NJ Primary Elections 2020: District 11 – NJ Spotlight

New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District was one of the most hotly contested in 2018. Now, freshman Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill is seeking to keep the blue wave going in this historically Republican stronghold. Her likely challenger in the general election will be Republican Rosemary Becchi, as both are unopposed in their primaries.

The largely suburban district contains portions of Essex, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties. The district is split evenly along party lines, with registered Democrats and Republicans each making up 31% of the electorate and 38% of voters not affiliated with either party.

The 11th has the highest median income of any New Jersey district at almost $119,000 and is one of the most affluent congressional districts in the country.

Neither of the two candidates currently lives within the 11th District.

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES

 MIKIE SHERRILL: DEMOCRAT (incumbent)

Sherrill is seeking her second term in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2018, she defeated Republican Assemblyman Jay Webber with nearly 57% of the vote to take over the seat of Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a Republican who retired after 12 terms in office.

Before running for Congress, Sherrill served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. From 1994 to 2003, she was on active duty as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy.

A moderate, Sherrill has pushed for the restoration of the state and local tax deduction and federal funding for the Gateway transportation project. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Sherrill lives just outside the 11th District in Montclair, which is split between the 10th and 11th districts, with her husband Jason and their four children. Follow this link for more information.

ROSEMARY BECCHI: REPUBLICAN

A tax policy lawyer and consultant with a private lobbying and law firm, Becchi served as counsel to the majority staff of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Before her time with the Senate, Becchi was a staff attorney in the office of the chief counsel of the IRS.

She is also the founder of Jersey First, a nonprofit policy organization that advocates for lower taxes and reduced government spending.

Becchi first announced her candidacy in the 7th District, where she would have faced Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean in the Republican primary and Democratic incumbent Rep. Tom Malinowski in the general election. She switched to the 11th District race in January.

Becchi lives in Short Hills in the 7th District with her husband Scott and their three daughters. Follow this link for more information.