Rep. Mikie Sherrill suggested last week that a third impeachment of President Trump could be the only way to thwart Republicans after the 2026 midterms in a bid to shore up support for her New Jersey gubernatorial run.
“I think you have to test yourself. I think it’s not enough to take on one tough fight. I think there’s a lot of tough fights going on,” Sherrill (D-NJ) told supporters during an event at Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company Station 34 in Manchester Township April 26.
“When I impeached the president the first time — who knew I would ever be saying–” she began at one point.
“Do it again,” one attendee interjected, prompting laughter from the town hall audience.
“Yeah, exactly. We’ll see,” she replied. “Maybe we’ll go for the trifecta.”
“But when I impeached him the first time, I thought I would probably lose my seat after that because of my district,” she continued.
Sherill’s verbal blows followed a call for Democrats to take to the streets in mass demonstrations from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who recently hinted at a 2028 presidential bid by traveling to an early primary state.
“Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now,” Pritzker said at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner on Sunday.
“These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace,” he told guests. “They have to understand that we will fight their cruelty with every megaphone and microphone that we have.”
On Monday, Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) filed seven articles of impeachment against Trump for not facilitating the return of alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US — after he was deported to El Salvador — and eliminating federal programs without congressional authorization, among other alleged high crimes and misdemeanors.
Sherrill, 52, is in a tough Democratic primary fight with fellow New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, with internal polls from both campaigns showing they are leading the pack.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, former Montclair mayor and president of the New Jersey Education Association Sean Spiller and ex-state Senate president Stephen Sweeney are also in the running.
In mid-April, Sherrill nabbed 25% support from Garden State voters, Gottheimer drew 15%, Fulop and Baraka had 13%, Spiller got 12% and Sweeney received 6%, according to an internal Sherrill campaign poll conducted by the Global Strategy Group.
Sherrill was ahead by five percentage points, 19% to 14%, in a Gottheimer campaign internal poll released April 24, followed by Fulop (13%), Baraka (11%), Spiller (11%) and Sweeney (5%).
The New Jersey Democratic primary will be held June 10.
Sherrill, whose House district comprises parts of suburban Morris, Essex and Passaic counties, is a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor seeking to keep her state in Democratic control with Gov. Phil Murphy term-limited.
In her campaign launch last November, she highlighted how her candidacy would be focused on helping to “make life more affordable for hardworking New Jerseyans, from health care to groceries to child care,” while calling for her state to be “the gold standard for protecting rights and freedoms.
“We know they’ll be under attack from Donald Trump’s Washington,” she claimed. “Because in New Jersey, we love our country, we’re proud of our state, and we value our freedoms.”
In her April 26 appearance, she also dished on how blue state-led efforts would be able to counter Trump’s agenda.
“I was on the floor on January 6th. And he has no intention of leaving in four years — zero,” Sherrill said two days after the Trump Organization trolled its critics by selling bright, red “Trump 2028” hats for $50 a pop in its online store.
Trump, 78, told NBC News in March that he was “not joking” about bending the constitutional rules to run for a third term, but has been rebuffed by Republicans in Congress.
“It’s up to, again, all of us to make sure that we are there, mobilizing, bringing people together as he’s trying to divide us apart, finding ways around and, kind of, to block and tackle in the states,” Sherrill said.
“I have to tell you it’s all down to federalism, in my mind. It’s down to the states — and taking them to court as they’re trying to meddle in our election system.”
Reps for Sherrill’s gubernatorial campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
