Republican Rosemary Becchi secured the party nomination for the 11th Congressional District Tuesday evening, now heading to race against incumbent freshman Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill.

Becchi faced initial opposition in the race from Kinnelon lawyer Larry Casha.  But when Casha stepped aside in January of this year, the path was cleared for Becchi’s advance.  Her own campaign was the stuff of some heated GOP discussion, as an original run in the 7th District would have put her at odds with Senator Tom Kean, Jr., to face off against Tom Malinowski.  A relocation to the 11th Congressional District assuaged the concerns of Republican kingpins.

When Becchi was officially nominated, she released a statement, saying, “First and foremost, I want to thank the people of New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District who have supported my campaign and trusted me with your vote in this primary.  I am humbled by the support, time, money, and effort that people from across the district have put forward to help us in our campaign. I am honored to be the Republican party nominee for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th District.”

With the primary behind her, Becchi said that this was the “first step towards returning our District to a Representative who will be a Representative of the People – not a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi’s liberal agenda,” an obvious swipe at Sherrill.

Becchi, who is a tax policy lawyer and Strategic advisor and council with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, will go head-to-head with Sherrill and attempt to reverse the blue-flip which had upended the red district, long-dominated by the mossy reign of retired Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen.  Whether or not the 2018 Blue Wave will have entrenched itself in the heavily Morris County-centered district will be challenged.  A victory for Becchi could mean a refutation of the Trump-inspired frustrations that swept Sherrill to her seat, whereas a victory for Sherrill may mark a fundamental and legitimate power shift for central-north-Jersey.

“My plans are straightforward,” Becchi said in a statement.  “I intend to bring my experience and my unyielding desire to serve and help people to advance an agenda that will move our economy forward, rebuild trust with your Representative in Washington, and put people over hyper-partisan politics.  I am grateful for the support that has allowed my campaign to advance to this point. Thank you to the voters, my staff, and most importantly – my family of without whom none of this would be possible.”