The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed its first selection of Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s cabinet nominees on February 24, with still more to come.
In her cabinet announcements, Sherrill framed many of her cabinet picks in the context of her leadership agenda. Recurring priorities for the governor include combatting the nationwide affordability crisis and weaving through the Trump administration’s cuts to federal resources and funding.
Cabinet members’ policy priorities often influence the passage of laws that impact businesses’ ability to operate in the state. ROI-NJ collected the incoming cabinet’s key issues for 2026 so that business leaders can anticipate changes to the state’s economic landscape before they feel the ripple effects of policy.
Mikie Sherrill is the 57th governor of New Jersey and the first Democratic woman to hold the title. As governor, Sherrill faces mounting pressures to manage rising costs across the state and is tasked with maneuvering a complex relationship with Trump. She succeeded Phil Murphy, a two-term Democratic governor who oversaw the state’s response to large-scale emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Trump administration’s federal funding cuts.
Dale Caldwell is the fourth lieutenant governor of New Jersey and the state’s 35th secretary of state. Sherrill has tasked Caldwell with chairing her administration’s transition team. He succeeded Tahesha Way, who oversaw New Jersey’s mail-in voting system during the 2020 election, at the height of the pandemic.
Jennifer Davenport is the attorney general of New Jersey, having been confirmed for the role on February 24. Davenport has already co-signed lawsuits against the Trump administration, including a recent charge to sue Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for weakening childhood immunization recommendations. She followed Matt Platkin, who contributed to several multi-state lawsuits against the administration about issues like SNAP cuts and government access to personal data.
Aaron Binder is the state treasurer, a role for which he was confirmed on February 24. Binder is challenged with overseeing the state budget in the midst of funding hurdles posed by the Trump administration, as well as broader economic uncertainty. Binder followed Elizabeth Muoio, whose management of the budget saw spending inflate by $21.4 million—in other words, Murphy’s final budget was 1.5 times his first budget. Muoio, however, also touted a $6.3 billion growth in the surplus from 2018 to 2025—16 times what Murphy inherited from Chris Christie.
Shirley Emehelu is the acting state comptroller. Emehelu is tasked with exposing corruption and waste, as Sherrill seeks to apply her affordability agenda throughout the state’s operations. Emehelu’s predecessor, Kevin Walsh, aggressively targeted fraud in over 2,000 government entities, according to POLITICO.
Kevin Jarvis is the acting commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. He is assigned to uphold the state’s labor compliance laws and expand access to workforce resources. Jarvis’s predecessor, Robert Asaro-Angelo, collaborated with the attorney general on workforce rights cases, including an exploitation lawsuit against Amazon.
Susan Ochs is the acting commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance. Sherill tapped her to manage rising costs in areas like healthcare and car insurance. Ochs succeeded Justin Zimmerman, who worked with Murphy to support grant funding for health insurance assistance programs.
Raynard Washington is the acting commissioner of the Department of Health. Washington is expected to combat Kennedy’s changes to federal vaccine recommendations through state health policy decisions. Washington’s predecessor, Jeff Brown, managed the state’s defense against communicable disease amid growing concerns around Kennedy’s handling of measles on the federal level.
Stephen Cha is the commissioner of the Department of Human Services, who was confirmed for the role on February 24. Cha is challenged with managing food and healthcare affordability during the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Cha’s predecessor, Sarah Adelman, faced similar funding challenges, culminating in the reopening of a childcare assistance program following a months-long pause.
Mary Cruz is the acting chair of the Civil Service Commission. Cruz is responsible for managing government employee development, including a holdover conflict from last year that forced dozens of police officers in Paterson to retake a promotional exam, according to NJ.com. Cruz’s predecessor, Allison Chris Meyers, helped the state adopt AI-powered guidance in the business registration process, Meyers wrote in GovTech.com.
Ed Potosnak is the acting commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. Potosnak is assigned to forward the Sherrill administration’s goals in environmental risk oversight and toxic waste management. Potosnak succeeded Shawn LaTourette, who encouraged his successor to push for increased financing of water systems, according to POLITICO.
Lily Laux is the commissioner of the Department of Education, following her February 24 confirmation. Among Laux’s initial tasks in her new role is to enforce legislation that Murphy signed to restrict the non-academic use of cell phones in public schools. Laux’s predecessor, Kevin Dehmer, led efforts to reform the state’s educational data systems. Sherrill has since tasked him with similar activities as the state’s acting chief technology officer.
Margo Chaly is the acting secretary of higher education. She is saddled with acquiring federal funding for higher education initiatives amid ongoing financing tensions with the Trump administration. She followed Brian Bridges, who oversaw educational funding during the pandemic and advanced higher education affordability efforts.
Rosalie Johnson is the acting chief administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission. She is assigned to increase the MVC’s operational efficiency, including its appointment processes and wait times. Johnson worked alongside her predecessor, Latrecia Littles-Floyd, to achieve 97% REAL ID compliance in New Jersey.
Priya Jain is the acting commissioner of the Department of Transportation. Jain is tasked with overseeing statewide infrastructure projects, with the upcoming FIFA World Cup expected to test the department’s capacities. Jain’s predecessor, Francis O’Connor, handled labor negotiations with NJ TRANSIT engineers and oversaw sinkhole repair efforts along Interstate 80.
Thomas Hauck is the acting director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. His role involves ensuring security and preparedness for key events this year, including the World Cup and the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Hauck’s predecessor, Laurie Doran, focused her efforts on cyberattack resilience, including establishing a civilian cybersecurity corps.
Jeanne Hengemuhle is the acting superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. Under Hengemuhle, the department is expected to wrangle with a misconduct investigation, including allegations of discrimination against Black, Latino, female, and gay state troopers, according to The New York Times. In his brief, 20-day tenure, Hengemuhle’s predecessor, David Sierotowicz, contributed to a federal investigation into a Newark man charged with unlawful possession of multiple firearms.
Kellie Doucette is the inaugural chief operating officer of New Jersey. Appointed by Sherrill to modernize and optimize state processes, Doucette is also the executive director of the governor’s transition team. New Jersey joined approximately a dozen other states that have COOs in state government, according to a 2018 McKinsey analysis.
Vincent Solomeno is the inaugural commissioner of the newly established Department of Veterans Affairs after Murphy signed off on splitting the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs into two distinct departments. He is tasked with managing veterans’ facilities and access to state-distributed benefits.
Yvonne L. Mays is the acting adjutant general of the Department of Military Affairs. She is slated to continue leading the New Jersey National Guard as brigadier general. Mays has served as the state’s adjutant general since 2024 and is also the first Black woman to head the state’s National Guard.
Jacquelyn Suárez is the acting commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. She has served in the role since 2023 and is expected to continue managing housing access challenges. Under her leadership, the department allocated $100 million towards affordable housing development.
Victoria Kuhn is the acting commissioner of the Department of Corrections. Kuhn has served in the role since 2021 and is due to continue investing in mental health and job training programs for incarcerated individuals.
