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Mikie Sherrill blocks release of non-citizen voter names—and critics erupt

July 29, 2026 | | Print Article

Dueling letters found a blue state digging its heels in against the Justice Department over concerning voter rolls as the governor spun a story on protecting “citizens.”

Last week, in yet another example of the thing that never happens happening, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) made a stunning announcement about the Motor Vehicles Commission and voter registration of about 6,600 non-citizens. After faulting a “serious software error,” the Garden State executive refused to comply with a DOJ request for information on the rolls, claiming an unspecified number among them “may be citizens.”

During an event touting the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act, Sherrill fielded a question about complying with the federal government’s request, stating in response, “As I have said, I am not in the habit of turning over private, identifying information of the citizens of New Jersey.”

“This federal government is weaponizing the government against individuals that disagree with them. They weaponized my private data against me and my election. And so, I am working to protect people and their private data here in New Jersey,” she went on.

In addition to her remarks that framed the non-citizens registered to vote as citizens, the governor released a statement that argued in part that review of the data found the “a number of these individuals may be citizens.”

“Just as we have an obligation to remove everyone who is not eligible to vote, we also have a responsibility to protect the voting rights of eligible New Jersey citizens and ensure no one is improperly removed from the rolls,” contended Sherrill.

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Her statements come along with a letter responding to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who, on July 21, requested the identities, nationalities, and pertinent registration details of the 6,600 non-citizens the governor admitted had registered, as well as the times and method by which the 400 non-citizens who voted were said to have done so.

Firing back, Sherrill wrote there was “no legal basis” for the request while claiming, “We will continue to ensure that New Jersey’s elections remain free, fair, and secure.”

As such, Dhillon responded on X, “Gov. Sherrill’s refusal to cooperate with federal law enforcement does nothing to protect law-abiding NJ voters. NJ has a legal duty to keep ineligible voters off its rolls, & our request is grounded in that legal authority. DOJ will get this information through all legal means!”

Likewise, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jesus A. Osete reacted, “Challenge accepted.”

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Meanwhile, reactions on social media continued to cry out over Sherrill’s obfuscation of the issue, which some received as her appearing to confer citizenship on hundreds of people without any authority to do so.

“An illegitimate governor, defending her own illegitimate election, doubles down in defiance, all in the name of defying the law and the will of every legitimate American citizen,” suggested one X user, as another wrote, “Unfreakingbelievable. Enemy of the people.”

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Kevin Haggerty
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