Day One, Action One
Mikie Sherrill didn’t waste a second.
Minutes after becoming New Jersey’s 57th governor on Tuesday, she signed executive orders with a clear target. Her goal? Skyrocketing utility costs. Sherrill promised to position the Garden State as a fortress against policies coming out of Washington, and she started with the bills hitting residents’ mailboxes.
It is a historic moment. Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, secures a third consecutive term for Democrats in New Jersey. That hasn’t happened in six decades.
Freezing the Bills
Standing before a crowd of 2,000 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, Sherrill put pen to paper.
She signed two major orders. The first effectively freezes utility rates through subsidies and halts further increases. The second aims to drastically expand energy supplies.
“Remember me when you open up your electric bill and it hasn’t gone up by 20 percent,” Sherrill told the cheering crowd. She vowed to spend “every minute” fighting to make the state more affordable.
Taking the Fight to the White House
The inauguration wasn’t just about local economics. It was a direct challenge to President Donald Trump.
Sherrill earned standing ovations as she slammed the administration for what she called “selectively” prosecuting political enemies. She specifically referenced Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver, who faces federal charges after a clash at an immigration detention facility.
“We see a president illegally usurping power, unconstitutionally enacting a tariff regime to make billions for himself and his family while everyone else sees their costs go higher,” Sherrill declared.
She promised that in her New Jersey, critics can speak “without fear of reprisal.”
A “New Ark”
Breaking with tradition, the ceremony wasn’t held in the capital of Trenton. Instead, Sherrill chose Newark. It was a symbolic nod to the state’s most populous and diverse city.
She likened the location to Noah’s Ark, calling it a “new ark to open the door for those who thirst for liberty and prosperity.”
While Sherrill enters office with a solid 40% favorability rating, a large chunk of the state is still making up its mind about her. She faces a $1 billion budget deficit and a tense battle over immigration policy.
The Immigration Showdown
Just before Sherrill took the oath, outgoing Governor Phil Murphy vetoed a bill that would have codified protections between local police and federal immigration agents.
Activists are furious. Nedia Morsy of Make the Road New Jersey called the veto a “betrayal.” Now, all eyes are on Sherrill to see how she navigates the pressure.
While she hasn’t committed to signing the exact bill Murphy rejected, she didn’t mince words about federal raids during her speech.
“We refuse to be silent as so many doors are shut on too many of our friends and neighbors,” Sherrill said, highlighting the fear of children whose parents might disappear in an ICE raid.
A New Team
Joining Sherrill is Dale Caldwell, the state’s first pastor to serve as lieutenant governor.
“We step into leadership at a time of deep national division,” Caldwell said in his opening remarks. He vowed to restore trust in democratic institutions.
The Sherrill era has officially begun. The utility bills are frozen, the battle lines with Washington are drawn, and the clock is ticking.