New Jersey Governor Sherrill picks Shirley Emehelu amid Trump attacks and historic sweep for women
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Governor Mikie Sherrill announced former prosecutor Shirley Emehelu as lieutenant governor, underscoring a historic moment in which both top state executive posts are held by women and an immigrant takes the role for the first time.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced Monday that she has chosen Shirley Emehelu, a former prosecutor who is currently acting secretary of state, to serve as the state’s lieutenant governor. The appointment follows the resignation of former lieutenant governor Dale Caldwell after an internal investigation found evidence of sexual harassment and ethics violations.
Emehelu, a Nigerian-American who previously served as acting state comptroller, will also retain the cabinet post of secretary of state, as required by state law. The governor said Emehelu’s leadership of the state’s midterm election amid what she described as “attacks” by the Trump administration helped drive her decision.
“That was pretty impressive. She worked around the clock,” Sherrill said.
Sherrill added that gender was not a deciding factor in the selection process, even as the move cements a rare milestone for representation in state government.
“I did not go into the process thinking we had to have a certain gender in the role,” she said, noting that Emehelu is the first immigrant to hold the lieutenant governor position.
Emehelu described the appointment as a historic moment and a powerful sign of progress.
“It is a profound honor to make history with Governor Sherrill,” she said.
The selection comes after Democrats achieved significant gains in the recent midterm elections, including a record number of women elected to Congress from New Jersey and the flipping of two Republican House seats. In the 7th Congressional District, newcomer Rebecca Bennett defeated incumbent Rep. Tom Kean, while in the 2nd District, Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock unseated Rep. Jeff Van Drew.