This Is The Way: NJ Has A New Lt. Governor

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey will have a new lieutenant governor to succeed the late Sheila Oliver, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Friday morning.

Secretary of State Tahesha Way, a former administrative law judge and county commissioner, will be the third lieutenant governor in state history. The 51-year-old was sworn in as New Jersey's 34th Secretary of State on Feb. 26, 2018 and lives in Passaic County with her husband and their children.

American and New Jersey flags at the Statehouse are now flying at full staff, after a month of being at half staff following Oliver's death, Murphy said.

"With Sheila gone, it is now our turn to keep her legacy alive," he said Friday. "It is my incredible honor to introduce (Way)."

Following Oliver's death, Murphy had 45 days to choose a replacement (as laid out in the state constitution). Way will be the third person to serve in the lieutenant governor position, which is the second highest-ranking office in state government (behind Murphy himself).

"Tahesha has been with our administration from the very beginning, and her work over the past five and a half years leading the Department of State has grown New Jersey’s tourism economy, uplifted small businesses, and strengthened our election system," Murphy said. "Tahesha is the perfect candidate to join me in finishing the job that Sheila and I started.”

As Secretary of State, Way oversaw the state Division of Elections and a number of other state offices. Way holds a juris doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law at Charlottesville; there, she clerked for the Virginia Legal Aid Society and the United Steelworkers of America, according to her profile on the state website.

“I considered Lieutenant Governor Oliver a close friend and mentor – someone I looked to for guidance to better serve the people of New Jersey,” Way said in a statement.. "To have been selected as her successor as New Jersey’s next Lieutenant Governor is one of the greatest honors of my career."

Before she stepped into the role of the state'e elections chief, Way served as an Administrative Law Judge and was elected to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2006, becoming Freeholder Director in 2009.

She also was chair of the Complete Count Commission during the 2020 U.S. Census, and oversaw state government offices supporting the state's arts, culture, business, and history communities.

"I come to this position as the child of two public servants who molded me into the person I am today," Way said. "Having experience at different levels of government has showed me the important role that those of us in public office can play in improving the lives of families across our state. I look forward to finishing the work of this Administration with Governor Murphy and continuing to build on the legacy Lieutenant Governor Oliver fostered.”

Way has been a member of multiple other committees, councils, and associations in her career, including: The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, Women Empowered Democratic Organization of Passaic County, New Jersey State Bar Association, Garden State Bar Association, National Association of Women Judges, Association of Black Women Lawyers, Passaic County Bar Association, and the New Jersey Women’s Lawyers Association.