 2018 and took the helm after Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen decided to retire.

Former Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Paul DeGroot is one Republican who most recently announced his interest in the seat on Nov. 30.

RELATED: NJ-11 Race Heats Up; List Of Republican Challengers Grows

Other Republican challengers for Sherrill’s spot include, according to Ballotpedia, Hillery Brotschol, Larry Casha, Robert Kovic, Patrick Quinn, Tayfun Selen and Tom Toomey.

• See related article: Tom Toomey Announces Run Against Rep. Mikie Sherrill
• See related article: Candidate Puts Hat In Ring For Mendham's NJ-11 Race
• See related article: Republican, MSU Alum Will Challenge Rep. Mikie Sherrill In NJ-11

The 11th District includes the following municipalities:

Morris County - Boonton Town, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Denville, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township and Victory Gardens

Essex County - Bloomfield (split with 10th), Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Montclair (split with 10th), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell, West Orange (split with 10th)

Passaic County - Bloomingdale, Little Falls, North Haledon, Pompton Lakes, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne and Woodland Park

Sussex County - Byram, Hopatcong, Ogdensburg, Sparta and Stanhope

Reporting contributed by Nicole Rosenthal and Eric Kiefer

Questions or comments about this story? Have a local news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.