LAKEWOOD, NJ – Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherill, two Democrat members of Congress are fighting hard to convince Jewish voters in New Jersey that they’re in solidarity with the community amid rising antisemitism as they compete today to get the Democrat nominee for governor.
The bill was passed unanimously, but in the midst of a heated primary where they’re also competing for the radical far-left vote, both skipped the vote.
Both skipped an important vote condeming the most recent terror attacks against Jews on U.S. soil.
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Res. 481, a bipartisan resolution condemning the rise in ideologically motivated attacks on Jewish individuals, specifically denouncing the June 1, antisemitic terror attack in Boulder, Colorado.
The resolution passed with a vote of 400-0, with two lawmakers voting “present” and 30 not voting. Notably, three New Jersey Democratic representatives—Josh Gottheimer, Donald Norcross, and Mikie Sherrill—were among those who did not cast a vote.
The resolution addressed a violent assault in Boulder, where a suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly used Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower to attack a peaceful “Run for Their Lives” gathering advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The attack injured 12 people, including elderly participants, and was described by authorities as a targeted act of terrorism motivated by antisemitism. The resolution also referenced other recent attacks, including the May 21, 2025, fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, DC, and an April 13, 2025, arson attempt at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence.
The resolution condemned the Boulder attack as a “cowardly act of ideologically motivated violence,” reaffirmed the House’s commitment to protecting Americans’ rights to assemble and practice their faith, and called for robust law enforcement action against antisemitism and politically motivated violence.
Of New Jersey’s 12 House members, nine voted in favor of the resolution: Democrats Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, Frank Pallone, Zoe Lofgren (Pou), and LaMonica McIver, and Republicans Thomas Kean, Christopher Smith, and Jeff Van Drew. Gottheimer, Norcross, and Sherrill, all Democrats, were recorded as “Not Voting.” No explanation for their absence was provided in the official record.
The unanimous vote among those present underscored broad bipartisan support for combating antisemitism, though the absence of some members, including the three from New Jersey, drew attention.
The resolution’s passage comes amid heightened concerns over rising antisemitic violence in the U.S., with the Anti-Defamation League reporting a sharp increase in such incidents in recent years.
The Boulder attack, charged as a federal hate crime, has sparked widespread condemnation from political leaders, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called it an act of “pure antisemitism.” As investigations continue, the House’s resolution signals a unified stance against hate-driven violence, despite the absence of a few lawmakers during the vote.