Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., the Democratic candidate for governor, called Charlie Kirk a Christian nationalist who wanted to take away the rights of women and Black people after the House passed a resolution honoring the conservative activist.
The House adopted a resolution to honor Kirk’s “life and legacy” Friday, just over a week after he was shot and killed during a college campus speaking event in Utah. The measure received bipartisan support in a 310-58 vote, with both Democrats and Republicans condemning political violence after Kirk’s assassination.
The vote split Democrats, with 95 lawmakers, including Sherrill, voting in favor, 58 voting against it, and 22 not voting.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill criticized Charlie Kirk on Friday. She said Kirk wanted to roll back the rights of women and Black people after the House voted to honor him with a resolution.
“I take my oath to the Constitution seriously. I believe in free speech and that the First Amendment wouldn’t be necessary if it only protected ideas we agree with,” Sherrill said. “It is meant to protect people like Charlie Kirk who share views I find offensive. But it is also meant to protect teachers, doctors, and TV comedians who may express opinions the president doesn’t like.
“Charlie Kirk was advocating for a Christian nationalist government and wanted to roll back the rights of women and Black people. This goes against every value I care about and fight for,” she added. “But the Constitution protects free speech, even for those I strongly disagree with.”
Sherrill also said President Donald Trump continues to “define hypocrisy.”
“On one hand, he condemned Kirk’s politically motivated killing, while on the other hand, he is creating a witch hunt to silence anyone who disagrees with Kirk’s racist, anti-American views,” she said.
While condemning Kirk’s murder, Sherrill said she will continue to “condemn political violence, racism, attacks on women, and hypocrisy coming from Trump and his supporters.”
Sherrill has faced criticism from Republicans for supporting Zohran Mamdani, a socialist and the Democratic nominee for the 2025 New York City mayoral election.
“It’s not that hard to disavow socialism, and Mikie Sherrill’s comments saying she shares the goals of socialist Zohran Mamdani are not only absurd, but disqualifying,” Republican Governors Association Communications Director Courtney Alexander said in June.
“It should worry New Jerseyans that Mikie Sherrill wants to ‘throw out the old playbook’ and ‘share his voters’ goal.’
“Some of Mamdani’s main goals include defunding the police, ending cooperation with ICE, and government-run grocery stores,” he added. “New York City’s problems often affect New Jersey, and Sherrill’s support of socialist Zohran Mamdani is a serious risk New Jerseyans cannot afford.”
