Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D., N.J.) expressed frustration with her Democratic colleagues at a recent town hall, admitting they block legislation because they "don't want to give the president a win."
Speaking at a Livingston, New Jersey, town hall on Thursday, Sherrill revealed the "shockingly different mindset" of congressional Democrats who prioritize resisting President Donald Trump over passing legislation that could help their constituents.
"When I go, you know, I've gone up to people and said, 'I need to get this piece of legislation passed,' and they say 'Oh yeah, we just passed it,'" Sherrill said. "I said, 'Yeah, we just passed it. I need the Senate to pass it and I need the president to sign it,' and they said 'Well, we don't want to give the president a win.'"
Sherrill's comments contrast with Democrats' longstanding criticism of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) for blocking Democratic initiatives in the Senate. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) unveiled a visual representation of McConnell's "legislative graveyard" in June, accusing the Kentucky Republican of blocking legislation for political gain.
"Leader McConnell seems to take great pride in calling himself 'The Grim Reaper.' It's part of his political campaign, it's part of the pride he takes as leader of the Senate," Pelosi said. "The Senate will certainly be hearing from the public on issues, values really, that have bipartisan support across America."
According to National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Michael McAdams, Sherrill's admission contradicts Democrats' push for bipartisanship in the Republican-held Senate.
"Mikie Sherrill’s comments confirm that House Democrats would rather block President Trump from getting a win than deliver solutions for their constituents," McAdams said. "Voters deserve better than this partisan hackery."
Sherrill in 2018 became the first Democrat elected to her suburban New Jersey district, which Trump won narrowly in 2016, in more than 30 years. She will likely face Republican challenger and tax policy attorney Rosemary Becchi in November.