Listen to this articleThe basics:
- Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill nominated Jennifer Davenport as New Jersey’s next attorney general
- Davenport previously served as first assistant AG under Gurbir Grewal
- She will succeed Matthew Platkin at the Department of Law & Public Safety
- Davenport would become the fifth woman to serve as the state’s attorney general
Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill is tapping veteran career prosecutor Jennifer Davenport as her choice for New Jersey’s chief law enforcement officer.
Sherrill announced her nomination for the 63rd Attorney General of New Jersey in a Dec. 15 press release. The incoming Democratic governor praised Davenport as a lifelong public servant who has dedicated herself to upholding the law.
A Monmouth County resident, Davenport’s background includes serving as first assistant attorney general from 2018–2020 and from 2021– 2022 under then-AG Gurbir Grewal.
Davenport will succeed Matthew Platkin as leader of the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety. After current Gov. Phil Murphy nominated him in February 2022, the New Jersey State Senate confirmed Platkin seven months later.
Dedicated public servant
Before joining the AG’s office, Davenport served as a division counsel for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for three years. Her background also includes seven years as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, where she was chief of the general crimes unit.
Davenport’s experience also spans associate posts in the Newark offices of Latham & Watkins and Patton Boggs, clerking for Chief Judge John Bissell at U.S. District Court and serving as acting Union County prosecutor, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Additionally, she worked as an intelligence analyst at the DEA before and during her time at Seton Hall University School of Law. Davenport is also a past New Jersey commissioner on the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.
In a statement, Sherrill said, “A strong Attorney General is critical to delivering for New Jerseyans, whether that taking on price gougers, fighting for federal resources, or protecting our rights and freedoms. That’s why I’m excited to announce Jennifer Davenport as my Attorney General nominee.”
“Working with Jen at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I saw her ironclad commitment to upholding the law and the Constitution. Equally as powerful is her dedication to public service, working hand-in-hand with the communities she served to ensure our residents felt safe and supported. Jen’s ability to work with anyone and everyone to deliver for our residents and her decade and a half of experience with complex civil and criminal cases will be essential as we work to build a more affordable Garden State. As a lifelong New Jerseyan, I know Jen will never back down from a fight,” the governor-elect stated.
Continuing to build
Davenport thanked Sherrill for nominating her. “The Attorney General’s Office plays a critical role in advancing the Governor-elect’s mission of keeping residents safe and making the state affordable, and I share her commitment to that mission. I have spent my career in public service and alongside law enforcement, and in each role, I have worked to bring people together and solve the toughest problems facing our state,” she said.
“So, from taking on gun violence and human trafficking, to protecting our children, to ensuring affordability, to defending New Jerseyans from attacks out of Washington, I will build on my career in law enforcement and in public service to protect New Jerseyans every day,” the mother of two added.
Davenport has served as deputy general counsel and chief litigation counsel at Newark-based public utility company PSEG since 2022.
New Jersey Globe noted that Davenport’s prior post at PSEG will likely require her to recuse herself from energy-related matters, such as Sherrill’s vow to declare a state of emergency on utility costs.
‘An excellent choice’
According to New Jersey Globe, other contenders for the position included former Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna, former State Comptroller Matt Boxer, Sherrill campaign attorney Raj Parikh and Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin.
Ahead of taking office Jan. 20, 2026, Sherrill has named several key members of her cabinet, including Lt. Gov.-elect Dale Caldwell as secretary of state and Kellie Doucette as New Jersey’s first chief operations officer.
Davenport will become the fifth woman in New Jersey history to serve as attorney general, New Jersey Globe pointed out. She joins:
- Deborah Poritz 1994–1996
- Zulima Farber 2006–2007
- Anne Migram 2007–2010
- Paula Dow 2010–2012
Former New Jersey Attorney General and current Lowenstein Sandler LLP partner Christopher Porrino reflected on his relationship with Davenport, saying, “I have known Jen for many years and have worked very closely with her, in some highly challenging circumstances. She is relatable and understated, but an extremely effective leader.”
Porrino served as AG from 2016–2018 under then Gov. Chris Christie.
He added, “On the civil side, the hard working people of the Department of Law and Public Safety will be inspired and motivated by her commitment to the rule of law. On the criminal side, her deep law enforcement experience, both state and federal, will serve her well in working to reduce gun violence and other violent crimes.”
“Both law enforcement and the communities trust her. Gov.-elect Sherrill has made an excellent choice and I will be proud to call Jen Davenport our Attorney General,” Porrino stated.
