The story so far
written Sep 25What is happening
Governor Mikie Sherrill is seeking the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Caldwell to resolve a leadership crisis following an ethics investigation [2][4]. Caldwell remains in office as of Sept. 25, 2026, despite the Governor's public demand for a vacancy [9][12]. Counsel for the Lieutenant Governor issued a statement today disputing the findings of the report that prompted the call for resignation [10].
What to watch
The office remains occupied until the Lieutenant Governor submits a formal resignation letter to the Governor [9]. If a resignation is received, the Governor must publicly accept it and announce a transition plan for the executive branch [8].
Should the Lieutenant Governor refuse to vacate the post, the New Jersey Senate may move to vote on a removal resolution [3]. A final official statement from the Governor's office will be required to confirm if the position is vacant or if a successor has been appointed [1].
Read the full brief · how we got here
How we got here
Governor Sherrill called for the resignation on Sept. 24, 2026, after an independent investigation report found the Lieutenant Governor engaged in improper behavior with women [1][2]. The New Jersey Republican State Committee had previously demanded the Lieutenant Governor's immediate resignation on Sept. 21, 2026 [3].
This conflict follows a period of high turnover in the state government earlier this year [6]. The Sherrill transition team requested resignations from thousands of state employees in January 2026 before the Governor took office [6].
References · 9
- [1]nj.gov — Governor Sherrill Releases Report on Investigation into Lieutenant ...
- [2]politico.com — Mikie Sherrill demands NJ lieutenant governor resign after ... - POLITICO
- [3]nj.com — State GOP demands immediate resignation of embattled N.J. Lt. Gov ...
- [4]theguardian.com — New Jersey governor calls on lieutenant governor to resign after ethics ...
- [6]nj.com — N.J. state workers shocked when thousands asked to resign before ...
- [8]newjerseyglobe.com — Full text of Gov. Mikie Sherrill's statement on the Lt. Governor
- [9]apnews.com — New Jersey's governor asks lieutenant governor to resign | AP News
- [10]thelakewoodscoop.com — BREAKING UPDATE: Lieutenant Governor Caldwell Releases Statement ...
- [12]politicalwire.com — New Jersey Governor Asks Her Lt. Governor to Resign
What would close this
0 of 4 metTimeline
newest firstWhen we started following: Governor Sherrill demands Lieutenant Governor Caldwell resign following independent investigation
Governor Mikie Sherrill called for the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Caldwell on Sept. 24, 2026 [2][4]. The demand followed the release of an independent investigation report that found the Lieutenant Governor engaged in improper behavior with women [1][2]. The New Jersey Republican State Committee also demanded Caldwell’s immediate resignation on Sept. 21, 2026 [3].
Counsel for the Lieutenant Governor released a statement on Sept. 25, 2026, disputing the findings of the report [10]. As of Sept. 25, Caldwell has not vacated the office [9][12]. Earlier this year, the Sherrill transition team requested resignations from thousands of state employees prior to the Governor taking office in January 2026 [6].