GOP Attacks Sherrill Over Net Worth in Congress as New Jersey Governor's Race Heats Up
Ciattarelli and GOP groups allege Sherrill’s assets surged while in Congress; Sherrill defends stock trades and a Washington, D.C., rental property tied to her wealth.
Republicans intensified their attacks on Rep. Mikie Sherrill as New Jersey voters prepare for the gubernatorial election, accusing the Democratic incumbent of a dramatic increase in net worth during her time in Congress. During Sunday’s debate against Sherrill, GOP challenger Jack Ciattarelli asserted that she has tripled her net worth since taking office, a line amplified by the Republican Governors Association and other allied groups in the days that followed.
As of her latest financial disclosure, filed in August, Sherrill reported a net worth of up to $11,321,863, up from the 2019 upper bound of about $4.32 million—a roughly $7 million increase. The rise comes in part from broader asset growth and a 2021 purchase of a Washington, D.C., residence, which she rents to her roommate, Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat and former congresswoman. The DC property is valued at just over $1.5 million. Unlike personal residences, rental properties must be disclosed by lawmakers, which helps explain part of the wealth reported in the latest filing.
Sherrill’s financial disclosures show multiple stock trades, many tied to her husband’s compensation with UBS. The reports indicate the couple has sold UBS stock every year since she took office in 2019, with each transaction ranging from $50,001 to $500,000. In 2021, Sherrill was fined $400 for failing to disclose up to $350,000 in UBS stock sales within the 45-day window required by the STOCK Act. Her spokesperson said the two trades were the sale of vested stock earned by her husband as part of his employment compensation. Earlier in 2020, the couple had sold their entire stock portfolio and replaced it with exchange-traded funds of equivalent value, a move that news outlets have described as an effort to avoid potential conflicts.
Sherrill, who earns about $174,000 annually as a member of Congress representing New Jersey’s 11th District, had disclosed asset ranges in 2019 from roughly $733,209 to $4,321,000. The latest filing provides a more precise value for the couple’s assets and notes the DC rental property as a significant contributor to the growth in net worth. GOP attacks have emphasized these transactions and the overall wealth trajectory as part of a broader strategy in a highly watched statewide race. 
Polls have shown Sherrill with a comfortable lead in the RealClearPolitics aggregate, by about 8.8 percentage points, though Ciattarelli has insisted the race remains competitive. An internal Ciattarelli survey characterized as an outlier placed him just ahead at 46% to 45%, underscoring the race’s tight trajectory. Sherrill’s campaign did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.
The Republican playbook has also leaned on Sherrill’s remarks during a station interview on The Breakfast Club, where hosts pressed her on the reported surge in wealth. GOP-aligned groups used the exchange to cast doubt on the transparency of disclosures, noting her stammered responses to questions about the asset increase and stock trades. Sherrill has defended herself by reiterating that she does not trade individual stocks and that her husband’s compensation is the source of many disclosed transactions. The controversy has sharpened the broader political contest over ethics, transparency, and the financial disclosures required of lawmakers, a topic that has continued to echo through campaign events and fundraising.