NEW JERSEY — Businessman and self-described "outsider" Tom Toomey is hoping to lead the Republican effort to unseat U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill in 2022.
On Thursday, Toomey announced his campaign in New Jersey's 11th congressional district, which is currently represented by Sherrill, a Democratic Party member. Before her victory in 2018, the district was a longtime Republican stronghold under congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, who retired that election cycle.
Toomey recently served as senior staff at the Republican National Committee during the 2020 campaign cycle.
"I am throwing my hat in the ring to represent the 11th district in Congress because I was born and raised in New Jersey, and I am deeply concerned by the direction of our country," Toomey said.
He continued:
"Our economy is in the gutter, bureaucrats in Washington are dictating what our schools do, and do-nothing career politicians in Washington refuse to do their job. As a businessman, I have helped grow businesses of all sizes from small to Fortune 500 companies, so I know what needs to be done to get Americans back to work. The first step starts with getting rid of career politicians like Mikie Sherrill."
"Our broken economy won't get better if we don't elect more business-oriented representatives to Congress who are willing to fight, negotiate and make hard decisions," Toomey said. "We need less politicians on both sides that hide when times get tough, and more Americans like me who are battle-tested and have grown businesses through good and difficult times."
"I have spent my career changing, fixing, and growing companies, and our country needs someone right now who can do that for the greatest country on earth," Toomey added.
Toomey's campaign released the following information about his background and qualifications:
"Tom is a born-and-raised Jersey guy and businessman running to serve New Jersey's 11th Congressional district. Tom grew up in a hardworking, middle-class family, and was raised with the same blue collar chip on his shoulder like so many other New Jerseyans. Early on Tom knew he wanted to go into business, so to help pay his way through school he worked 50-plus hour weeks for a Jersey catering company hand-in-hand with the owner. No one knows better than Tom that small businesses are the backbone of America and New Jersey. After learning the ins-and-outs of how a small business functions, Tom went on to corporate America, starting his career at Thomson Reuters and then Samsung, where he was responsible for a program that generated over a billion dollars in revenue per year across the United States. Then Tom took his business expertise to an emerging artificial intelligence (AI) company, Workfusion, where he helped bring new technology to the world and helped grow businesses globally by building out Workfusion's global go-to-market strategy."
His campaign staff continued:
"In June of 2020, Tom felt a calling to do his part to serve America. During the past four years, he saw the policies Democrats were proposing, and having worked in business his entire career, Tom knew how harmful these policies would be for our economy, healthcare, and New Jerseyans. Then Tom decided to take his expertise and help the Republican National Committee fight for limited government, rebuild our economy and defend our American values. After the campaign, Tom returned to the business world because he was disheartened and disgusted by what he saw in Washington: politicians and bureaucrats on both sides just there to pad their bottom line and help their careers. Tom learned early on in his career that if you want something done, do it yourself. That's why Tom decided it's time to run and show New Jersey they have someone who will fight for them, not for special interests or D.C. insiders."
Another Republican challenger, Hillery Brotschol, has also announced plans to run in the 11th district next year.
Brotschol, a screenwriter and film producer from Morris County, is a graduate of Montclair State University. In her campaign announcement, she identified as being part of "the new generation of young Republicans committed to fighting to preserve our Constitution and stop the progressive socialist movement."
The 11th district includes the following municipalities:
Morris County - Boonton Town, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Denville, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township and Victory Gardens
Essex County - Bloomfield (split with 10th), Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Montclair (split with 10th), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell, West Orange (split with 10th)
Passaic County - Bloomingdale, Little Falls, North Haledon, Pompton Lakes, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne and Woodland Park
Sussex County - Byram, Hopatcong, Ogdensburg, Sparta and Stanhope
