Freshman Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) has raised a whopping $2,612,434 for her re-election campaign in New Jersey’s 11th district, including $757,451 during the 4th quarter of 2019.

Sherrill has $2,211,668 cash-on-hand in a Republican-leaning district the GOP appears ready to write off after holding the seat for 34 years.



“Our community recognizes the importance of representation in Congress that is accountable, transparent, and effective,” said Sherrill. “During my first year in Congress, I worked hard to fight for New Jersey families, and I will continue to find ways to reach across the aisle to lower our tax burden, strengthen our healthcare system, and improve our transportation infrastructure



Sherrill raised almost $8.5 million in her bid to flip New Jersey’s 11th district in 2018 and outspent her Republican opponent by an almost 5-1 margin for a seat that Republicans had held since 1984.

It was Sherrill’s early fundraising prowess – she had raised more than $1.2 million by the end of 2017 – that helped frighten twelve-term incumbent Rodney Frelinghuysen out of the race. With a warchest of under $1.2 million, Frelinghuysen announced his retirement weeks after Sherrill announced her own fundraising numbers.

She won her House race by 46,262 votes, 47%-42%, against Republican assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) in 2018.

The 11th district has 1,500 more Republicans than Democrats and Donald Trump won it by 1% in 2016 — down from 24,176 when the district was drawn after the 2010 census.



The GOP appears to view Sherrill as less beatable than five other New Jersey House Democrats.



The leading candidate appears to be former Kinnelon councilman Larry Casha, although trucking company executive and potential self-financer Jerry Langer has still not said if he will run.



So far, the only Republican to file is Robert Crook, an accountant who won .7% as an independent in 2018.

Sherrill faces a primary challenge from Mark Washburne, a county college professor who received 3.4% in the Democratic primary two years ago.