New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill is facing criticism after state flag-status records showed flags flying at full-staff, even as a White House proclamation called for U.S. flags nationwide to be lowered to half-staff through Saturday evening in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
“This is probably the most political [Trenton administration], and she’s only been there six months — probably the most political governor I’ve served with in the last 25 years,” New Jersey state Sen. Joe Pennacchio, R-Boonton, told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
Pennacchio said he formally asked the governor earlier this week to lower the flags following Graham’s death.
A source in Trenton confirmed that flags at the state Capitol were still at full-staff as of midday Thursday. The New Jersey Department of State’s flag-status website also listed “all flags full-staff” on Thursday.
Sherrill’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment, and she appeared to be among a small number of Democratic state leaders who had not followed the White House proclamation.
Nearby governors Matt Meyer of Delaware and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania reportedly ordered flags lowered, as did leaders in California, Colorado and Maryland.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger also did not appear to issue half-staff directives, with each state’s official flag-status page still showing “full-staff” as of Thursday. Fox News Digital sought comment from both governors.
Pennacchio told Fox News Digital that Sherrill’s failure to act prompted him to draft and submit a formal request.
Pennacchio said honoring people like Graham should be nonpartisan because Graham was a respected public figure and a decades-long US Air Force veteran and someone who also exuded a bipartisan nature, particularly on key votes like confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
“My request was very respectful. It wasn’t partisan at all,” he said, noting that Sherrill is also a veteran.
Pennacchio said Graham would speak about the importance of putting politics aside in important moments like this, recounting that the South Carolinian defended his aisle-crossing confirmation votes by saying his advise-and-consent role was to consider whether a nominee is qualified regardless of party.
When Sherrill was in Congress, she represented Pennacchio’s state Senate district. He told Fox News Digital he had hope for bipartisanship with Sherrill because the two offices worked very well together on intergovernmental constituent services.
Sherrill’s decision not to lower flags also ran counter to one of New Jersey’s other most prominent Democrats, Sen. Cory Booker, who recorded a video honoring Graham.
In his video, Booker spoke of how, as a freshman senator, he was told by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., that Graham would be a good bipartisan colleague to work with on criminal justice reform.
Booker recounted walking up to Graham and breaching the topic, and Graham jokingly admonished him that he was in a South Carolina primary with a “bat—- crazy” opponent and that he can’t even be seen with Democrats.
Graham said Booker should come back to him after the election, and he did.
“True to his word, [Graham] rolled up his sleeves and he went to work,” Booker said, adding that their collaboration ended in the passage of the First Step Act.
Booker did not respond to a request for comment on this story, but Pennacchio said he appreciated the Democrat’s gesture.
“Senator Booker is as partisan as they come, but he did the right thing and put his partisanship aside,” Pennacchio said. “The death of one diminishes a little bit of all of us.”
Another New Jersey figure who did speak out after Graham’s passing was Rep. Christopher Smith, a Republican representing the Jersey Shore and the Garden State’s longest-serving congressman.
“Lindsey Graham was an indefatigable and courageous fighter for the right to life, human rights, liberty and freedom,” Smith said earlier this week.
“He was articulate and persuasive and brought both incisive candor and humor to debate. He was a national treasure and will be deeply missed. My wife, Marie, and I offer our deepest condolences to his family.”
Fox News Digital also reached out to Booker’s counterpart, Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., for comment on the situation.
“Our nation has long understood that when a public servant passes away after a lifetime of service to the American people, we come together and honor them with dignity and respect. New Jersey should not be the exception,” Pennacchio said.
