Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey faced scrutiny Tuesday after posting a campaign video on X in which she attempted to speak Spanish, admitting in both the video and the accompanying caption that she doesn’t speak it well.

The 34-second advertisement, aimed at reaching Hispanic voters, featured Sherrill introducing herself and discussing her campaign for governor in Spanish.

“Hello, New Jersey. My Spanish is not very good, but I want to speak directly to the Latina community,” she said.

“I’m Mikie Sherrill, candidate for governor. I was a pilot in the Navy and a federal prosecutor. And I have four children with my husband, Jason. And I know in New Jersey costs are very high. And I want to create opportunity for families in New Jersey. And I want to lower costs for everyone.”

In her post accompanying the video, Sherrill repeated her acknowledgment in Spanish, writing, “My Spanish isn’t good, but my love for the Latina community of New Jersey is very strong.”

Mi español no es bueno, pero mi amor por la comunidad Latina de Nueva Jersey es muy fuerte. pic.twitter.com/wYXwFnCPim

— Mikie Sherrill (@MikieSherrill) October 21, 2025

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Sherrill currently leads Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli by four percentage points, according to the RealClearPolling average of surveys conducted between Sept. 22 and Oct. 15.

However, her advantage has narrowed in recent weeks following renewed attention to a past controversy from her time at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Sherrill was reportedly involved in a cheating scandal while attending the academy and was barred from participating in her commencement ceremony.

Though she later received a commission and served as a Navy helicopter pilot, the resurfacing of that disciplinary incident has been cited as a factor contributing to her declining numbers in recent polling.

Democratic strategists have also expressed concern that Sherrill may struggle to attract Hispanic voters in the upcoming election.

Her Spanish-language ad was viewed by some as an attempt to bolster her support within that demographic, particularly after President Donald Trump’s strong performance among Hispanic voters in the 2024 election.

According to CNN’s national exit poll from 2024, President Trump received 46% of the Hispanic vote, 40% of the Asian vote, and 13% of the black vote, defeating Kamala Harris in the general election.

Trump’s gains among Hispanic voters were attributed to his economic policies and focus on border security, both of which resonated with working-class communities across key states.

Polling conducted before the 2024 election indicated that Hispanic voters were increasingly shifting toward Republican candidates, citing dissatisfaction with inflation and the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of immigration.

Sherrill’s ad comes as Democrats continue to grapple with declining support from Hispanic voters nationwide.

Several high-profile Democrats have previously faced criticism for efforts to connect with Spanish-speaking audiences.

In July 2022, then–First Lady Jill Biden drew backlash for comparing Hispanic voters to “breakfast tacos” during remarks at a “LatinX IncluXion Luncheon” in San Antonio.

“The diversity of this community,” Mrs. Biden said at the time, “as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio.”

Once again, Dr. Jill Biden butchers the Spanish language in furtherance of pandering to a client constituency (the org FKA National Council of La Raza). I hereby bless your timelines with Dr. Jill’s rendering of “bodega”. pic.twitter.com/Z4FSXtlUMe

— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) July 11, 2022

The following year, she mispronounced the Spanish phrase “Sí, se puede” — meaning “Yes, we can” — during a public appearance, sparking widespread criticism.

During his 2020 campaign, then–candidate Joe Biden was also criticized after dancing to the Spanish-language hit “Despacito” at a Florida rally in an apparent effort to appeal to Hispanic voters.

.@JoeBiden steps out and starts playing Despacito from his phone. pic.twitter.com/V5lkUBOoCb

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 16, 2020

Sherrill’s campaign has not commented on the reaction to her Spanish-language ad.

She is serving her fourth term in Congress and is now running for governor of New Jersey in a closely watched race expected to draw significant national attention.