Politics
Sherrill to Name New Jersey Lieutenant Governor in Trenton, Filling Seat Vacated by Caldwell's Resignation
Gov. Mikie Sherrill will announce her pick for lieutenant governor at an 11 a.m. Monday news conference in Trenton, filling the office left vacant after Dale Caldwell resigned in September amid a state investigation that found he violated workplace discrimination and ethics policies.
TRENTON, N.J. â Gov. Mikie Sherrill is set to announce her choice for the state's next lieutenant governor at a news conference in Trenton at 11 a.m. Monday, filling an office that has sat vacant since Dale Caldwell resigned in September.
The vacancy followed an investigation by a law firm hired by the governor's office, which concluded that Caldwell violated New Jersey's workplace discrimination and ethics policies. According to the findings, Caldwell made an advance toward a staffer's friend and, after being rebuffed, told the staffer, "you young women are looking for young sperm."
The report also found that Caldwell ran afoul of state ethics rules by seeking a promotion for a state employee he was dating and by bringing personal guests to ticketed events without paying for them.
Caldwell's attorney, Thomas Calcagni, disputed the allegations, characterizing the investigation as a one-sided process that denied his client necessary due process.
After Caldwell stepped down, Sherrill said she would act "swiftly" to choose a replacement who would serve her administration and New Jersey residents with "honor" and "integrity." Monday's announcement is the fulfillment of that commitment.
The selection carries weight beyond the routine filling of a statewide office. The lieutenant governor is first in the line of succession to the governorship and, under New Jersey's system, typically holds a portfolio of policy responsibilities assigned by the governor. Sherrill's pick will therefore shape both the administration's day-to-day agenda and the chain of command should the governor be unable to serve.
The resignation also put a spotlight on workplace conduct standards inside state government. The investigation's findings â including the ethics violations involving a subordinate employee and unpaid access to ticketed events â raised questions about oversight and accountability that the new lieutenant governor will inherit as part of the administration's public-facing record.
Sherrill, a Democrat, took office after winning the 2025 gubernatorial race. Her administration has emphasized competence and integrity in state government, themes she returned to in the wake of Caldwell's departure. Monday's announcement will be the first major test of that promise as it applies to her own leadership team.
The news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Statehouse in Trenton. Further details about the appointee's background and portfolio were expected at that time.