 In November 1946, Sherbell was elected on the American Labor ticket, with Republican endorsement, to the New York State Senate (10th D.), defeating the Democratic incumbent James A. Corcoran.Sherbell was a member of the State Senate in 1947 and 1948.At the 1948 United States presidential election, he supported Henry A. Wallace and ran on the American Labor/Wallace–Progressive ticket for re-election, but was defeated by Democrat Herbert I. Sorin.