New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill is facing scrutiny over a cheating scandal from her time at the U.S. Naval Academy and accusations of nepotism regarding her children’s recent admissions to that same institution. In a June press release, Sherrill expressed pride for the young students in her district who were appointed to military academies, including her children, Lincoln and Margaret Hedberg. “I am so proud of all the young men and women from NJ-11 who are reporting to the military academies or academy preparatory programs this summer,” she stated.
However, the press release raised eyebrows when it did not explicitly mention that the two students with her husband’s last name were indeed her children. The accompanying photo showed Sherrill with students but excluded her kids. Critics quickly pointed out that this omission looks suspicious, particularly given the competitive nature of Naval Academy admissions, which boast an acceptance rate of just 9%.
Social media users and commentators voiced their concerns, suggesting that nepotism played a role in her children’s acceptance. Rasmussen pollster Mark Mitchell remarked, “Mikie Sherrill’s two kids are at the Naval Academy, one of the hardest schools to get into, because of her nepotism.” Another journalist pointedly asked, “How did Mikie Sherrill’s two kids get into the Naval Academy? Did two other deserving students miss out because of her nepotism?”
Contrary to claims of favoritism, Sherrill’s campaign maintained that her children did not compete through her office’s nomination process. Instead, they applied to the offices of U.S. Senators from New Jersey. An aide for Democratic Senator Cory Booker confirmed he nominated one of Sherrill’s children, while a spokesperson for now-former Democratic Senator George Helmy confirmed the nomination of her other child. Sherrill insisted, “I am proud that they each earned nominations on their own.”
In response to inquiries about why her children weren’t mentioned in the press release, her office explained that it listed all students from NJ-11 appointed to academies, and including her children was not a liability but rather standard practice. Nonetheless, her campaign dismissed allegations of nepotism as “depraved attacks,” connecting them to what they described as political maneuvering related to the recently revealed details of Sherrill’s military records.
The controversy surrounding Sherrill intensified when it was reported she had been blocked from attending her graduation ceremony in 1994 due to a cheating scandal. Her opponent, Ciattarelli, has been vocal in demanding transparency. “Come clean, release the records. Tell us what’s in your disciplinary records. I think the people of New Jersey deserve that,” he stated, pushing for further investigation into Sherrill’s past and how it has influenced her political career.
Sherrill’s campaign continues to maintain that she and her office are above reproach, but the controversies seem to be gaining steam, particularly as the election date draws closer. With the gubernatorial race poised to be another competitive one in New Jersey, every development will be scrutinized as candidates seek to establish their credibility and connection to the electorate.
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