Alexandria native elected New Jersey governor
Mikie Sherrill wins race, becomes state's second female governor
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, born in Alexandria, has won New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, becoming the state’s second female governor.
The Associated Press called the race Tuesday evening, with the four-term congresswoman capturing 56.7% of the vote to Republican Jack Ciattarelli’s 42.8% with 60% of precincts reporting.
Born Jan. 19, 1972, in Alexandria, Sherrill graduated from South Lakes High School in Reston in 1990. She attended the U.S. Naval Academy and became one of the first women eligible for combat flight assignments, flying Navy helicopters throughout Europe and the Middle East.
After earning a law degree from Georgetown University in 2007, she worked as a federal prosecutor before flipping New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District from Republican control in 2018.
Sherrill’s victory breaks a six-decade trend: no party has held New Jersey’s governorship for more than two consecutive terms since 1965. She will replace term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, in mid-January 2026.
She joins fellow Alexandria natives U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine in high statewide office.
“New Jersey, it is the honor of my life to earn your trust to become this great state’s 57th Governor,” Sherrill said on Facebook Tuesday night. “I promise to listen, lead with courage, and never forget who I serve”.