In a fiery town hall exchange this week, New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat and former Navy helicopter pilot, vowed to sue President Donald Trump if he attempts to deploy federal troops to the Garden State, calling such an act “illegal” and a threat to civil liberties.
The warning came during a campaign stop in northern New Jersey, where Sherrill addressed concerns from residents about Trump’s renewed pledge to use the National Guard to restore law and order in cities that, in his words, refuse to protect their own citizens.
“That’s why, as governor, should Trump try to deploy troops on our streets, I would be very opposed to that. I’d immediately take him to court and demand that he stop this – because I think it’s illegal – and ensure that here in New Jersey, people are kept safe,” Sherrill claimed.
Her remarks quickly drew national attention, setting up what could become another flashpoint between Trump and blue-state leaders ahead of the gubernatorial and local elections. While Sherrill positioned her comments as a defense of state sovereignty, Trump’s allies accused her of grandstanding and ignoring federal authority in cases of violent unrest.
The debate echoes past clashes between federal and state power, particularly during Trump’s first term when he deployed federal forces to cities such as Portland and Washington, D.C., under the Insurrection Act and other emergency statutes.
Mikie Sherrill standing in New Jersey’s 11th district.
For Sherrill, the legal argument doubles as a campaign message. Her team believes standing up to Trump’s proposed law-and-order agenda plays well with suburban voters who view military intervention as heavy-handed. But for Trump supporters, it’s yet another example of Democrats resisting efforts to keep the nation safe.
Earlier this month, roughly 400 Texas National Guard members arrived near Chicago to protect federal facilities, despite strong objections from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and local officials who called it a violation of state sovereignty. Similar clashes have unfolded elsewhere — a federal judge in Oregon blocked Trump’s plan to send troops to Portland, and lawsuits are pending in California and Washington, D.C., where critics argue the deployments breach the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement.
The White House maintains that the moves are necessary to combat violent crime, protect ICE offices, and restore “law and order” in what Trump has described as “out-of-control cities.” Democratic governors and legal experts say the actions represent dangerous federal overreach.
Sherrill’s race for New Jersey governor has heated up as she prepares for Wednesday night’s final debate against Republican Jack Ciattarelli at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. The matchup comes with polls tightening — Sherrill’s lead has shrunk to just a few points as voters focus on taxes, energy costs, and fallout from the federal shutdown.
She’s heading into the debate with a solid fundraising advantage, but controversy over her military records and her support for green energy could give Ciattarelli openings. With early voting already underway and Election Day set for November 4, both campaigns are pushing hard in the final stretch to sway undecided voters.
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