Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Monday that her administration is vetting candidates for lieutenant governor, with just three weeks remaining before a constitutional deadline to fill the vacancy.
“It’s going well, and we are vetting people now and moving through the process,” Sherrill said.
Sherrill has until November 9 to name a successor to Dale Caldwell, who resigned on September 25, just eight months after taking office.
Under the New Jersey Constitution, a governor has 45 days to appoint a replacement lieutenant governor, who serves the remainder of the four-year term. The appointment does not require Senate confirmation, giving Sherrill sole authority to make the selection.
The new lieutenant governor will serve until January 2030 and become first in the line of succession to the governorship.
Until then, Senate President Nicholas Scutari remains next in the line of succession and will serve as acting governor whenever Sherrill leaves New Jersey.
This is only the second time New Jersey has needed to replace a lieutenant governor since voters approved the creation of the office starting with the 2009 general election.
The first came in August 2023, after Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver died. Then-Gov. Phil Murphy selected Secretary of State Tahesha Way to succeed her.
Under the Constitution, Sherrill can assign her new lieutenant governor to lead a state department or agency, or delegate other responsibilities.
Sherrill has not publicly identified the candidates under consideration or indicated when she expects to announce her choice.
