Meet NJ’s New Governor: 9 Things To Know About Mikie Sherrill

The era of Gov. Mikie Sherrill has begun in New Jersey.

On Tuesday, Sherrill will be sworn in as the state's 57th governor during an inauguration ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark at 10 a.m. She will hold an inaugural ball at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford later that evening.

Watch video footage of the inauguration ceremony here.

Here are some things to know about the new governor of the Garden State:

LANDSLIDE VICTORY – Several polls reported the gubernatorial race was neck-and neck, right up to the finish line. However, Sherrill – a Democrat – won the 2025 election by a margin of more than 14 percent over Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli, nailing down nearly 1.9 million votes. Third-party candidates appearing on the ballot included Vic Kaplan (Libertarian Party) and Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party).

PLANS FOR NEW JERSEY – Crucial issues during the election included affordability, taxes, schools, transportation and public safety. Sherrill’s campaign promises have included declaring a “state of emergency” on skyrocketing energy bills on her first day in office, reducing health care and grocery costs, protecting reproductive rights, closing tax loopholes for wealthy corporations, and increasing the amount of affordable housing. She has also argued for merging some local school districts to drive down taxes, and has been a vocal critic of several federal policies from the Trump administration. READ MORE: 6 Promises Mikie Sherrill Made As NJ's Next Governor

BACK-TO-BACK DEMOCRATS – Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, was term-limited and couldn’t run again. Sherrill’s victory was the first time Democrats have secured three consecutive gubernatorial wins in New Jersey in 65 years.

BREAKING GROUND – Sherrill is only the second female governor in New Jersey history, and the first Democrat. The state’s first woman governor – Christie Todd Whitman – served as a Republican from 1994 to 2001. Whitman endorsed Sherrill’s gubernatorial bid, calling her “the right person for the job.”

MILITARY SERVICE – Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, is the first female veteran to serve as a governor in United States history. Her military service became both a rallying point and a source of controversy during the 2025 election, with Ciattarelli attempting to link her to a cheating scandal at the Naval Academy in the 1990s – and Sherrill staunchly defending her military record. READ MORE: NJ Veterans 'Outraged' Over Release Of Mikie Sherrill's Military Records

SPECIAL ELECTION – Prior to her election as governor, Sherrill served in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 11th district of New Jersey (Essex, Morris and Passaic counties). She was re-elected to her House seat in 2024, and her unexpired term ends in January 2027. A large field of candidates are competing to replace her in Congress. A special primary election for Democrats and Republicans will take place on Feb. 5. A special general election including any independent or third-party candidates will be held on April 16.

BIRTHDAY – Sherill celebrated her birthday on Monday, just a day before she takes over the highest state office in New Jersey. She turned 54.

HOME TOWN SUPPORT – Sherrill and her family moved to Montclair in 2010. She cast her ballot at Hillside Elementary School in Montclair last election. Sherrill outperformed Ciattarelli by a margin of more than three-to-one in Essex County.

CHALLENGES – Some experts are warning that Sherrill is about to step into a “budget minefield.” A recent analysis from nonprofit advocacy group New Jersey Policy Perspective found that despite historic cash reserves, an improved credit rating and on-target revenues, the state is facing “budget time bombs” including an existing structural deficit, ballooning costs for the Stay NJ tax program, school funding costs that are rising beyond inflation, and increasingly expensive state health benefits.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.