Mikie Sherrill began the night playing defense. No surprise there.

Appearing Wednesday evening on the News 12 "Ask the Governor Show,"  the first few questions, of course, were about the revelation that about 6,600 non-citizens registered to vote in New Jersey through Motor Vehicle Commission offices. About 400 apparently voted. This was on Phil Murphy's watch - between 2023 and 2024.

Sherrill made the news public last week and announced an investigation.

This evening, the governor said such things as:

"This should not have happened."

"There's a lot of blame to go around here."

"It's kind of mind boggling."

Point made.

What happens now?

The governor stressed that the investigation is being handled by the law firm of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi.

The Chiesa is Jeffrey Chiesa, who was  state attorney general under Chris Christie and a former Republican senator. He was appointed after the death of Frank Launtenberg.

The intent was clear. A Republican is heading the probe, so it's going to be on the level.

New Jersey Republicans, of course, are on the offense. Among other things, they want a special Legislative committee to investigate the problem.

Sherrill was not impressed. At one time during the discussion, she said it's the GOP that is playing politics and looking to conduct a "witch hunt."

She was asked about comments by Joe Pennacchio, a Republican senator from Montville, that many non-citizens are called for jury duty - many more than 6,600, he said.

So, couldn't there be more than 6,600 who registered and voted?

Sherrill, a bit snidely, said there are two different systems involved and if needed, her office would be willing to explain that to the senator.

The governor was asked if she wanted to end voter registration at MVC offices.

That would be up to the Legislature, although Sherrill said the problem was not registration at MVC offices, but an apparent computer glitch that wrongly registered people.

The format allowed for recorded questions from residents.

A Vincent from Kinnelon asked about voter ID.

"If it was .. passed here, I would support it," Sherrill said.

At the same time, she expressed opposition to the federal SAVE Act, which she said would disenfranchise voters.

That act has been backed by the House, but not the Senate.