The basics:
- Mikie Sherrill sworn in as New Jersey’s 57th governor at NJPAC in Newark
- Becomes first Democratic woman elected governor in state history
- Sherrill signs executive orders targeting rising utility costs on Day One
- Business groups signal willingness to work with the new administration
The Gov. Mikie Sherrill era is officially underway in the Garden State.
Sherrill took the oath of office and was officially sworn in as the Garden State’s 57th governor at an inauguration ceremony Tuesday at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. She marks the first Democratic woman elected to the position — and just the second time in state history a woman will serve in the office. She succeeds Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who’s second and final term ended Jan. 20.
Sherrill’s inaugural speech was titled, “The Door to Opportunity is in New Jersey.”
“I’m incredibly honored to be standing here before you as the 57th governor of the great State of New Jersey,” said Sherrill. She thanked those in attendance and acknowledged her friends, family, classmates, shipmates, colleagues and others on-hand. “I also want to give a special thank you to Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy. You both have truly shepherded our state through perilous times.
“Your dedication to improving the lives of working families, including raising the minimum wage and fully funding the pension for the first time in decades speak to your enduring concern for New Jerseyans. Thank you.”
‘What progress looks like’
Sherrill also remembered former Gov. Richard Codey, who recently passed away. And she acknowledged her partner in government, Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell.
Caldwell was also sworn into office Tuesday, succeeding outgoing Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way. “Lieutenant governor, I am incredibly lucky to have a partner like you, and I look forward to making history with you today,” said Sherrill.
“It is an incredible honor to stand here today,” said Caldwell. “Becoming lieutenant governor was not something I ever imagined growing up. In fact, there was a time in our country’s history when such a moment would not have been possible.
“Today is a reminder of what progress looks like. It is a reminder of what resilience, hope, and courage can achieve. And it is a reminder that our work of fulfilling the promise to ‘We the People’ is never finished. It’s a sacred promise to the families, the workers, the students, the seniors, the dreamers, and the doers who make this state what it is.”
Sherrill broke from more than 235 years of tradition to hold the inauguration in her home county of Essex instead of the state capital of Trenton.
I am incredibly honored to serve as the 57th Governor of the great State of New Jersey.
I want you to know that I will never stop fighting for you. pic.twitter.com/4GqJXe3xx0
— Mikie Sherrill (@MikieSherrill) January 20, 2026
The event drew more than 2,000 people, including a number of notable leaders, dignitaries and other key stakeholders. Those in attendance included former Govs. Phil Murphy, Chris Christie, John Corzine, Jim McGreevey, Donald DiFrancesco, Christine Todd Whitman and Thomas Kean; Way and former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno; U.S. Sen. Cory Booker; several members of the state congressional delegation; New Jersey legislative leaders and lawmakers; Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer; former New York Giants star Tiki Barber; leaders from 24 countries and key NATO allies; and many more.
Key details from Tuesday’s event at NJPAC include:
- State Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner administered the oaths of office
- Sherrill used William Paterson’s bound copy of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, held by her husband, Jason Hedberg, for her swearing in
- For his swearing in, Caldwell’s daughter Ashley held his family’s Bible for the new lieutenant governor
- The New Jersey National Guard and New Jersey State Police Pipe & Drum handled the Presentation of Colors
- Emerson Crooks, a decorated veteran who built a distinguished career in power engineering, delivered the Pledge of Allegiance
- Genesis Rincon, a senior at Stockton University from Paterson, performed the National Anthem
- Rev. Charles Boyer delivered the Invocation, the third-generation African Methodist Episcopal preacher is also pastor of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Trenton
- The New Jersey National Guard gave a 19 Cannon Salute
- The National Guard conducted a Blackhawk helicopter flyover
- Event exhibit featured page one of New Jersey’s ratification of the United States Constitution
“We enter 2026 commemorating our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Sherrill. “New Jersey has been at the heart of our American story. The crossroads of the revolution. The site of our first major victory at the Battle of Trenton. The first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.
“I am honored that, as we gather here today, we do so with New Jersey’s original parchment copy of the Constitution on stage with us – one of only 13 known to still be in existence. A document, by the way, New Jersey unanimously ratified.”
‘You’re welcome, America’
Sherrill shared her family’s background and her personal story. She noted that the American Dream starts with opening a door.
