Mikie Sherrill sworn in as New Jersey governor, makes good on campaign promise
NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- Mikie Sherrill has officially become the first Democratic woman to lead New Jersey after her inauguration ceremony on Tuesday morning.
The former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor, 54, was sworn in as the 57th governor of New Jersey at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
The changing of the guard from Governor Phil Murphy to Sherrill marks the first time in decades New Jersey is getting a third term with a Democratic governor after Sherrill's solid win in the 2025 election by nearly 14 percentage points.
The four-term congresswoman has made it clear she's not thrilled with the status quo.
"We are going to very quickly show that we have a new agenda here in New Jersey," Sherrill said.
She swept to victory over her Trump-endorsed GOP rival in part by pinning blame for high costs on the president's tariffs and promising that her first action once in office would be to order a freeze on skyrocketing utility rates.
Sherrill spoke about New Jersey's role in the Revolutionary War and quoted from the Declaration of Independence's grievances against the king, drawing a comparison to Trump.
"We see a president illegally usurping power," she said. "He has unconstitutionally enacted a tariff regime to make billions for himself and his family, while everyone else sees costs go higher and higher. Here, we demand people in public service actually serve the public."
During her speech she also signed two executive orders, one declaring a freeze on utility rates, which have been rising sharply, and another aimed at establishing new sources of electricity production incident solar and nuclear.
Sherrill took the oath of office on a copy of the Constitution owned by the state's first governor in Newark, the state's largest city whose voters made up a key component of her winning coalition.
It is a departure from previous inaugurations, which have included military artillery salutes along the Delaware River outside the statehouse in Trenton.
Tuesday's ceremony included a similar gun salute and a military helicopter flyover.
Sherrill says if her party wants to keep winning in this year's midterms, candidates have to continue to talk to people.
Shoveling snow and ice from a Camden sidewalk Monday morning for an MLK day of service, she addressed concerns about ICE raids, saying anyone who breaks the law should face repercussions, but law-abiding working immigrants will be protected.
"Here in New Jersey, we recently saw a 9-year-old was dropped off at school. They picked up his dad," she said. "I'm not clear if they had a plan for that child and who was going to pick him up at school. That's unacceptable."
The first woman to be governor of New Jersey is Christine Todd Whitman, a two-term Republican who went on to serve as George W. Bush's Environmental Protection Agency administrator.
New Jersey's governorship has often switched back and forth between the parties. The last time the same party prevailed in a third straight gubernatorial election was in 1961.
Sherrill says she knows the nation is watching to see how effective she is in her first year governing leading into the midterms.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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