Mikie Sherrill was sworn in Tuesday as New Jersey’s 57th governor during an inauguration ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, delivering a forceful address that emphasized affordability, opportunity, and the state’s role as a national counterweight during a period of political uncertainty.
The stage at NJPAC was filled with current and former New Jersey leaders, members of the congressional delegation, judges, labor representatives, and local officials from across the state, underscoring the significance of the transition as Sherrill took the oath of office.
Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, federal prosecutor, and member of Congress, framed her administration around the idea that New Jersey must keep “doors to opportunity” open for families facing rising costs and economic pressure. She repeatedly returned to the theme of affordability, saying concerns about housing, child care, utilities, and health care dominated conversations she had with voters across the state.
“We enter 2026 commemorating our nation’s 250th anniversary,” Sherrill said. “New Jersey has been at the heart of our American story — the crossroads of the revolution, the site of our first major victory at the Battle of Trenton, and the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.”
Implicit Criticism Without Naming Trump
While Sherrill never mentioned President Donald Trump by name, her speech repeatedly referenced national policies and actions closely associated with his administration, drawing sharp contrasts without direct attribution.
She warned against what she described as abuses of executive power, criticized self-dealing and opportunism in public service, and pledged that New Jersey would not follow Washington’s lead when federal actions raise costs or restrict opportunity. At one point, she drew applause by promising residents would not see relief on their utility bills because she “wasted your money on a ballroom at Drumthwacket,” a remark widely interpreted as an indirect reference to the White House ballroom project.
Sherrill also addressed immigration enforcement, speaking of children afraid their parents could be “taken away in an ICE raid while they are at school.” The remarks echoed growing anxiety in New Jersey communities following recent federal immigration actions, including an ICE operation in Princeton last week. Throughout the speech, she positioned New Jersey as a state that would keep doors open while Washington was “trying to shut the door on opportunity.”
Her tone was assertive and urgent, pairing pointed political contrasts with a broader message grounded in constitutional values, history, and economic fairness.
Declaring an Affordability Emergency
Before concluding her address, Sherrill announced her first executive actions as governor, declaring a state of emergency on utility costs. She said she would issue an executive order directing the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to pause new requests for utility rate increases and freeze pending hikes to provide immediate relief to households.
She also announced plans to accelerate new solar, energy storage, and power generation projects as part of a longer-term effort to stabilize and reduce energy costs statewide.
“You don’t want a strongly worded letter. You don’t want a 10-year study,” Sherrill said. “You want costs to come down — and you want that to begin today.”
A Historic Moment
Sherrill made history as only the second woman elected governor of New Jersey, following Christine Todd Whitman, who served as the state’s 50th governor. Whitman was among several former governors in attendance, joining a stage that reflected decades of New Jersey political leadership as Sherrill was inaugurated.
Sherrill also thanked outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy for guiding the state through recent crises, and paid tribute to former Gov. Richard Codey, who died earlier this month.
Looking Ahead
Acknowledging that not all New Jerseyans supported her election, Sherrill said she would govern on behalf of the entire state and protect residents’ right to dissent without fear of retaliation. She pledged that state agencies would be judged by results rather than rhetoric and said transparency and accountability would be central to her administration.
Invoking New Jersey’s motto — Liberty and Prosperity — Sherrill closed by framing her governorship as part of the state’s long tradition of stepping forward at pivotal moments in American history.
“That is my commitment to you as your 57th governor,” she said. “Protecting liberty and ensuring prosperity through opening the door to opportunity.”
