Press Releases

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Jeff Van Drew responded to Governor Mikie Sherrill's letter attacking members of the Republican Study Committee who joined Congressman Van Drew's effort to get answers about the failure that placed thousands of individuals who identified themselves as noncitizens on New Jersey's voter rolls.

"When we first raised this issue, we did so because we were genuinely concerned about what happened in New Jersey and wanted to understand exactly how it happened," said Congressman Van Drew. "For years, those of us who raised concerns about the integrity of our voter rolls were dismissed as conspiracy theorists. Then New Jersey admitted that thousands of individuals who said they were not citizens were registered to vote, and many registered through the error went on to cast ballots.

"We did not blame Governor Sherrill for a failure that occurred under the previous Murphy administration. We did not attack her personally or drag unrelated Democratic politicians into our letter. With the help of my colleagues in the Republican Study Committee, we asked basic, fact-finding questions about how the system failed mechanically and electronically, why the safeguards did not catch it, and what is being done to make sure it never happens again.

"Instead of answering those questions, Governor Sherrill responded with Democratic talking points, attacks on President Trump, and personal attacks against me and the Republican Study Committee members who joined me in seeking answers. None of the Members who signed our letter deserved to be demeaned for doing their jobs. Her response was a political hit piece, and it was beneath the Office of the Governor.

"This was never about Governor Sherrill or any one political party. It is about New Jersey and the integrity of our country's elections. Our mutual constituents deserve fair and secure elections, and they deserve the truth about how something this serious was allowed to happen. We are going to keep pursuing the facts, demanding accountability, and making sure this does not happen again. We will not give up until the people of New Jersey get the answers they deserve."