As Lt. Gov. Undergoes Medical Care, Senate President Named Acting NJ Governor

Update: New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver has died at the age of 71, her family announced on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Read more here.

TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey Senate President has stepped in as chief of state Monday, as Gov. Phil Murphy is on a personal trip in Italy and Lt. Gov Sheila Oliver is undergoing medical care.

Democrat Nicholas Scutari of Union County will assume the duties of Acting Governor, while Oliver is receiving undisclosed medical care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, said Communications Director Mahen Gunaratna.

Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy left New Jersey on Friday, July 28 for a trip to Italy, and are scheduled to return Aug. 13, per his office. Oliver was acting as governor in his absence.

Murphy said he was "wishing my partner in government a speedy recovery" in a social media post Monday morning.

Scutari said he assumed the responsibilities "with a commitment to faithfully discharge the duties of the Office."

“I want to extend my best wishes to Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver for a rapid and healthy recovery," he said. "We look forward to her return.”

The governor's communications department informed media of the change, which follows the chain-of-command set out in the New Jersey Constitution, on Monday. The full statement is below:

“Lieutenant Governor Oliver is currently receiving medical care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and is unable to discharge the duties of Acting Governor at this time. Pursuant to Article V, Section I, paragraph 7 of the New Jersey Constitution, Senate President Scutari has assumed the duties of Acting Governor effective this morning. We wish the Lieutenant Governor well as she undergoes medical care. We will provide updates to the situation as they arise."

Scutari also acted briefly as governor twice in 2022: once in June, and once in December. An acting governor does have the power to sign legislation and issue executive orders; Scutari did this in both of his short stints last year, on items ranging from "National Trails Day" in the state to exempting raw honey from Department of Health cottage food regulations.

This is a developing story. Patch will update it as more information comes in.