It’s supposed to be one of the few remaining vestiges of bipartisanship, but as one Democrat governor recently proved, even the death of a sitting U.S. senator can be used to make a political point.
After President Donald Trump called for flags to be flown at half mast following the death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), governors from both parties followed suit.
But as Fox News reported, New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill was a glaring exception:
“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 Thursday. He formally requested the governor lower the flags earlier this week after Graham’s death.
ADVERTISEMENTA Trenton source confirmed that flags at the Capitol remained at full-staff as of midday Thursday. A New Jersey Department of State website tracking flag status also indicated “all flags full-staff” on Thursday.
Sherrill, whose office did not respond to multiple requests for comment, appeared to be one of a handful of Democratic state leaders to ignore the White House’s proclamation.
Neighboring Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro both reportedly ordered flags lowered, along with leaders of California, Colorado, Maryland,
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger did not appear to issue half-staff orders either because each state’s official flag status remained “full-staff” as of Thursday. Fox News Digital reached out to both governors for comment.
Pennacchio told Fox News Digital that, after inaction from Sherrill on lowering the flags, he crafted a formal request.
Pennacchio said honoring people like Graham should be nonpartisan because Graham was a respected public figure and a decades-long U.S. 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.
Criticism of the governor mounted as news began to spread on social media:
They show us everyday what lowlife scum they are.
— AKCham (@chamb35975) July 16, 2026
You know you are a creep when the home state to Biden does the right thing and you don’t.
You know you are a creep when the Senator from your own state posts a beautiful little tribute and you don’t lower the flag.@GovSherrillNJ is a creep. A low life scummy creep.— DBorz (@DBorzzy) July 16, 2026
Shouldn't be her choice.
— Kirk Tolchin (@KirkTolchin1) July 16, 2026
The State Senate Republicans issued a press release with this quote from Pennacchio:
“Senator Lindsey Graham dedicated decades of his life in service of our nation, both in Washington and in the Air Force,” said Senator Pennacchio. “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. Senator Graham may have represented South Carolina, but his oath of office was to the United States Constitution, both as a congressman and as a Veteran. I respectfully request that the Governor acknowledge the President’s directive and order all flags in New Jersey to be lowered out of respect to Senator Graham’s lifetime of service.”
Here’s some additional coverage of the response to Graham’s death:
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