Mikie Sherrill Sworn In To Congress As NJ-11's New Rep

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Democrat Mikie Sherrill has been sworn into Congress, becoming the first woman to ever represent New Jersey's 11th Congressional District and the first Democrat to hold the seat in more than two decades.

Sherrill was sworn into the seat held for 23 years by retiring Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen. In her first vote, Sherrill voted against electing Rep. Nancy Pelosi as the Speaker of the House, the New York Times reports; Pelosi was elected to the speakership. Sherrill distanced herself from Pelosi during the general election, saying shortly after the election she would not support Pelosi.

"After taking an oath first to defend our country as a member of the US Navy, and then to uphold our laws as a federal prosecutor, today I am proud to raise my hand and solemnly swear to defend our Constitution and to faithfully discharge my duties as Congresswoman for #NJ11," Sherrill wrote on her newly-created Twitter account.

Entering Congress during a government shut down, Sherrill has asked not to receive a salary while 800,000 federal workers remain furloughed. The salary for most members of the U.S. House of Representatives is $174,000 per year, according to the Congressional Research Service.

"As a former federal employee, I have seen firsthand how prior government shutdowns have imposed needless financial burdens on hardworking individuals and their families," Sherrill wrote in a letter sent to Chief Administrative Officer Phil Kiko asking not to be paid.

Sherrill previously worked for the government as a federal prosecutor and for the Navy as a pilot. She is one of a record 102 women being sworn into Congress as part of the so-called "blue wave." Her victory was crucial to the national Democratic party, which was counting on the district to help them regain control of the House.

A Republican stronghold for the past several decades, GOP support had been waning in the 11th District prior to the 2018 General Election, and Sherrill won the seat over her Republican challenger, State Assemblyman Jay Webber, by a 13-point margin.

Previously voting for Republican presidential candidates by double-digit margins, Trump won the district by just 1 percent, and a pre-election poll found that a quarter of voters were less likely to vote for Webber, due to his support from Trump.

The 11th District covers most of Morris County, and parts of Sussex, Essex and Passaic counties.

• NJ Congresswoman-Elect Refuses Pay Until Government Shutdown Ends
• Mikie Sherrill Picks Senior Staff, Readies For Congress
• Democrat Sherill Beats Republican Webber, Flips GOP Seat In NJ

Image via US Government