Sherrill's early decision on Biden

Jul 26, 2024

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Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill was the first and only member of the New Jersey delegation to call on President Joe Biden to step out of the 2024 race. That was just over two weeks ago — and the political scene has almost entirely shifted since then, with Biden having relented and Vice President Kamala Harris almost certainly leading the ticket in November.

Sherrill, a former Navy pilot expected to run for governor next year, said it wasn’t a decision that came lightly: “Something you learn in the military is how to gather information and make tough decisions during really difficult times, often during a crisis.”

After Biden gave a speech on Wednesday explaining his decision not to run for reelection, Playbook caught up with Sherrill on the events of the past two weeks.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

You were the only member of the New Jersey delegation to call on Biden to step out of the race. Do you think other members should have? Why do you think you were the only one?

It's sometimes difficult in that situation that you know is going to have such huge ramifications. I mean, the very future of the country is at stake in winning this election. I think it's hard sometimes to take that responsibility on. But that's what leadership is about, and that's what you're often trained to do. I don't think it's an accident that you saw several former military members coming forward, like [Massachusetts Rep.] Seth Moulton and [New York Rep.] Pat Ryan. I think we know from experience that the worst decision is often not making that decision for change, not being courageous enough to chart a new path.

Biden appeared for a long time to be in declining health. Why wasn't there a push for him not to run before the primaries instead of after?

I saw him at the State of the Union address. And I will tell you he seemed very sharp. I thought he did a good job. And so while I had heard some of the reporting, I had not seen it … it really wasn't until the debate where I became concerned that he was not going to be able to prosecute the case against Trump … And so for me, that was the moment when I thought we're really going to need to go with a different candidate to really prosecute that case.

Obviously this was a big week for New Jersey too, with Sen. Bob Menendez announcing he will resign. What are your reactions to that and were you surprised? Who do you think Gov. Phil Murphy should tap to fill his seat?

He really did need to resign. I don't think there's a path forward there. So I'm happy that he did that. I think it's important for the country and important for the state. And now, I think it's a tough decision, right? Because we need Andy Kim in the Senate. We [also] need Andy Kim in the House, given our really tight majority. And so I think it sounds as if the governor has spoken to [Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries, who made a strong case for keeping as many people in the House as possible. I'm sure the governor will make a great choice, and somebody who's going to represent our state well until Andy Kim wins the race in November.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Steve Oroho, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. Saturday for Dalin Hackley, Mike Porch, Ed Farmer, Samantha Maltzman, David Adinaro. Sunday for Yvonne Lopez, Bill Bradley.

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WHERE’S MURPHY? — Leaving New Jersey for personal travel.

A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

To make New Jersey a healthier, more equitable place to live, we must end structural racism. The most effective way to change unfair systems and harmful policies is for affected communities to build power through collective action. When communities act together to voice their needs and hopes, they can hold decisionmakers accountable and drive change. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has a plan to harness community power to increase access to health. Explore the roadmap.

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A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

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A message from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

For New Jersey to be a place where everyone can achieve their healthiest life possible, we must acknowledge structural racism as a barrier to health equity and address it.

The most effective way to change unfair systems and harmful policies is for affected communities and people to build power through collective action. When communities act together to voice their needs and hopes for the future, they can hold decisionmakers accountable, drive change, and make health accessible for all.

A Policy Agenda for a Healthier, More Equitable New Jersey is a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that outlines how community power can become the engine that drives the changes needed to overcome inequity. Working together, communities can ensure equitable access to housing, support healthy births and maternal health, and improve public health infrastructure. See the plan.