New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill endorsed a slate of candidates in the 2026 midterm elections on Thursday, backing a group of Democratic veterans running in competitive congressional races as the party looks to regain control of Congress.
Sherrill’s Mission to Deliver PAC endorsed 13 candidates, including Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), who is seeking to challenge Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts, and House candidates in battleground districts across Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
The endorsements mark the first national political move by Sherrill since taking office as New Jersey’s governor earlier this year and signal her intention to campaign for Democrats across the country ahead of November.
In announcing the endorsements, Sherrill highlighted the candidates’ military service, drawing on her own background as a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Navy helicopter pilot.
“Each one of these candidates has taken multiple oaths to the U.S. Constitution,” she said. “They know what it means to serve others and accomplish the mission, whatever it takes. I know from working with fellow servicemembers when I was in Congress that when we send veterans to Washington, we are sending in dedicated public servants who are trained to run towards the fight and are unafraid to take on the status quo.”
Sherrill also used the announcement to criticize President Donald Trump, a common tactic for establishment Democrats in the midterm elections.
“They will stand up to a president who ran away from service, who sends our troops into harm’s way for a war he shouldn’t have gotten into and can’t get out of, and drives up costs for the American people while he uses public office to enrich himself, his family, and his cronies,” she said.
Some candidates, such as Reps. Don Davis (D-NC) and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) are already sitting Democratic members of Congress defending their seats. Davis’s district was recently redrawn, making him at high risk for being unseated by a Republican.
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Other candidates endorsed by Sherrill are seeking to unseat Republicans or flip a seat blue, such as former Rep. Elaine Luria in Virginia, JoAnna Mendoza in Arizona, Eileen Laubacher and Jessica Killin in Colorado, Bale Dalton in Florida, Zach Dembo in Kentucky, Rebecca Bennett in New Jersey, and Cait Conley in New York.
Sherrill additionally endorsed Maura Sullivan, who is seeking the New Hampshire House seat held by Senate candidate Chris Pappas, and Nancy Lacore, a retired United States Navy Vice Admiral who is running in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, the seat left open by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).
Mission to Deliver said Thursday’s announcement is the first in a series of endorsements planned for the midterm cycle. The PAC said Sherrill intends to campaign for endorsed candidates in competitive races nationwide as Democrats look to flip both chambers of Congress in November.