“That is the story of New Jersey,” said Sherrill. “And yes, we are far from perfect. But generations of families have found their American Dream here. Immigrants sailing here from overseas, Black families leaving the South to find work in New Jersey, people from all over the country and all over the world again and again, finding opportunity here in this state.
“And that’s because New Jersey is an incredibly special place.”
Sherrill said the course of American history has always been determined here.
“It was just across the street in Military Park, where the cannons were just fired, that Thomas Paine began to pen his pamphlet, ‘The American Crisis’, and galvanized a nation,” said Sherrill. “Or during the Industrial Revolution, when Trenton built this great nation.
Here in New Jersey, we have invented everything from the lightbulb to the moving picture to the laser; produced and inspired artists from Sinatra to Springsteen to SZA. New Jersey never gets enough appreciation.
— Gov. Mikie Sherrill
“Picatinny Arsenal, constantly defending our hard-won freedoms at the Arsenal of Democracy. Here in New Jersey, we have invented everything from the lightbulb to the moving picture to the laser; produced and inspired artists from Sinatra to Springsteen to SZA,” Sherrill continued. “New Jersey never gets enough appreciation.
“So, as the newest leader of our great state, for all these artists, battles, and innovations, I wanted to take a moment to say, you’re welcome, America.”
Immediate action
Sherrill pledged to spend every minute fighting to make New Jersey more affordable and to open doors to opportunity across the state. And she immediately made moves on that front, signing two executive orders at the event, which you can read more about here.
The EOs take action on a central tenet of Sherrill’s campaign: addressing rising utility prices.
“I’ve heard you, New Jersey – we are facing an affordability crisis, and you want costs to come down,” said Sherrill. “And you want that to begin today. You don’t want a strongly worded letter, you don’t want a 10-year study, and you don’t want empty words. In short, you are sick of the status quo. Well, guys, I am too.
“So, right now, yes, before I even finish this speech, I am going to sign my first in a series of executive orders to declare a State of Emergency on Utility Costs. First, I am an issuing an executive order giving the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities the authority to pause new utility requests for additional rates increases, and I will freeze rate hikes to finally provide families with real relief on their energy bills,” she continued.
“Second, I am issuing an executive order directing the Board of Public Utilities to open solicitations for new solar and storage power generation, to modernize gas and nuclear generation, so we can lower utility cost over the long term,” said Sherrill. “This is just the beginning. We are going to take on the affordability crisis, and we are going to shake up the status quo.
“It won’t be easy, and hard choices have to be made to drive down costs as the federal government slashes funding and slams doors to opportunity.”
Opening doors
Sherrill stressed that her administration would judge by results – not rhetoric. She pledged to make government more transparent, working to save taxpayers time and money, and putting the public first.
“At the dawn of our nation, as some of our very first public servants embarked upon their work to better New Jersey, the people of New Jersey chose a state motto,” said Sherrill. “They were among the first to do so. On the heels of a horrible war, they narrowed in on those two things that they felt their countrymen had fought and died for: Liberty and Prosperity.
“Today, I take up their work once again. Protecting liberty, ensuring that power is not placed in the hands of a few, but rather that the universal rights of all New Jerseyans are protected,” said Sherrill.
“And prosperity, through opening the door to opportunity. That is my commitment to you as your 57th governor.”
Business buy-in
Business leaders congratulated and expressed their intention to work with the new administration.
“We congratulate Gov. Mikie Sherrill, Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell and their entire administration for their official arrival in Trenton, and we very much look forward to working with this new leadership team,” said New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) President and CEO Michele Siekerka. “Throughout her campaign, and even preceding it during her time in Congress, Gov. Sherrill has shown a much-needed willingness to work with the business community and to give our job creators a more even playing field from which to compete.”
“The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce congratulates Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell on their inauguration and assumption of office. We wish them every success as they begin their service to the people of New Jersey,” said New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Bracken. “We look forward to working closely with the new administration to enact policies that help companies of all sizes thrive and create economic opportunity for all citizens across the state. A strong, competitive business climate is essential to growing jobs, attracting investment, and supporting communities in every region.”
Please stay with NJBIZ for further coverage on the inauguration, start of the Sherrill administration and reaction from around the state.
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