Here’s When NJ Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill Will Resign From Congress

When she wakes up on Friday, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey will no longer be a congresswoman.

Sherrill, the state’s governor-elect, announced that her resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives will take effect at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20. She was required to turn over the seat as a condition of becoming governor.

Sherrill is currently serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in the state’s 11th congressional district, which spans dozens of towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties (see list below).

The congresswoman was re-elected in 2024. Her term ends in January 2027.

Sherrill will need to resign from her seat to take her new job as governor on Jan. 20. An election – including a primary – will take place to choose a replacement to fill her unexpired term. This will leave the state’s 11th district temporarily without a representative in Congress. An election date hasn’t been set.

• See Related: Here's What Happens To Sherrill's House Seat When She Becomes Governor

Sherrill said it has been an “honor” to serve in Congress.

“Public service is a public trust,” she wrote in a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy. “I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of the 11th district and all New Jerseyans as governor next year.”

“I've been proud to fight for our communities, getting shovels in the ground for the Gateway Tunnel project, slashing through red tape on critical flood mitigation projects, protecting Picatinny Arsenal's mission, and funding community projects that support our students, infrastructure, and public safety,” Sherrill said.

“Importantly, I am proud of our office's reputation for constituent services, assisting our veterans, seniors, and residents who are having trouble navigating the federal government,” she added.

CANDIDATE UPDATE IN NJ-11

There is a growing list of candidates who have announced they are running for Sherrill’s seat, have filed paperwork to run, or are expected to do so shortly.

The candidates currently include:

• New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way
• Former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski
• Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway
• Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett
• Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill
• Maplewood Committee member Dean Dafis
• Former Barack Obama staffer Cammie Croft
• Morris Township Deputy Mayor Jeff Grayzel
• Chatham Borough Council Member Justin Strickland
• Former Sherrill intern and congressional staffer Marc Chaaban
• Community activist Anna Lee Williams
• Venture capitalist Zach Beecher

Although they haven’t declared their intent to run, other names that have been floated as potential replacements include New Jersey Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie, South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum, and former Biden administration staffer Jack Miller.

• See Related: 3 Morris County Officials Compete For Mikie Sherrill’s Spot In Congress
• See Related: 2 Congress Candidates From Montclair Seek Sherrill's Seat In NJ-11

WHERE IS THE 11TH DISTRICT?

New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District includes the following municipalities:

Essex County – Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair (part), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell

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

Passaic County – Little Falls, Totowa, Wayne (part), Woodland Park

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